Baseball Toaster Bronx Banter
Help
Boston Red Sox
2006-05-01 14:00
by Cliff Corcoran

Since the 2002 season, the Yankees and Red Sox have played a whopping 90 times (postseason included) and have split those 90 games right down the middle, 45-45, with each team winning a seven-game ALCS. That's scary, especially when one considers the fact that there are just five Red Sox left from the 2002 team (Manny, Tek, Trot, tonight's starter Tim Wakefield, and his newly reaquired personal catcher Doug Mirabelli) and just six Yankees (the fab four of Jeter, Jorge, Bernie and Mo, Mussina and Giambi). Despite all that turnover these two teams remain deadlocked, which suggests that it's not just the men on the field who are of equal ability, but the men who run the team as well. Indeed, 2002 was John Henry's first full season as Red Sox owner and, after his team went 9-10 against the Yankees that year, he hired Bill James, Theo Epstein et al. the following winter.

Red Sox fans might argue that Epstein and company are smarter than their Yankee counterparts but their intellectual advantage is negated by the fact that the Yankees spend more money, but I don't buy it. John Henry is wealthier than George Steinbrenner. If he wanted to outspend George, he could. His decision not to is part of how he runs his business, just as hiring Epstein and James was. Yankee fans might counter by saying that Brian Cashman's hands were tied by George and the Tampa contingent until this past winter, and that going forward, the Yankees just might have the advantage. That doesn't quite work either. Equally disruptive office politics pushed Epstein out for part of this past winter, and he didn't join the team until November 2002.

Anyone looking for a reason that this rivalry has climbed to a, pardon the phrase, fever pitch over the past four seasons need look no further than the fact that this tie simply refuses to be broken. It's fitting, then, that the Yankees and Red Sox enter this quickie two-game series in Fenway tied for first place (the Yankees lead by percentage points and one game in the loss-column due to having played two fewer games) and very easily could emerge in the same position.

I, for one, find it exhausting, and not always in a good way. That said, I think the high rate of turnover has helped. I doubt there would have been 22 James Bond films if Dr. No was the baddie in every one of them. Variety is the spice of life and the Red Sox have did a lot to spice up this rivalry over the winter, turning over a full half of their roster. Out go old warhorses Kevin Millar, Bill Mueller, Bronson Arroyo and a couple of current Yankees (Johnny Damon and Mike Myers). Ended are failed experiments Edgar Renteria, Wade Miller and Matt Mantei. Gone are roster-fillers Tony Graffanino, Gabe Kapler, John Olerud, Chad Bradford, John Halama and Jeremi Gonzalez. In come ex-Marlins Josh Beckett, Mike Lowell and Alex Gonzalez. Given are expanded rolls to Kevin Youkilis, Jonathan Papelbon, and Lenny DiNardo. Filling things out are Coco Crisp (currently on the DL in favor of Willie Harris), Wily Mo Pena, J.T. Snow, Dustin Mohr, El Loco Julian Tavarez, Rudy Seanez and David Riske (also on the DL in favor of rookie Manny Delcarmen) and you've got a whole new ballclub, and that doesn't even count the rejuvinated Curt Schilling or the at least healthy again Keith Foulke.

Exactly what the result of all of this turnover will be for the Red Sox is hard to say at the moment. Their offense is scuffling (ninth in the AL in runs scored, 17th in the majors), but Crisp has been on the DL with a broken finger for most of the season and Manny got off to a slow start. That said, Varitek and Loretta have yet to hit and there's reason to believe they might not come around.

The pitching, meanwhile, has been no better (in fact it also ranks about mid-pack both in the league and the majors). In the bullpen, Papelbon has been nearly perfect as the closer (he has yet to give up a run), but Foulke and Timlin have been just good enough (Timlin's excellent ERA masks poor peripherals) and the imports have all been disappointing thus far. In the rotation, Matt Clement and DiNardo (filling in for the injured David Wells) have been terrible. Josh Beckett, has been no better than average. If not for the strong return of Schilling, this team would be in a very bad way on the hill.

Which brings us to tonight's starter, Tim Wakefield. Take out an ugly first start against the Rangers in Texas and Wakefield has a 2.20 ERA over his past four starts. The only problem has been that the Red Sox have scored a total of two runs in the last three. As the dean of the Red Sox, Wakefield has quite a bit of history with several of the Yankee hitters and has been successful against just about all of them, Matsui (who's in one of his annual lunging-at-the-ball slumps) and Giambi especially. Wakefield went 1-4 against the Yanks last year, but still held them to a .184 average. With Sheffield likely out of the line-up due to swelling in his wrist after his collision with Shea Hillenbrand on Saturday, the Yanks might be hard pressed to get much going against Wake tonight.

Chien-Ming Wang, meanwhile, will be making just his second career start against the Red Sox, having lost a well-pitched game to start the season's final series last year when his defense and then his control abandoned him. One wonders if Wang's control problems in that game were related to the problems pitching from the stretch that he demonstrated against the Orioles in his penultimate start. The Yankees have been working on that since and Wang looked in control in his last start, echoing his pre-Orioles outing by allowing just two runs in seven innings. Could be Chien-Ming is rounding into shape this season. Let's just hope the hard Fenway infield doesn't give his opponents the extra bounces they need to win.

Boston Red Sox

2005 Record: 95-97 (.586)
2005 Pythagorean Record: 90-72 (.556)

Manager: Terry Francona
General Manager: Theo Epstein

Home Ballpark (2005 Park Factors): Fenway Park (101/101)

Who's Replacing Whom?

  • Coco Crisp replaces Johnny Damon (though Willie Davis is holding his spot while he's on the DL)
  • Kevin Youkilis inherits Kevin Millar's playing time
  • Mark Loretta replaces Mark Bellhorn and Tony Garaffanino
  • Mike Lowell replaces Bill Mueller
  • Alex Gonzalez replaces Edgar Renteria
  • Wily Mo Pena replaces Jay Payton
  • J.T. Snow replaces John Olerud
  • Dustin Mohr replaces Gabe Kapler
  • Josh Beckett replaces Bronson Arroyo
  • Curt Schilling takes back Wade Miller's starts
  • Lenny DiNardo is filling in for David Wells
  • Julian Tavarez replaces Mike Myers and Alan Embree
  • Rudy Seanez replaces Jeremi Gonzalez and Matt Mantei
  • David Riske repalces John Halama and Chad Bradford (though Manny Delcarmen is filling in while he's on the DL)

Current Roster

1B – Kevin Youkilis (R)
2B – Mark Loretta (R)
SS – Alex Gonzalez (R)
3B – Mike Lowell (R)
C – Jason Varitek (S)
RF – Trot Nixon (L)
CF – Wily Mo Pena (R)
LF – Manny Ramirez (R)
DH – David Ortiz (L)

Bench:

R - Doug Mirabelli (C)
R – Dustin Mohr (OF)
L – Willie Harris (OF)
L – J.T. Snow (1B)
L – Alex Cora (IF)

Rotation:

R – Curt Schilling
R – Tim Wakefield
R – Josh Beckett
L – Lenny DiNardo
R – Matt Clement

Bullpen:

R – Jon Papelbon
R – Keith Foulke
R – Mike Timlin
R – Julian Tavarez
R – Rudy Seanez
R – Manny Delcarmen

15-day DL: S – Coco Crisp (CF), L – David Wells, R – David Riske, L – Hee-Seop Choi (1B)

Typical Lineup

R – Kevin Youkilis (1B)
R – Mark Loretta (2B)
L – David Ortiz (DH)
R – Manny Ramirez (LF)
L – Trot Nixon (RF)
S – Jason Varitek (C)
R – Mike Lowell (3B)
R – Wily Mo Pena (CF)
R – Alex Gonzalez (SS)

Comments (439)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2006-05-01 14:34:50
1.   its430
P. Abraham and his LoHud blog mention a new t-shirt design in Boston:

"Looks like Jesus, Acts like Judas, Throws like Mary"

Not bad actually. Funny how open to the truth they are as soon as he is out the door. That shirt has more of an official sanction from the Boston Archdiocese than "The DaVinci Code" I would imagine.

2006-05-01 14:55:16
2.   rbj
Yes, well, how many free agents who are good and could choose between the Yankees and the Red Sox hve wound up signing with Boston.
2006-05-01 15:07:38
3.   Shaun P
Any t-shirt that insults the Yanks sells up here. This one is as dumb as the rest - Damon's beard and long locks are gone, Judas was ultimately horrified at what he did, and Mary had one hell of an arm according to scouts of the time. ;)

Typical RSN.

Any chance Phillips is playing 1B and Giambi DHing with Wang on the mound? And please, please tell me that if Sheff can't play the field, Bubba is in right? RF in Fenway is way too complicated for GOB and his rotting arm.

2006-05-01 15:11:23
4.   debris
rbj,

(How many of these were offered equal money by each team. Pavano, BTW, was offered more by the Sox, but chose to sign for less with his boyhood team.)

Cliff, Crisp has not missed 50% of the season to date, but 80%, having played in 5 of 25 games.

The Sox have played pitifully and are still effectively tied for first. The Pythagorean standings have them six back of the Yanks. They'll either start playing a lot better or wave bye-bye to the NY club.

2006-05-01 15:20:23
5.   Marcus
Bubba is starting in RF. Cairo at 1B.

Also, ESPN is reporting that Mirabelli hasn't arrived in Boston yet, and that Varitek will start if he can't make it in time.

2006-05-01 15:24:05
6.   rbj
Exactly, debris. If Boston is filled with light and goodness and fluffy puppy dogs, wouldn't ballplayers be attracted to that, as opposed to the darkness and evil that dwells in the Bronx. Giambi was willing to take less money to stay in Oakland, he just wanted a no trade clause (which really boils down to a "give me more money to go away" clause). It seems to me that Boston generally doesn't value its players (Boggs, Clemens, Damon, all the way back to Ruth) the way NY does.
And any one of those yokels wearing the Damon t-shirt would grab the extra $12 million too.
2006-05-01 15:36:33
7.   atc
Debris,
Are you still of the belief that the 2006 Sox are better offensively than the 2005 version?
2006-05-01 15:43:00
8.   C2Coke
Am I the last one to notice that Matt Smith is down to AAA already? According to NY Times, Smith was released because Aaron Small was restored. As much as we love to see Small back, why don't they release someone else other than Smith from the bullpen, say Sturzte?
2006-05-01 15:44:22
9.   sam2175
Good thing for Boston: Mike Lowell isn't that bad after all.

Bad thing for Boston: Loretta inspires no confidence, and Alex Gonzalez is making Womack look like a hitter.

Varitek will probably put up better numbers. If he doesn't, then Boston is in trouble.

2006-05-01 15:44:30
10.   randym77
And it appears Shaun's wish is partly granted:

Johnny Damon CF
Derek Jeter SS
Jason Giambi DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui LF
Jorge Posada C
Robinson Cano 2B
Miguel Cairo 1B
Bubba Crosby RF

Giambi DHing, check. Bubba in RF, check. Phillips...nope, Cairo.

2006-05-01 15:49:03
11.   standuptriple
Why Cairo, why?
2006-05-01 15:50:31
12.   Cliff Corcoran
Cairo is one of the few Yankees with good numbers vs. Wakefield.
2006-05-01 15:54:19
13.   rabid stan
The knuckleball could only screw with Andy's fragile (but growing) confidence anyway.
2006-05-01 15:59:56
14.   C2Coke
It's an amazing feeling to see YES feed on MLB.TV now...as in 5 minutes before the game. Let's just hope it continues.
2006-05-01 16:01:54
15.   Cliff Corcoran
Yup. I'm fine with Cairo playing. Debris, I altered my Crisp comment per 4 as well as adding a very important "not" from the following sentence that somehow slipped out of my initial posting.

Incidentally, I failed to mention the more interesting returning prodigal son story in my mind, which is Mike Myers coming back to face Ortiz and/or Nixon. The Yanks haven't had a LOOGY as effective as Myers since Graeme Lloyd in 1998. Meanwhile, Francona has set a trap for Myers by placing one of the best righty hitters in baseball between his two big lefties. Should make for compelling stuff in the late innings.

2006-05-01 16:03:48
16.   C2Coke
spoke too soon...SPOKE TOO SOON...YES feed is promptly GONE. But as I heard from some of you here...that the Boston announcers are pretty good too?
2006-05-01 16:10:24
17.   rabid stan
Here's to hoping Mirabelli is a little rusty.

Wake always pitches the Yanks tough, losing record against them aside. They really could use a passed ball or two tonight.

2006-05-01 16:12:50
18.   BklynBmr
16 I've found Jerry Remy and the play-by-play guy listenable, especially compared to the crap around the league.
2006-05-01 16:13:34
19.   BklynBmr
I'm already sick of this matchup...
2006-05-01 16:13:42
20.   Yankee Fan in Chicago
15 I hesitate to note this, b/c it will no doubt jinx the Yanks, but Manny's splits against lefties the past 2 seasons are not pretty if you're a Sawx fan:

2006 -- .206, .386, .324 in 43 pas.
2005 -- .236, .385, .527 in 195 pas.

That's a lot of pas to be just a blip.

His numbers against righties are much much better.

Bottom line: let Myers pitch to him as well as Papi and Trot.

2006-05-01 16:14:59
21.   Humma Kavula
Interesting reaction to Damon... more boos than cheers to start, but Damon tips his cap and turns 'em around.
2006-05-01 16:15:12
22.   randym77
Well, Damon got booed.
2006-05-01 16:15:17
23.   rbj
I'm stuck at work, so how loud are the boos?
2006-05-01 16:16:42
24.   Knuckles
I hate the Sox.
I hate Sox fans.
I hate their stupid facial hair.
I hate Red Sox Nation.
I hate New England style chowda.
I hate Curt Schilling.
I hate these early May series being hyped like the World Series.
2006-05-01 16:17:04
25.   randym77
There were a few scattered cheers, but drowned out by boos. I think they booed Jeter louder, but Damon longer.
2006-05-01 16:18:41
26.   Knuckles
I hate ESPN missing actual pitches because they're showing some stupid clips of something else.
2006-05-01 16:20:11
27.   rabid stan
So close.
2006-05-01 16:20:45
28.   Marcus
Was that a good play by Wily Mo or was he just sitting under it?
2006-05-01 16:20:51
29.   rbj
Nice 10 pitch AB by Jason, but does Wakefield get tired out like normal pitchers do?
2006-05-01 16:20:55
30.   Cliff Corcoran
Seriously, did anyone not expect him to be roundly booed? Would Dirt Dogs have bothered with their pointless campaign to chear him if it wasn'ta foregone conclusion that he'd be booed.

Giambi misses a homer by about five feet.

2006-05-01 16:21:01
31.   rabid stan
Sitting
2006-05-01 16:21:27
32.   Cliff Corcoran
28 Easy fly, but just shy of the wall.
2006-05-01 16:21:54
33.   C2Coke
Next time Giambi is up, the ball will be outta there.
2006-05-01 16:22:00
34.   Cliff Corcoran
Sox fans are throwing fake money at Damon (Michael Kay is an idiot and thinks it's real).
2006-05-01 16:23:27
35.   C2Coke
Money threw down the field for Damon. Damon: answer them with HRs!
2006-05-01 16:23:39
36.   rabid stan
29 Knuckleballers can last a long time since the pitch is easier on the arm than most. Even an old-timer like Wakefield should have no trouble throwing 110+.
2006-05-01 16:25:31
37.   C2Coke
Kay actually thought the money was real? Damon's got enough real ones. Wang walked the first one....he will settle down...
2006-05-01 16:26:03
38.   rabid stan
34 No way anyone in Fenway actually has real money after getting a seat.
2006-05-01 16:27:10
39.   Cliff Corcoran
37 Kay thought they were throwing actual $20s
2006-05-01 16:28:22
40.   rbj
39
What a maroon Kay is. I hope his broadcast buddies stay on him the rest of the season on that.
2006-05-01 16:28:25
41.   rabid stan
ESPN says Jeter anchors the Yank's infield defence.
2006-05-01 16:28:32
42.   BklynBmr
Just saw the Crisp injury for the first time. That was one ugly slide...
2006-05-01 16:29:15
43.   Cliff Corcoran
So much for the Ortiz shift. Props to Papi for that one.
2006-05-01 16:30:14
44.   rabid stan
That was a decent pitch by Wang.

I hate that tomato can. MVP my ass.

2006-05-01 16:32:13
45.   Simone
What is wrong with Wang?
2006-05-01 16:32:18
46.   Knuckles
Guy runs into a corner store in NYC tonight at 6:55pm, grabs a cup of new england clam chowder, a sixer of Sam Adams, and a bag of Cape Cod potato chips.

Cute checkout chick looks him over and asks, "Sox fan?"

Guy goes, "Yeah, how'd you know, because of my purchase?"

Young lady, "No, because you're f'in ugly."

2006-05-01 16:33:59
47.   rabid stan
This could be a long night. I hope Trot jumps on one low and away for the DP.
2006-05-01 16:35:12
48.   Cliff Corcoran
46 What is the point of that, Knuckles? Was it supposed to be funny? What place does that have here?
2006-05-01 16:35:42
49.   Cliff Corcoran
Good thing Aaron Small's active for this game. Sheesh.
2006-05-01 16:35:59
50.   Simone
Damn, Wang. It is going to be a long freaking night.

Oh, and screw the Red Sox fans.

Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2006-05-01 16:36:19
51.   Jeteupthemiddle
strikes are fun....I enjoy it when our pitchers throw them.
2006-05-01 16:37:12
52.   Cliff Corcoran
Nice play by Cairo. Giambi throws that ball away.
2006-05-01 16:37:24
53.   Jeteupthemiddle
Nice play by Cairo.
2006-05-01 16:37:30
54.   Simone
At least, that run didn't score. Good job, Cairo.
2006-05-01 16:37:43
55.   BklynBmr
OK, Tiger! And yes, Jason would have heaved that 10ft. over Jorgie's head...
2006-05-01 16:37:57
56.   Knuckles
Just a joke Cliff; I'll keep them to myself henceforth.
2006-05-01 16:38:01
57.   Simone
What is going on?
2006-05-01 16:38:44
58.   rbj
man I hate not seeing the game, or having a radio.
2006-05-01 16:39:29
59.   BklynBmr
Keep the ball down, Tiger...
2006-05-01 16:39:35
60.   Jeteupthemiddle
Not a good sign for Wang....Small already warming.
2006-05-01 16:39:43
61.   Cliff Corcoran
Small's warming.
2006-05-01 16:40:21
62.   Cliff Corcoran
Torre came out and talked to the umps and they said something to Francona, I missed the whole thing, anyone catch it and have an idea what Torre was on about?
2006-05-01 16:40:42
63.   Cliff Corcoran
Great, now he's getting squeezed.
2006-05-01 16:41:11
64.   BklynBmr
Bubba!!!!!!!
2006-05-01 16:41:15
65.   randym77
Bubba!! Thank you!!!
2006-05-01 16:41:17
66.   rabid stan
BUBBA BASEBALL!

I hope whatever Giambi was seein' that had him all over Wakefield is something he can share with this teammates.

2006-05-01 16:41:23
67.   Knuckles
Nice catch Bubba.

Tough tough call on the previous pitch.

2006-05-01 16:41:24
68.   Cliff Corcoran
Bubba! Both of Torre's lineup surprises pay off in the first inning. Quality.
2006-05-01 16:41:27
69.   Jeteupthemiddle
And Yankee fans give a sign of relief that Bernie is not in right field.
2006-05-01 16:41:28
70.   Simone
Thank you, Bubba! No one else could have made that catch.
2006-05-01 16:41:36
71.   wsporter
Whew!
2006-05-01 16:42:55
72.   randym77
The phone to the bullpen wasn't working. That's what Torre was complaining about.
2006-05-01 16:43:21
73.   jkay
Torre was telling the umps the bullpen phone was not working.
2006-05-01 16:43:42
74.   BklynBmr
Aplogies, but this has to be done. Now. —

Tim Wakefield is throwing a no-hitter.

There.

2006-05-01 16:43:56
75.   singledd
If Shef is in RF, we are down 3-0
2006-05-01 16:44:00
76.   randym77
That was some catch. I didn't think even Bubba could reach that one.
2006-05-01 16:45:38
77.   Knuckles
Leadoff baserunners, good. Bring him around guys.
2006-05-01 16:46:18
78.   BklynBmr
Alex better be ready to take off...
2006-05-01 16:46:38
79.   rabid stan
75 3-0 if they got lucky. I could imagine Bernie playing that to plate three.
2006-05-01 16:47:28
80.   rabid stan
Ugly cut, Mats.
2006-05-01 16:47:37
81.   BklynBmr
Man, Wake owns Godzilla...
2006-05-01 16:49:58
82.   Cliff Corcoran
Nice contact by Cano, who has good numbers vs. Wakefield, but just another out.
2006-05-01 16:50:45
83.   Cliff Corcoran
If Sheff could play I would have sat Matsui, but then we'd still be in the bottom of the first.
2006-05-01 16:50:46
84.   C2Coke
It's only the second inning. Wakefield will soon lose his shutout...
It sure looks freezing out there.
2006-05-01 16:51:10
85.   rabid stan
Their gettin in to Wake, but he's working that crazy knuckleball BABIP mojo.

That wind coming in from center isn't hirting him either.

2006-05-01 16:51:12
86.   Zack
Nothing more annoying than how the Yanks lay down and die vs. Wakefield...

And ESPN says" we are going to talk about Curt Schilling and the other elder statesmen off to great starts," as opposed to, "we are going to talk about Moose, off to a better start than Schilling"

2006-05-01 16:54:16
87.   unpopster
if memory serves me right, Wang always has issues in the beginning of the game and then settles down. Here's hoping that he had all his "issues' in the first inning...
2006-05-01 16:54:21
88.   BklynBmr
Tiger needs a nice 10 pitch or less inning here...
2006-05-01 16:54:56
89.   Marcus
Wang needs to start hitting the zone. What are his radar gun readings tonight? Is he over-throwing it? Nerves? Pitch strikes!!!
2006-05-01 16:55:08
90.   rabid stan
86 What cheeses me off about all these "Old-timers reinventing themselves" stories is that none of them acknowledge that Moose really has been the best one.

Maddux and Pedro are feasting off the NL. One of those stories actually played up John Smoltz.

And Oh My God, they just plugged Kenny Rogers.

Moose owns them all.

2006-05-01 16:55:22
91.   BklynBmr
86 I remember when ESPN was actually watchable...
2006-05-01 16:56:04
92.   BklynBmr
Good decision by Ciaro to take it himself!
2006-05-01 16:56:48
93.   Cliff Corcoran
86 Fercryinoutloud, hitting a knuckleball is hard, it's not for lack of trying that they don't hit this guy well.
2006-05-01 16:58:18
94.   Cliff Corcoran
Michael Kay just informed us that they call it "chowdah here in Boston." Thanks, Mike, I had no idea. Man I hate him.
2006-05-01 16:58:52
95.   Cliff Corcoran
I take that back. Hate is a strong word. He's just a boob, that's all.
2006-05-01 17:01:11
96.   Cliff Corcoran
YES graphic on tomorrow's starters:

Chacon: 3-1, 4.56 ERA
Beckett: 3-1, 4.50 ERA

Hmmmm.

2006-05-01 17:01:27
97.   Jeteupthemiddle
I would just like to say that I am SHOCKED it is cold in Boston. It is 70 degrees in Cortland, upstate NY.
2006-05-01 17:01:39
98.   C2Coke
87 I have the same memory. If Wang is returning to his form last year...guess I wouldn't mind. Shaky 1st inning is always better than 3rd, then 5th, and 6th...or something like that, which happened in his first few starts this year.
2006-05-01 17:01:42
99.   BklynBmr
This might be Bubba's bust-out night at the plate!
2006-05-01 17:01:55
100.   randym77
Yeah, Bubba!
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2006-05-01 17:02:19
101.   rbj
95
Cliff, just take a deep breath and repeat "he's not Hawk, he's not Hawk"

Now Harrelson I hate.

2006-05-01 17:02:25
102.   rabid stan
So long no-no.

Hello shut-out?

Again, shut-out?

2006-05-01 17:04:17
103.   C2Coke
Yep, that same Bubba.
2006-05-01 17:04:32
104.   rbj
Rabid stan, is Wakefield pitching a shut out? Don't jinx the shutout.
2006-05-01 17:05:42
105.   Cliff Corcoran
You guys drive me nuts with this shutout thing. You can't jinx a shutout, a perfect game or no hitter, yes, but not a shutout.
2006-05-01 17:06:31
106.   rabid stan
Wouldn't dream of it 104. Shut-outs are so rare and fun to watch.

Shut-out.

2006-05-01 17:07:14
107.   unpopster
sheehs, do you think Michael Kay reads Bronx Banter?
2006-05-01 17:07:22
108.   Cliff Corcoran
Kay gives Murphy props by pointing out that the Fenway Park scoreboard erroniously has the Sox ahead of the Yanks depite the winning pct/loss column advantage by the Yanks.
2006-05-01 17:08:20
109.   Cliff Corcoran
107 If he does we're clearly not doing a good enough job of enlightening our readership.
2006-05-01 17:08:36
110.   singledd
Anybody think Bbba beat the tag?
2006-05-01 17:08:53
111.   rabid stan
Sheehs, do you think Michael Kay reads?
2006-05-01 17:10:00
112.   Cliff Corcoran
Man is it nice to have Leiter around to give actual insight.
2006-05-01 17:10:29
113.   singledd
I think JD is shook-up over the bad reception.
2006-05-01 17:10:45
114.   rabid stan
Man, I am really tired of this sellout crap. As if the Sox don't throw money at people.
2006-05-01 17:10:50
115.   Cliff Corcoran
110 Might have, but he also might have hit Cora's foot rather than the bag.
2006-05-01 17:11:02
116.   tommyl
Why steal there with Bubba. You have Damon, Jeter and Giambi due up. I know Wakefield is a knuckleballer but you have to trust your stars to hit.
2006-05-01 17:11:42
117.   Cliff Corcoran
Trot Nixon's new double-flap helmet makes him look even dimmer. A remarkable feat.
2006-05-01 17:12:34
118.   Jeteupthemiddle
Very nice play by Cano.
2006-05-01 17:12:41
119.   Cliff Corcoran
116 Given the struggles against Wake, I can accept a Pedro-type gameplan here, that is, play for a run.

And what a play by Cano!!

2006-05-01 17:12:42
120.   BklynBmr
De-fense!!! Sweet!
2006-05-01 17:12:47
121.   Mattpat11
I think Bubba has a bit of Bernie-itis. For a fast guy, I never ever want to see him running the bases. Or running around the field, for that matter.
2006-05-01 17:12:53
122.   rabid stan
Nice play by Robbie.
2006-05-01 17:13:10
123.   wsporter
Very nice hands.
2006-05-01 17:13:47
124.   Mattpat11
Okay, now lets get some hits
2006-05-01 17:14:53
125.   BklynBmr
Yanks need to be patient and Wakefield needs to lose the plate. If that happens, the shutout Wakefield is tossing will be over...
2006-05-01 17:15:09
126.   rabid stan
121 He had to take a good path to reach that dying liner in the first.

No matter how fast a guy is, if he doesn't take the right route on a ball like that, it's a hit, so he's gotta have some instincts out there.

2006-05-01 17:15:36
127.   BklynBmr
Lead the way, Cap!
2006-05-01 17:15:51
128.   randym77
Nice one, Jete!
2006-05-01 17:16:21
129.   Mattpat11
126 He just has such a history of running into extremely large men that I sometimes question if he's paying attention.

That said, it was a nice play.

2006-05-01 17:17:03
130.   Cliff Corcoran
I'm very fond of Bubba's work in the field. Can't speak to his baserunning much. He did get picked off in that double rundown the other day.
2006-05-01 17:18:03
131.   BklynBmr
Here we go, Yan-kees...
2006-05-01 17:18:12
132.   Cliff Corcoran
129 In that play in the ALDS last year, Sheffield ran into him. Bubba's mistake was that he didn't call him off, not that he ran into him. Watch a replay, you'll see Bubba sets up under the ball, but keeps his mouth shut and Sheff just leaps into him because he's watching the ball.
2006-05-01 17:19:17
133.   Mattpat11
130 Its his baserunning that bothers me more than anything. I REALLY don't think he pays a lick of attention on the basepaths. Not noticing JASON GIAMBI in front of you sends off all sorts of warning bells.

And then when he went headlong into Sheffield (and I think he hit Jeter at some point too) last year, it really made me wonder.

2006-05-01 17:19:46
134.   rilkefan
Apropos of nothing, the Marlins just got a home run by their 2b, Dan Uggla.
2006-05-01 17:19:58
135.   Cliff Corcoran
Leiter just said there have been 14 true knuckleballers in the history of the game:

I can think of Wakefield, both Niekros, Candiotti, Wilhelm, Wilbur Wood, Charlie Hough, Steve Sparks . . .

Anyone got the other six?

2006-05-01 17:20:10
136.   BklynBmr
I guess one could say Mats is due against Wakefield...
2006-05-01 17:20:21
137.   rbj
Bases full of Yankees.
2006-05-01 17:20:26
138.   Mattpat11
Oh Crap, here comes the triple play.
2006-05-01 17:20:55
139.   Cliff Corcoran
134 That really is apropos of nothing. Very curious as to what about that interested you.

Hey, tie game!

2006-05-01 17:20:59
140.   Mattpat11
135 Wade Boggs :)
2006-05-01 17:21:21
141.   rabid stan
129 The history? Sure, Kennedy's "triple" was misplayed fantastically, but when one of our current corner outfielders is involved in a busted play, the presumption of innocence is on the non-Sheff/Matsui fielder.
2006-05-01 17:21:24
142.   Marcus
Is there really any skill to hitting the knuckleball? I mean, if Wakefield has his thing going, it's like swinging a broom stick at a house fly; if you hit it, you're lucky. Case in point: Aaron Boone.

Imagine if knuckleballers were the norm. Baseball would be a very boring game, in my opinion.

2006-05-01 17:21:32
143.   Cliff Corcoran
140 Nice. I'm still ticked I missed that game.
2006-05-01 17:21:56
144.   Mattpat11
Hey, it worked! First time 138 has ever worked for me. Well, it didn't REALLY, but close enough
2006-05-01 17:22:01
145.   rbj
It's an RBI, and not a DP. I'll take it.
2006-05-01 17:22:41
146.   Cliff Corcoran
142 Exactly why I felt free to go on hating Boone during the '03 World Series.
2006-05-01 17:23:06
147.   Mattpat11
142 I think if knucklers were the norm hitters would eventually adjust.
2006-05-01 17:23:16
148.   randym77
Bubba's had more than his share of baserunning blunders, but I think he's learning from his mistakes. He passed Giambi that time, so now he's paying attention to the guy ahead of him. Maybe too much attention - hence his getting caught in that rundown when Cano turned around and headed back to 3rd.

I don't think he did anything wrong this time. He'd have made it easily if it wasn't a pitchout.

2006-05-01 17:23:54
149.   BklynBmr
142 If knucklers were the norm, they'd increase the size of the ball to a softball and bring in tin bats...
2006-05-01 17:23:57
150.   Mattpat11
146 Boone is right up there with Weaver, IMO, for why we lost that World Series.
Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2006-05-01 17:24:10
151.   unpopster
I call a single by Cano, riiiiight here...
2006-05-01 17:24:24
152.   Jeteupthemiddle
My cousin started throwing a knuckler. I'm waiting for him to be drafted...ok, ok, he is only a sophmore in high school, but I have big hopes for him. :-P
2006-05-01 17:24:29
153.   rabid stan
Robbie, nice job.
2006-05-01 17:24:30
154.   BklynBmr
A slow-mo seeing eye single!
2006-05-01 17:24:36
155.   Simone
Yeah, Yankees. Good job, Cano.
2006-05-01 17:24:38
156.   Cliff Corcoran
Cano can hit Wakefield, I think it's official, even if that was a tweener.
2006-05-01 17:24:40
157.   unpopster
HOLY SHIT! I was right!
2006-05-01 17:25:04
158.   Mattpat11
148 Passed him may be stretching it. He ran into him. He didn't seem to notice the enormous Jason Giambi there.
2006-05-01 17:25:11
159.   wsporter
Robie! Yes. Nice call unpop. 151
2006-05-01 17:25:16
160.   Marcus
147 I guess there must be a trick to it, but it just seems like the whole point of a knuckler is that it flutters randomly. A good knuckler flutters more randomly (even the pitcher doesn't know where it's going). A good curve is just more dramatic than a bad one, but you could adjust to it. If a pitch is more random, how do you adjust to it?
2006-05-01 17:25:28
161.   rbj
Nice call unpopster
2006-05-01 17:25:30
162.   BklynBmr
151 Nice call!
2006-05-01 17:25:51
163.   rabid stan
ESPN talking about Cairo as a 3 hitter.
2006-05-01 17:26:02
164.   Cliff Corcoran
150 Don't forget David Wells and his workout regime.

Oh, didn't the Astros have a knuckleballer? Jared Fernandez was it? Okay five to go.

2006-05-01 17:26:32
165.   rilkefan
139 - dude's got a great baseball name - bet the Marlins announcers enjoy calling his home runs. Maybe it's just a poet thing, though.
2006-05-01 17:27:13
166.   Mattpat11
152 I can't throw a knuckler. I end up throwing it too hard and it doesn't dance. I am quite proud of my 50 mph splitter though. It moves slower than you know what all things considered, but it has all the movement of a splitter. And really, that's all you need when you're playing family members at easter.
2006-05-01 17:27:18
167.   Cliff Corcoran
160 Exactly. That's why it's so damn hard to catch.
2006-05-01 17:28:08
168.   rabid stan
There's no such thing as a trick to hit a knuckleball. Maybe a hitter can get good against a particular knuckleballer, but not against all knuckleballers.
2006-05-01 17:28:32
169.   Cliff Corcoran
165 I thought so. Uggla's not a new name to me, I guess that's why I didn't understand.
2006-05-01 17:29:35
170.   Cliff Corcoran
7 walks to 1 K in this game between the two pitchers.
2006-05-01 17:30:26
171.   randym77
One of my friends dated Joe Ausanio for awhile. She met him on Match.com or some such thing. I thought that was really funny. Somehow, I never imagined baseball players having to resort to online dating.
2006-05-01 17:30:27
172.   Mattpat11
164 Didn't annoy me nearly as much as the other two. Wells left, but he didn't bury us. The other two did.
2006-05-01 17:30:57
173.   BklynBmr
Before this game is over, Damon is going make these fans pay!
2006-05-01 17:31:19
174.   rabid stan
Sox fans, yet again, show how much they appreciate everything Damon did for them
2006-05-01 17:31:24
175.   BklynBmr
Was that wind or a bad HR call?
2006-05-01 17:32:20
176.   rbj
And a nice 1-2-3 inning after we score 3.
2006-05-01 17:32:40
177.   Zack
Wow, that wind effect was crazy!
2006-05-01 17:32:43
178.   Mattpat11
Eddie Cicotte threw a knuckler.
2006-05-01 17:33:03
179.   rilkefan
170 - something to be said for walking Giambi, Ortiz, etc., isn't there? I seem to recall El Duque often not pitching to a good hitter and getting the next guy out.
2006-05-01 17:34:26
180.   Mattpat11
179 I still advocate walking Manny Ortez and dealing with Traht and Fairytek.
2006-05-01 17:34:58
181.   Cliff Corcoran
171 He threw batting practice fort the Yanks again today according to Peter Abraham.

164 Really? If I had to list the reasons the Yankees lost that series I'd put them like this:

1) David Wells aborts his Game 5 start
2) Yanks fail to get the go-ahead run home from third twice in Game 4 (donde esta el sqeeze bunt?!)
3) Torre goes to Jeff Weaver instead of Rivera in Game 4

175 I'm gonna say bad call.

178 But was it his primary pitch or just part of his arsenal? I gotta get the Neyer/James Guide out.

2006-05-01 17:35:09
182.   rilkefan
147 - good point, or anyway interesting idea.
2006-05-01 17:35:17
183.   BklynBmr
Go deep, Johnny!
2006-05-01 17:35:41
184.   randym77
The boos for Damon are getting louder and louder. I don't know if it's because the Sox are down now, or if the fans are just getting drunker.
2006-05-01 17:35:42
185.   C2Coke
173We are all waiting...
2006-05-01 17:36:48
186.   Cliff Corcoran
I think Johnny's too rattled to do much tonight. I think the fool actually expected to be cheered. Did he learn nothing in his four years in Boston?
2006-05-01 17:37:17
187.   rabid stan
184 A little from Column A, a little from column B.
2006-05-01 17:39:24
188.   Mattpat11
181 Wells still left us in a game that we can win. Boone's inability to make contact with less than two outs and a runner on third kept us from scoring and brought in the Scream Weaver.

I credit

1. Weaver. Just Weaver.
2. Boone's bust which brought Weaver in.
3. A sudden and alarming inability to hit Brad Penny

2006-05-01 17:39:40
189.   BklynBmr
186 I think he's too thick to be rattled. He'll have his moment...
2006-05-01 17:41:37
190.   rabid stan
188, 181

Can we talk about '98 instead?

2006-05-01 17:43:01
191.   wsporter
I don't want to put the eye on him but Cano is having one hell of a game.
2006-05-01 17:43:41
192.   BklynBmr
Tigers is nails on D!
2006-05-01 17:44:10
193.   wsporter
Ballsey play, nice play, awful bunt.
2006-05-01 17:44:22
194.   rabid stan
Wang's gonna wind up with a GG someday if he makes it. He better be that good anyway.
2006-05-01 17:44:32
195.   Cliff Corcoran
178 The knuckler is listed as Cicotte's fourth pitch. It's listed first for the nine guys I mentioned in 135 (plus Jared Fernandez).

By the way, Wakefield's list of pitches is rather entertianing in the Neyer/James Guide:

1. Fast Knuckleball
2. Slow Knuckleball
3. Slow Curve (used as a change)
4. "Straight Ball" or "Non-Fastball"
5. Slider

2006-05-01 17:47:18
196.   rabid stan
195 I think "non-fastball" pretty well captures that rail-straight 77 MPH whatsit he throws.
2006-05-01 17:47:44
197.   Cliff Corcoran
By the way, Neyer & James say there have been at least 70 knuckleballers (bit more than Leiter's 14). They say Cicotte just might have invented the thing. He is one of the 70.
2006-05-01 17:47:56
198.   Simone
Ugh, Ortiz does it again. This inning has the making of a disaster.
2006-05-01 17:48:32
199.   Simone
Wang is throwing them right down the middle.
2006-05-01 17:49:06
200.   BklynBmr
Is Sutcliffe drinking?
Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2006-05-01 17:49:13
201.   Cliff Corcoran
He did break Manny's bat there. MLB.com lists Cairo as 6'1". I don't buy it.
2006-05-01 17:50:47
202.   Jeteupthemiddle
I'd be shocked if Cairo was 5'10''
2006-05-01 17:52:22
203.   rabid stan
Could be worse.
2006-05-01 17:52:35
204.   Simone
I can't believe that this is just the 5th inning. The game is exhausting.
2006-05-01 17:54:27
205.   randym77
Wang or Small next inning?
2006-05-01 17:54:46
206.   rabid stan
204 I think Wang may have another inning or two in him, count-wise. No need to panic, the game is only tied.
2006-05-01 17:54:59
207.   Marcus
I'm looking forward to a Papelbon appearance. That youngin' is due for a blown save.
2006-05-01 17:55:10
208.   BklynBmr
One tie-breaker coming up...
2006-05-01 17:55:31
209.   Cliff Corcoran
Man, death by papercut. Wang's actually pitching pretty well since the first. A single, couple bunts (one that didn't work), single, broken bat bloop, high bouncer. Not like they're pounding him. No walks in that inning.
2006-05-01 17:55:56
210.   rabid stan
Boo. Loretta.
2006-05-01 17:56:17
211.   Cliff Corcoran
Wang's at 77 pitches and just cleared the heart of the order, I leave him in.
2006-05-01 17:56:53
212.   rabid stan
ESPN compares Loretta to A-Rod.
2006-05-01 17:59:26
213.   Cliff Corcoran
Well, they both play infield . . . 212
2006-05-01 17:59:37
214.   Marcus
212 Ha! In what way? Do they have the same birthday? Do they both like chocolate milk? They're both right handed?
2006-05-01 17:59:56
215.   C2Coke
Small is in.
2006-05-01 18:00:57
216.   rabid stan
See, no reason to bring Small in. Wang's been solid, just unlucky. Small is fresh up from injury, who know's what they'll get from him, yet here he is.
2006-05-01 18:01:06
217.   Marcus
I don't like this decision. I agree with Cliff that Wang should get another chance and face a few more batters at least.
2006-05-01 18:01:16
218.   Cliff Corcoran
Big Fox News commercial on YES that almost made it seem like the two channels had a relationship. ick.

Small's in for the first time this year in a tie game when the starter has 77 pitches? Bad move. Maybe terrible move.

2006-05-01 18:01:50
219.   Cliff Corcoran
Man, I didn't even get that post up before he gave up a pitch.
2006-05-01 18:01:55
220.   Cliff Corcoran
Man, I didn't even get that post up before he gave up a hit.
2006-05-01 18:02:49
221.   JeremyM
Let me join the second guessing of this move. And I am so sick of hearing about Mirabelli.
2006-05-01 18:03:17
222.   rabid stan
214 Apparently, Loretta is going to get a lot of cheers, just like A-Rod.

It's like they were separated at birth or something.

2006-05-01 18:05:43
223.   Marcus
Wily Mo's Gameday picture makes him look like a Dick Tracy bad guy. Face Neck. His head continues up from his neck at the same diameter, like a tree stump with a knot on it.
2006-05-01 18:06:57
224.   rabid stan
223 Does he still has that business under his chin like Ortiz? Makes him look like Papi's mini-me
2006-05-01 18:07:48
225.   randym77
Well, that wasn't so bad.
2006-05-01 18:08:03
226.   rabid stan
Ok, so Small gets the job done for now. Still a bad move.
2006-05-01 18:08:21
227.   Cliff Corcoran
Well hot damn, Aaron Small. If Loretta reaches to start the seventh you go straight to Myers, right? Then use Farns and Mo?
2006-05-01 18:10:45
228.   rabid stan
227 I don't know. Apparently it was hard enough to get Farns to pitch more than one inning, but getting him to pitch on consecutive days after throwing more than one inning?
2006-05-01 18:11:34
229.   Cliff Corcoran
Nice contact by Jorge, good play by the Greek God of Glove.
2006-05-01 18:12:14
230.   Cliff Corcoran
228 Suck it up farmboy, there will be plenty of rest during the blowouts.
2006-05-01 18:12:19
231.   rabid stan
Robbie's got Wake
2006-05-01 18:12:57
232.   Cliff Corcoran
Cano hits third against Wakefield next time. Seriously.
2006-05-01 18:19:24
233.   Cliff Corcoran
Dunno if Cairo coulda had that, but he should have been the guy to try.
2006-05-01 18:19:55
234.   Cliff Corcoran
Just a sick game by Cano tonight. What a play.
2006-05-01 18:20:09
235.   randym77
Wow, Robby!
2006-05-01 18:20:40
236.   rabid stan
I know Small can pitch to more than four guys, but the Yanks really should be bringing out that lefty assassin right about now. I mean, why else did they pick him up if not to get Ortiz in the 7th?
2006-05-01 18:20:59
237.   BxSparksNYC
This must be the best defensive game Cano has had at this level...great game by Cano...
2006-05-01 18:22:02
238.   Cliff Corcoran
Aaron Small making Papi look bad. Wow.
2006-05-01 18:22:32
239.   rabid stan
Ok, never mind 236. I guess this situation will come up plenty of times in the next 18 meetings. They can get it right then.
2006-05-01 18:23:04
240.   Cliff Corcoran
236 If the Yanks had a lead, I'd agree, but with the tie, there might be a better place to bring in Myers. Had Loretta reached, however, that would have been the better place.
2006-05-01 18:23:55
241.   Cliff Corcoran
Leiter is just awesome. Incredible insight. Really thinking along with the pitcher and hitter.
2006-05-01 18:24:10
242.   JeremyM
Oh wow, Boston fans stay in the 7th inning of a 3-3 tie. WHAT FANS!
2006-05-01 18:24:45
243.   JeremyM
Cliff, you're so lucky to have Leiter, espn is killing me--Sutcliffe is beyond awful.
2006-05-01 18:24:47
244.   Cliff Corcoran
Myers is warm. Nixon up with a man on. Torre goes to his two-out gameplan and sticks with Small. Based on the Ortiz at-bat I can deal.
2006-05-01 18:25:43
245.   rabid stan
NO!
2006-05-01 18:26:18
246.   Cliff Corcoran
Never seen Jeter look that bad on a pop up. He was absolutly clueless, turning and turning and back and forth.

Leiter on YES was worth Leiter the Yankee in '06.

2006-05-01 18:26:29
247.   Mattpat11
oh for christ sakes
2006-05-01 18:27:24
248.   randym77
The wind must be really crazy.
2006-05-01 18:27:25
249.   rabid stan
Leiter should set up a pirate broadcast and take over all of ESPN's games.
2006-05-01 18:28:31
250.   vongimp
It is amazing that something good actually came out having Leiter on our roster last year.
Show/Hide Comments 251-300
2006-05-01 18:29:08
251.   BklynBmr
Whew!
2006-05-01 18:29:37
252.   Mattpat11
im listening to th sox on xm radio. they're not that bad
2006-05-01 18:29:52
253.   Shaun P
Ugh. No YES on Extra Innings. ESPN is blacked out 'cause I'm 25 miles from Boston. I refuse to listen to Rem-dawg and Orsillo, even if they aren't that bad. I ought to turn the TV on, seems like I've missed some great defensive plays.

And Small gets out of it! Phew!

2006-05-01 18:30:10
254.   rabid stan
Thank you Wily Mo. Thank you wind. Thank you Mats for not letting the ball land behind you.
2006-05-01 18:31:00
255.   Cliff Corcoran
The wind giveth and the wind taketh away.
2006-05-01 18:31:26
256.   marc
Let's hear it everyone about Torre's brilliant pitching move.
2006-05-01 18:31:39
257.   randym77
Al is great, and getting better with each broadcast.

No way was that ball landing behind Matsui. In front, possibly, but not behind. The balls are all falling short in left field.

2006-05-01 18:31:55
258.   Paul in Boston
This is just too tense for May 1. Cliff, I agree, it's exhausting! Probably because we have no control ...
2006-05-01 18:32:27
259.   BklynBmr
Man, it seems like one of those games where the Yanks should be down by 8 right about now. We'll either win it by 1 or watch a walkoff. Either way, someone's heart is gonna get broken tonight...
2006-05-01 18:32:30
260.   tom yf
Cliff, I'm with you on Leiter, except for one thing: he's too forgiving when pitchers walk guys! But what else would one expect from old Alois?
2006-05-01 18:32:59
261.   Shaun P
I think Knuckles said it back in 27 - I too am sick and tired of these weekday games in May getting the hype of the 1955 World Serious. I hope the Red Sox implode soon so the hype will go away. Its beyond overkill.

Sorry, had to get that out of the system. Timlin in for the knuckleballer.

2006-05-01 18:33:49
262.   rabid stan
257 Just because you think Mats couldn't possibly screw up a play in a certain way doesn't mean he couldn't actually do it. He had a whole 7 ft. of warning track behind him. Plenty of room for adventure.
2006-05-01 18:34:24
263.   Mattpat11
261 The division was decided on these games last year.
2006-05-01 18:37:27
264.   Mattpat11
I refuse to believe Jeter only has 18 at bats against Timlin
2006-05-01 18:39:15
265.   rabid stan
Jeter is making Timlin work, man.
2006-05-01 18:39:47
266.   Knuckles
anyone see the sign they showed on Espn calling damon a 'trader'? didn't know he's also the yanks gm.
2006-05-01 18:40:21
267.   BklynBmr
What an AB!
2006-05-01 18:40:39
268.   rabid stan
Brilliant. Just brilliant showcase of plate discipline.
2006-05-01 18:40:39
269.   Mattpat11
Come On Jason!
2006-05-01 18:41:09
270.   Shaun P
263 And the 19 games against Tampa Bay, and the 3 game loss to KC in early May, and . . .

Nice walk, Cap'n! As much as I miss seeing Sheff in the lineup, having Giambi bat 3rd and A-Rod 4th is good for now.

2006-05-01 18:41:12
271.   C2Coke
How about that homer now, Giambi?
2006-05-01 18:41:33
272.   BklynBmr
Giambi is doooo...
2006-05-01 18:42:43
273.   Mattpat11
...
2006-05-01 18:42:50
274.   Cliff Corcoran
That's the second time this year I've seen Jeter make a bad out on the bases. Before this year I can't think of one such example save the odd caught stealing.
2006-05-01 18:43:08
275.   rabid stan
Ugh.
2006-05-01 18:43:24
276.   Simone
Boy, did that suck.
2006-05-01 18:43:42
277.   Paul in Boston
Goodness. How many baserunners have we lost this year? The Gods of "you only get 27 outs" are laughing at us.
2006-05-01 18:43:57
278.   Mattpat11
270 No. We tied for first. We won the division because we beat Boston one more time than they beat us.
2006-05-01 18:43:58
279.   Zack
Please no Proctor, pretty please? And no Sturtze!
2006-05-01 18:44:05
280.   BklynBmr
274 He was back safely. Yet another out of position umpire making a bad call...
2006-05-01 18:44:18
281.   Cliff Corcoran
256 Go figure, Small is still nails.
2006-05-01 18:44:27
282.   JeremyM
It looked like he made it back from the only angle I saw, it was hard to tell.
2006-05-01 18:44:39
283.   Zack
This is totally shaping up to be another annoying loss...
2006-05-01 18:45:40
284.   Cliff Corcoran
Oooh, Jeter was safe. He wrapped his left hand behind Cora before the tag on his right shoulder.
2006-05-01 18:45:53
285.   Stormer Sports
He absolutely had the bag with his right hand. Just one more case of 2006 umpires being in the worong spot to make a call. Horse shit!
2006-05-01 18:46:12
286.   Stormer Sports
Left hand . . . sorry.
2006-05-01 18:46:27
287.   Shaun P
280 MLB really needs Sandy Alderson back in charge of the umpires. I learned today that his replacement is Mike Port. Port is not doing a good job, IMHO. The umpiring seems to have gone back to late 90s awful.
2006-05-01 18:47:34
288.   Stormer Sports
What I wouldn't give to have every one of those umpires back from the labor dispute. Who knows what will happen in the game, but as a professional umpire, you have got to make a call that plain as day.
2006-05-01 18:47:39
289.   JeremyM
No excuse for walking Cora.
2006-05-01 18:47:40
290.   BklynBmr
283 Zack, we should down by at least 6 runs. You know how those end up when we're on the other side of it...
2006-05-01 18:48:00
291.   Cliff Corcoran
Myers is pitching to Ortiz this inning unless there's a DP.
2006-05-01 18:48:27
292.   Shaun P
Meanwhile I think Small has officially run out of gas. I hope someone competent (Villone, anyone?) is warming in the bullpen.
2006-05-01 18:48:47
293.   Mattpat11
283 It is, but I feel odly calm. Its possible that Wang just looked so bad to me that I sort of wrote this game off.

Did he just walk Cora?

2006-05-01 18:48:47
294.   rabid stan
283 What's with the unwarranted scepticism? I mean honestly, it's a tie game. So many Yanks fans are starting to get neurotic about their team. Just like Sox fans used to be.

It's kind of grating.

2006-05-01 18:49:23
295.   rilkefan
Farns now? Harder to steal on I'd think, for one thing.
2006-05-01 18:49:27
296.   Stormer Sports
What a golden opportunity to test Smith in a tense situation. Why wont Torre give him a shot here?
2006-05-01 18:49:46
297.   Mattpat11
291 Youkilis and Loretta are up before Ortiz. He may not make it up regarless.\.
2006-05-01 18:50:11
298.   Mattpat11
296 Smith was sent down.
2006-05-01 18:50:17
299.   BklynBmr
Now the triple play is set up...
2006-05-01 18:50:56
300.   rabid stan
299 Not with one out.
Show/Hide Comments 301-350
2006-05-01 18:50:58
301.   rsmith51
There is one out 299
2006-05-01 18:50:58
302.   singledd
If Shef can hold the bat in his teeth, I say we put him in to PH next inning
2006-05-01 18:51:05
303.   rilkefan
296 - you're looking at him, or what's left of him...
2006-05-01 18:51:22
304.   BklynBmr
229 scratch that...
2006-05-01 18:51:30
305.   rsmith51
What about Mo?
2006-05-01 18:51:32
306.   Cliff Corcoran
295 Whoever comes in now it's for one batter. This would be a good way to burn Sturtze as Torre can't stay with him.
2006-05-01 18:51:35
307.   Zack
Oh God, Joe, don't you realize that Sturtze sucks???
2006-05-01 18:51:41
308.   randym77
Ack. Not Sturtze.
2006-05-01 18:51:53
309.   Mattpat11
294 They've run themselves out of a couple innings. You can't make that many mistakes against Boston in Fenway.

STURTZE?

2006-05-01 18:52:47
310.   rsmith51
If anyone can give up a HR, it's Sturtze. He'll probably induce a DP and we'll see him for the next 2 months.
2006-05-01 18:52:48
311.   JeremyM
Jesus, Sturtze?
2006-05-01 18:53:19
312.   JeremyM
Hey, if he gets a DP that's fine by me.
2006-05-01 18:53:21
313.   Yu-Hsing Chen
Oh god.... why do I have a feeling of that Farnsworth vs Papalbon x box baseball match becomming a reality
2006-05-01 18:53:48
314.   Simone
I just saw that Jeter was safe. These crappy umpires!
2006-05-01 18:53:57
315.   Cliff Corcoran
I should add Sturtze would not have been my choice, but he was the guy who was warm. I'd go Farns here if he's technically unavailable, one hitter would be perfect.
2006-05-01 18:54:18
316.   Mattpat11
Sturtze has only given up one homerun? That seems wrong.
2006-05-01 18:54:21
317.   Simone
Let's go, Tanyon! I want to believe.
2006-05-01 18:54:35
318.   rsmith51
Game on the line, what about Mo?
2006-05-01 18:54:51
319.   Cliff Corcoran
Money is that Sturtze walks him.
2006-05-01 18:55:30
320.   Mattpat11
Something approriate about a beachball showing up with Sturtze on the mound.
2006-05-01 18:55:54
321.   Stormer Sports
Fuck you Joe Torre!
2006-05-01 18:55:59
322.   Simone
Ah, believing is so painful.
2006-05-01 18:56:02
323.   BklynBmr
319 We could only wish.
2006-05-01 18:56:04
324.   Cliff Corcoran
318 I didn't get a chance to type it, but I was going to say Mo for Manny if it's still tied.
2006-05-01 18:56:08
325.   Mattpat11
ENOUGH.

CUT HIM.

2006-05-01 18:56:18
326.   rabid stan
320 Maybe they should also throw crap out onto the field.
2006-05-01 18:56:24
327.   Zack
Well there was a big surprise, and more coming I'm sure...

Maybe Joe will realize that when he can't get out a guy hitting at the Mendoza line, he doesn't belong in these situations...

2006-05-01 18:56:29
328.   marc
Sturtze, game over. and I was writing that before that ball got through
2006-05-01 18:56:35
329.   tommyl
I'm actually hoping Tanyon self destructs here. It'll get him off the roster that much faster methinks.
2006-05-01 18:57:08
330.   JeremyM
Get rid of this guy. We've got 4 or 5 live arms rotting in AAA.
2006-05-01 18:57:30
331.   Yu-Hsing Chen
god job Sturtze, you never fail to live up to "expectation"
2006-05-01 18:57:49
332.   rabid stan
Btw Cliff, good call on saving Myers. He could keep this from getting out of hand.
2006-05-01 18:58:04
333.   Stormer Sports
Hey, at least I can watch the Clipper game now, no more tie.
2006-05-01 18:58:08
334.   Zack
Well, we all know that by the end of the inning we will be down 3 or so, which is insurmountable for the Yanks in these games, and the Sox will have one of those "momentum building games" while we will go down sadly against Beckett...Oh well, at least its May...
2006-05-01 18:58:14
335.   BklynBmr
A shot right through his legs was appropo...
2006-05-01 18:58:40
336.   Benjamin Kabak
I hope Kyle Farnsworth and Mariano Rivera enjoy their night off. I guess it was too cold for them to pitch. Torre's really a f***ing idiot sometimes. Use your best relievers in key situations.
2006-05-01 18:59:49
337.   Mattpat11
Is this the big mysterious Ortiz killer that Myers wouldnt tell anyone about?
2006-05-01 18:59:50
338.   Stormer Sports
18 Mil. is an awful lot to pay a guy you'll never use.
2006-05-01 19:00:19
339.   BklynBmr
Sutcliffe is a moron.
2006-05-01 19:01:13
340.   rabid stan
339 Ortiz as offensive MVP?
2006-05-01 19:01:32
341.   Mattpat11
He is offensive.
2006-05-01 19:01:46
342.   Stormer Sports
Bklyn, again, why not Matt Smith here? Can't we see if he can get a tough lefty out in a close game?
2006-05-01 19:01:47
343.   rabid stan
It would be delicious if he K's or GIDP
2006-05-01 19:02:25
344.   rabid stan
I think I'm going to vomit.
2006-05-01 19:02:42
345.   Jeteupthemiddle
good thing we have a LOOGY
2006-05-01 19:02:45
346.   Mattpat11
There ya go.
2006-05-01 19:02:45
347.   Zack
334
2006-05-01 19:02:48
348.   randym77
Dammit.
2006-05-01 19:02:50
349.   JeremyM
Well, first regular season loss for Small on the boards.
2006-05-01 19:03:01
350.   Stormer Sports
LOL. Gotta love Joe. No Villone, no Smith. Just Tanyon and Myers and another loss to Boston.
Show/Hide Comments 351-400
2006-05-01 19:03:06
351.   Simone
Game over!

Joe just made bad choices with the bullpen tonight.

2006-05-01 19:03:35
352.   rabid stan
I guess he's still playing for the Sox.
2006-05-01 19:03:47
353.   Zack
Add to it all the annoying "how clutch Ortiz is" nevermind that the Sox were already ahead
2006-05-01 19:04:00
354.   Stormer Sports
Is it too early to wonder why we didn't fire Torre after the Anaheim seies last year?
2006-05-01 19:04:14
355.   randym77
Smith is gone. He was sent down to make room for Small.
2006-05-01 19:04:27
356.   Zack
I can't fault Joe for using Myers, but I sure as hell can fault him for using Sturtze
2006-05-01 19:04:32
357.   JeremyM
Smtih is gone, he's down in AAA for Small.
2006-05-01 19:04:45
358.   Yu-Hsing Chen
Ack.... at least it was another sort of quality start for our starter.
2006-05-01 19:04:54
359.   Stormer Sports
351

Joe has just made bad decisions in the bullpen for three years straight!

2006-05-01 19:04:58
360.   Benjamin Kabak
351 You say that as long it doesn't happen nearly every game. How many times this year has Tanyon Sturtze pitched when someone better was available? How many times do Farnsworth and Rivera sit in the bullpen as the game slips away? How many times does Joe leave in that "trusted guy" one batter too many?

Tonight, it was Small + Sturtze. Tomorrow, it'll be someone else. It's the same stuff. This is a loss for Joe Torre. And don't be so quick to absolve him.

2006-05-01 19:05:21
361.   Marcus
Neither LOOGY nor wind can stop a deep center blast from Papi. Well, Myers did a good job previous to that.
2006-05-01 19:05:25
362.   rabid stan
The wages of Tanyon Sturtze.

Would the ESPN guys at least TRY not to sound so excited?

2006-05-01 19:05:27
363.   BklynBmr
342 Storm, this would have been the time and the test. Un-fN-believable.
2006-05-01 19:05:50
364.   Cliff Corcoran
350 Stormer, Smith is in Columbus, he was sent down for Small. Folks told you that the first time you mentioned him. You need to read other people's comments if you're going to join the conversation, that's what makes it "banter."
2006-05-01 19:05:57
365.   Stormer Sports
Was that ball completely out of the reach of Damon and Bubba?
2006-05-01 19:06:40
366.   Harley
You can't be dumber than Rick Sutcliffe...

"3-2 score, tied in the bottom of the 8th, and Big Pappi..."

Honestly. You can't.

2006-05-01 19:06:44
367.   Stormer Sports
Cliff,

364

Sorry bout that.

2006-05-01 19:06:56
368.   Yu-Hsing Chen
You can't fault Myer for that one as he have been perfect all the way up to here... but Sturtze is just the biggest imploder on this team and sending him in in a Yank Sox tied game late is just asking to lose.
2006-05-01 19:07:20
369.   Zack
But then again, with the way this game was going, we all knew we stood no chance...let's get um tomorrow, in the end, its just May...
2006-05-01 19:07:21
370.   Mattpat11
I can see why Myers wouldn't want Ortiz to know he was going to throw that.
2006-05-01 19:07:35
371.   singledd
Common.... We got Myers more to face Ortiz then any other reason. And we will see this match up again. Torre is not an idiot each time someone beats us.

If we won 150 games, would we be calling Torre an idiot 12 times?

2006-05-01 19:07:53
372.   rabid stan
Man, Sox fans have no class.
2006-05-01 19:08:55
373.   rabid stan
371 Yes.
2006-05-01 19:09:02
374.   Stormer Sports
Instead of Johnny asking his teammates to call him nasty names, he should have asked Joe Torre if he would let Mazilli manage the game tonight.
2006-05-01 19:09:24
375.   randym77
365 Yes. It landed in the bullpen.
2006-05-01 19:09:32
376.   rsmith51
If I was Torre, I would have started Farnsworth in the eighth.
2006-05-01 19:09:32
377.   Zack
371 Yes, if he managed them like he has this season. Like I said, Myers exits to get out ortiz, so thats all on him. Sturtze on the other hand, well, I can only think that he has compromising pictures of Joe, plus he somehow became "a warrior..."
2006-05-01 19:09:36
378.   Yu-Hsing Chen
Sending Proctor in after the bases cleared was a good move though, at least Torre started to catch on that this guy is a lot better with no men on.
2006-05-01 19:10:51
379.   BklynBmr
How sweet would it be to bust Papelbon's glass slipper tonight? If we can get to him, that is. I'm guessing Timlin will come out...
2006-05-01 19:11:20
380.   Cliff Corcoran
What Torre did wrong was going too long with Small. I take back my first guess there, Small did the job, but a third inning was too much to ask. Having started the eighth with Small, he backed himself into a corner knowing Myers would pitch to Ortiz. Sturtze wasn't a good move, but it would be a one-run game if Myers didn't blow it, and you can't blame Torre for going to Myers. That's why he's on this team.

So take that off Torre's books and the Yanks have Rodriguez, Matsui and Posada down one against a young closer who'd due for a bad outing. I can't get too upset at Joe here. If Farnsworth didn't go long yesterday, maybe I'd be more upset.

2006-05-01 19:11:45
381.   BklynBmr
379 Guessed wrong...
2006-05-01 19:12:15
382.   Yu-Hsing Chen
Papalbon against Alex "the choke" Rod is a pretty bad matchup.... they are better off pinch hitting with anyone on the bench at this point XD
2006-05-01 19:12:30
383.   rabid stan
378 It's not hard to pick a pitcher to finish off a game opened up to a four run deficit in the eighth.

So maybe Torre deserves a cookie?

2006-05-01 19:12:34
384.   Stormer Sports
377 Zach,

You're right about Myers. If Ortiz takes him deep than so be it. I still say we never should have signed him and brought up a lefty from AAA, or grab one in a trade later in the year.

However, why pay a guy 18 Mil. if not to use him in exactly those types of situations? Isn't tonight's game exactly why we singned Farnsworth?

2006-05-01 19:12:52
385.   BklynBmr
I could K A-Rod with a high fastball...
2006-05-01 19:13:41
386.   rabid stan
God damn these ESPN stiffs
2006-05-01 19:13:47
387.   Mattpat11
369 You know what, I'm sick of this "Its still early" bullshit that we used to excuse them pissing the early games last year. I did not enjoy the rat race for the tie at the end of the year last year. WE NEED to stop playing like shit and using the date as an excuse.
2006-05-01 19:13:50
388.   Stormer Sports
382

Give Arod until the end of May. If he is still a bum, Joe should be shit-canned if he doesn't move Giambi to 4 and Arod to 6 behind Matsui.

2006-05-01 19:14:23
389.   BklynBmr
Get on base, Mats...
2006-05-01 19:15:16
390.   Stormer Sports
Bklyn,

Easy man, its not just a high fastball, first you throw a slider, then a change up, and then you strike out Soriano, I mean Arod, with a high fastball.

2006-05-01 19:15:27
391.   Benjamin Kabak
380 Cliff, I'm upset with Torre because of the first stuff you mention. I don't blame him for going with Myers. That's the best move he made all night. It just backfired. C'est la vie, as the saying goes.

But it's all the rest of it. Torre left Small in for a third inning. Then, he left him in after he gave up a baserunner. Then, he brought in Sturtze with two on.

I'll repeat what I said: Farnsworth and Rivera should not be sitting on the bench in the bullpen for another Yankee loss. Torre's been making this same mistake since the 03 World Series when Weaver came in to pitch. That's why I blame Joe for this loss.

2006-05-01 19:15:50
392.   rabid stan
Jeez. Why don't they just start cheering along with the rest of the fans?
2006-05-01 19:16:46
393.   Benjamin Kabak
As an addendum, even Terry Francona understands this. He had Papelbon warming up in the pen when the game was still tied. High leverage situations demand your best reliever. It's not rocket science or revolutionary baseball managing.
2006-05-01 19:18:09
394.   Marcus
That's a pathetic way to end it. Ugh. Get 'em tomorrow.
2006-05-01 19:18:19
395.   Stormer Sports
391 Ben, Cliff,

Who was it in St. Louis who got all the death threats for using his bullpen just like this in the World Series when he had his ace in the pen?

Joe reminds me of him, utterly and completely.

2006-05-01 19:19:34
396.   Mattpat11
quite the game
2006-05-01 19:19:57
397.   rabid stan
Bad loss.

At least Robbie looked great, and we still have tomorrow's dismantling of Beckett to look forward to.

2006-05-01 19:20:28
398.   Stormer Sports
Jeez, how many Sox ganes does ESPN have to view before they just admit the fans have no class?
2006-05-01 19:21:02
399.   Marcus
397 I like your optimism. But why do I see a Chacon drubbing and 10 Ks from Beckett?
2006-05-01 19:21:49
400.   Stormer Sports
. . . and not to mention the game cannot be delayed to await the arrival of a player from the airport. Even that pissed me off!
Show/Hide Comments 401-450
2006-05-01 19:21:57
401.   rabid stan
398 The guys at ESPN ARE Sox fans.

It's like the fish in water thing, they don't realize they're wet.

2006-05-01 19:22:58
402.   Cliff Corcoran
391 When you're right, you're right. Now that I think about it, how well Small pitched is irrelevant because he came in too early. Wang should have been allowed to at least start the sixth and it was all downhill from there. I think I was too distracted by dinner, I didn't really process the eighth inning as the eighth inning.
2006-05-01 19:23:35
403.   bnoj
Get Sturtze off this team.

That's all I can really say.

2006-05-01 19:24:06
404.   rabid stan
399 See 294.
2006-05-01 19:24:08
405.   Mattpat11
399 Because thats the way it always seems to go.
2006-05-01 19:24:43
406.   Stormer Sports
399

There is no reason to be optimistic while Joe Torre is in that dugout, none! The grass may not always be greener, but at least it isn't the same grass. I say again, there is a reason Joe couldn't manage his way out of a paper bag before signing with the Yankees.

2006-05-01 19:28:58
407.   Mattpat11
402 Were you impressed by Wang?
2006-05-01 19:29:51
408.   claybeez
Just don't get why Torre is so focused on using a left-hander to face a guy who now hits left-handed pitching almost equally well, in Ortiz.
2006-05-01 19:31:38
409.   claybeez
I thought Wang needed to go just when he did. He has lost the ability to K again. He's inconsistent. And once things start to unravel - look out!
2006-05-01 19:31:46
410.   Stormer Sports
408

For the same ass-backward by the book managing thinking that goes into facing Matsui with a lefty when he hits them better by .100 points! Fortunately for the Red Sox and White Sox, their managers don't have that problem.

2006-05-01 19:31:49
411.   Mattpat11
408Because.
2006-05-01 19:32:45
412.   Cliff Corcoran
407 Wang was getting it done and he was at just 77 pitches. The runs he gave up in the fifth were on bloops and high hoppers. He had cleared the middle of the order, I felt confident he could keep going at least until Ortiz came due again, which turned out to be that three-run dinger. Sticking with Wang was unlikely to lead to a worse result, though that last comment is second guessing and I prefer to stick with first guessing.
2006-05-01 19:32:49
413.   rabid stan
407 Wang did fine after that first inning. Torre should learn that when a pitcher is getting touched for runs on ground balls and bloops, it's a different thing than when he's getting lined all over the field.

Wang had fewer than 80 pitches when they lifted him. Unless he asked to be pulled, he should have been left in.

2006-05-01 19:34:10
414.   Cliff Corcoran
408 Because if Ortiz hits them both just as well, but Myers is abnorbally effective against lefties vs. another reliever, you get a net advantage you don't have with another guy.
2006-05-01 19:37:21
415.   Benjamin Kabak
I think Torre removed Wang because he REALLY wanted to get Small in the game. Remember, Small was warming up in the first inning.

If Torre is so dead set on using Small, I advocate replacing Jaret Wright in the rotation.

2006-05-01 19:39:05
416.   Benjamin Kabak
wow. Just checked the box score. I didn't realize the Yankees pitchers racked up just 1 strike out all night. That won't fly.
2006-05-01 19:41:04
417.   rabid stan
415 That's exactly what's wrong with Joe and his "guys". It's like he think he owes them or something. I think some of his inexplicable managing is because he plans out his bullpen usage in advance. He wants to get guys their innings, but he doesn't pay attention to the situation all the time.
2006-05-01 19:43:59
418.   rabid stan
Of course, why he would think he owes anything at all to a guy like Sturtze is a mystery.
2006-05-01 19:46:45
419.   JohnnyC
Fellas, same old story and don't say I didn't tell you so. Just two questions I got from Lon Trost (or was it Randy Levine?): 1) who in their right mind runs on an 0-2 pitch with 2 men out? Because you figure if you get thrown out, you can have your lead-off hitter lead off the next inning? Is that figuring? I thought the point of running and playing "smallball" was to score runs and win games. Obviously I don't inhabit the same bizarro world as Joe Torre. 2)why Tanyon Sturtze? Just why? Why? Is he Joe's illegitimate son or something? What were the chances he could either a) get a strikeout or b) get a ground ball DP? Based on his work so far this season: none.
2006-05-01 19:52:39
420.   tommyl
The thing that frustrates me right now is how well the bullpen was managed last night against the Jays. Farnsworth to pitch the 7th and part of the 8th, Mo to get the last 4 outs, both in high leverage situations.

With two on in the 8th, unless they are tired you have to go to Farnsworth or even Mo with that piece of the order. As others have said, I can't fault the move to Myers but going to Sturtze when Villone, Mo, Farnsworth and Proctor were available is just flat out wrong.

Also, I'm still upset about the Bubba steal early on. They keep running themselves into outs. This is not a smallball team, stop trying to make it something its not. Its like having Joe Montana and insisting on playing a grinding running game because its more "fundamental." I'm sure the manager and coaches are much more skilled than me in many aspects and there's no way I could manage a team, but I can see wrong decisions when they are made, and those are wrong.

2006-05-01 20:02:44
421.   Benjamin Kabak
420 Funny thing about yesterday's Yanks-Jays game is that by the end, Lee Mazilli was managing that game. Coincidence?
2006-05-01 20:08:59
422.   tommyl
421, not sure, but you have to assume Joe is sitting with a cell phone or a batboy relaying decisions.
2006-05-01 20:13:02
423.   JohnnyC
Tommy, it isn't Bubba running at all that's the mistake (he probably should have gone on the first pitch...more likely to be a knuckleball since Wakefield's not gonna give Damon a cookie fastball)but inexplicably running on an 0-2 pitch where, literally, Mirabelli could have called 3 straight pitch-outs if he had a mind to. As Singleton said in his reply to Kay, the Sox didn't steal the Yankees' steal sign, you never run on an 0-2 pitch because the pitch-out becomes a high-leverage option. Red Sox smart, Torre moron.
2006-05-01 20:14:16
424.   JeremyM
As far as Ortiz on lefties, it's simple--they don't back him off of the plate. Ortiz even said after the game that when he faces lefties he knows they're going to throw him outside. This game wasn't the time with 2 on, but someone needs to stick one in his ribs so he doesn't hang over the plate like he does. His feet need to move.

I totally concur on the smallball, although Wakefield is generally a good guy to run on and they just guessed right.

A-Rod and Matsui getting some hits would really help things. I'm not thrilled about Matsui at all this year, I don't think he was worth what he was paid at all even though I love the guy.

2006-05-01 20:15:10
425.   tommyl
423, good point. I still argue about the running at all, with Damon, Jeter and Giambi as your next hitters. With Bubba's speed an extra base hit would likely score him anyways.
2006-05-01 20:15:52
426.   JohnnyC
tommy, Kay and Singleton asked Mazz before the game and the bullpen calls were his...Torre actually let him manage after he was thrown out. The joke is that, supposedly, Torre "was thinking along the same lines as Mazzilli" ensconced in his office recliner, sipping his extra-large green tea. Yeah, right.
2006-05-01 20:19:11
427.   rabid stan
422 Hmmm. Torre relaying his decisions through a batboy? Interesting, but more likely the batboy is relaying his decisions through Torre.

I can see it now, the batboy has a Tanyon Sturtze rookie card, which would be worthless if Sturtze had been sent down to the minors 2004, but if he goes down as the worst everyday reliever of all time...

2006-05-01 20:20:47
428.   tommyl
423, I was also using that as an example of a larger trend I've observed this year. I remember a couple of weeks ago a game we won against the Orioles where we turned a potential 6 run inning into a 2 or 3 run inning because of "smallball" so when homers were hit less were on base and there were more outs.

It amazes me to this day that baseball above many other sports seems to be a holdout in terms of not believing simple and straightforward facts merely because they disagree with "baseball sense". Its even more frustrating because baseball is easily the most quantifiable sport of any out there.

2006-05-01 20:21:40
429.   JohnnyC
You're all missing the point. It isn't running or not running, smallball or waiting for the big bang...it's that Torre has no clue when to do what. Yes, Bubba should try to steal with 2 out and Damon at the plate (chances that Damon would get an extra base hit not as great as, say, Giambi). With Bubba in scoring position, Damon can try to slash something past the infield on the left side. But you don't run on a count that allows Wakefield to throw something other than a knuckleball. This is elementary baseball. Elementary. And it's not like Torre's trying to play against the book and swashbuckle the Yankees to victory. That would take real imagination. Which...oh, forget it.
2006-05-01 20:28:07
430.   tommyl
426, interesting, very interesting. Wonder why he doesn't have more influence then as the bench coach on other days.
2006-05-01 20:28:48
431.   tommyl
429, It was one out. As you'll recall, Damon's weak grounder would have advanced Bubba anyways.
2006-05-01 20:31:43
432.   Zack
ANother thing where Torre's loyalty is costing us is this whole insane notion of "keeping Matsui's streak alive." I mean, for the love of God, give the man a day off, he is killing us! He's prob. still hurt, hes totally lost, and throwing him out there everyday to bat 5th is rediculous. I don't care if it might offend him or he has some silly streak, you are costing us games Joe!!

I am at the point where I really think that Joe is actually hurting out record. I am convinced that Jeter could manage this team to the same record, and this team with NO manager could win 90 games. But Joe's in-game managing seems to take away wins...

2006-05-01 20:35:07
433.   JeremyM
Yes, johnny, you are dead on about the decision to run on 0-2, I guess I phrased it wrong when I said it was a lucky guess. It wasn't luck at all.
2006-05-01 20:39:21
434.   Yu-Hsing Chen
I don't think the Bubba runing was such a terrible call except that it was done on the wrong pitch count.

But honestly any other combination of pitching move (leaving Wang in for the 7th, Getting Proctor to start the 8th, getting Farnsworth out.. using Villone etc) is better than putting Tanyon in a tied game against a good team in the 8th.

Wang wasn't spetacular today but i think he did more than his share of the job, giving up a opposite field bloop single against David Ortiz on a very well pitched low and away ball is nothing to be ashamed of. in fact he gave up 6 hits but none of them came anywhere close for being extra bases (although the Bubba catch was definately scary)

His high hits allowed isn't a problem as long as he keeps such a low longball/extra bases against hits ratio on . (As oppose to Struze.. who is giving up more than 1/3 of his hits for extra bases or long balls, Wang is serving up less than 1/10 of his hits for extra bases and 1/40 for longball)

I think Wang need to be credited with the fact that he have never really blown a game for the Yankees this year (and almost none last year too) he might not pitch well on some days, but he will almost always keep the team in the game.

Another minor observation on Wang, he doesn't seem to warm his hands much almost no puffing hands and very little rubbing too ... and in such cold night games... with his control problem... it's hard to not link these together somehow... that and perhaps he isn't warming up enough on cold games.. AND linking this to the fact that his best game so far was indoor....

If this observation was true though, he should be just fine as it's only going to get hotter from here on.

2006-05-01 20:42:03
435.   Benjamin Kabak
434

No mention of his zero strike outs? I'm much more concerned about that.

2006-05-01 20:49:47
436.   Yu-Hsing Chen
435
Ben, it is a concern yes, but my observation seem to be that it has a lot to do with his feel for the pitch.

Like I meantioned at 434 , his control problem so far seems inexplicablly tied with his inexperience in dealing with cold weather. combine that with the fact that all of his strike out pitches are feel pitchs (Slider, Changeup)and it's not hard to see the conenction.

Remember he had 8k and 0 BB in the start against the Twins, granted that Rondell White certainly padded that number a bit but the Twins are still a pretty good ballclub in at least making contact, I think that shows at least he is more than capable of striking people out... IF he can feel his pitch.

My conclusion is, if he continues to not striking people out in hot day games and/or indoor games, then we might be worried, but other than that, my current guess is that it's simply the inexperience of dealing with cold weather pitching that's really hurting him. (all his other outting so far have being cold outdoors game save for the Twins game)

2006-05-01 21:57:30
437.   brockdc
Just finished watching the Tivo'd Yanks-Sox debacle on ESPN. Here are my observations:

-Some fascinating and imaginative sign-making at Fenway tonight. Apparently, Damon is a "Trader." Classic.

-Matsui is one of the streakiest hitters I've ever had the privilage/agony of watching.

-I've never seen A-Rod look so reticent at the plate. When he does get the bat off his shoulders, he appears sheepish and awkward.

-Joe Torre is mentally handicapped.

2006-05-01 22:14:16
438.   dpmurphy
"The guys at ESPN ARE Sox fans."

Then I guess you missed sutcliffe saying "if jeter thinks he was safe I believe him" stan.

And I guess you also missed the 15 minute worship segment to jeter (never makes a mental mistake, then, ironically, does).

Cliff, I'm guessing your review of the sox season so far was done from reading AP reports. That was pretty bad. Yes, the sox relief could be better, but foulke has been a surprise. As far as their problems, it's been getting hits with men in scoring position, period.

And please quit with the spinning of the yankee payroll. They spend almost twice what the red sox do. Tons more than other teams. You ARE the house. You're built to win, and have a huge advantage. No way you can spin it.

2006-05-01 22:18:17
439.   dpmurphy
"Yes, well, how many free agents who are good and could choose between the Yankees and the Red Sox hve wound up signing with Boston."

They follow the money, duh. And schilling.

Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.