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Bombed
2006-08-17 17:16
by Alex Belth

The Orioles clobbered the Yankees, 12-2 on Thursday afternoon. The beating was highlighted by a miscommunication between Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, where Rodriguez let a routine pop up pop-out of his glove. The O's took advantage of the error with a two run homer and that's the way it went today for the Yanks, who now limp into Boston just a game-and-a-half ahead of Boston, two in the loss column. The Bombers have lost six of their last ten. It's going to be nuts at Fenway Park this weekend but unless one team wins 4 out of 5 or sweeps, the effect of the series on the race will be a wash. Yanks need to split tomorrow, though.. I wonder if Rodriguez can respond with a big weekend or if he'll melt in the Fenway Park pressure cooker. Manny, Cookie, Jeter, Cano, Paplebon, Mo. Lots to be excited about.

Go Baseball.

Comments
2006-08-17 17:50:54
1.   Gagne55
Pitching matchups for the series?
2006-08-17 17:54:02
2.   KBT
"...Rodriguez LET a routine pop up pop-out of his glove."

While harsh, that's what everyone was thinking.

2006-08-17 18:00:20
3.   KBT
1
Wang/Jason "NY loves ya" Johnson
Ponsoon/Lester
Unit/Beckett
Moose/Schilling
Lidle/Hefty Wells
2006-08-17 18:04:42
4.   randym77
1

Friday: Wang vs. Jason Johnson
Friday night: Ponson (?) vs. Jon Lester
Saturday: The Big Unit vs. Upper-Deck Beck
Sunday: Moose vs. Schilling
Monday: Lidle vs. Wells

Ponson is still tentative. It looks like Andy Phillips is headed for the DL, which means the Yanks get to call up yet another pitcher. Karstens?

It won't be Aaron Small. He started tonight in Columbus...and got lit up.

2006-08-17 18:09:39
5.   Yankee Fan in Chicago
If we lose that first game with the Wanger going against the awful Johnson, you'll find me curled in a fetal position under my bed til Tues morning.
2006-08-17 18:14:37
6.   Yankee Fan in Chicago
FYI: Tyler Clippard itchingpey an oney itterhey for Trenton through 8. 4 walks and 8 ks.
2006-08-17 18:20:36
7.   KBT
6 What's that? A one what? Speak up!
2006-08-17 18:21:29
8.   randym77
He did it. Wow.
2006-08-17 18:22:49
9.   randym77
9 IP, 4 BBs, 9 Ks.
2006-08-17 18:28:48
10.   Yankee Fan in Chicago
Clippard had a slow start to the season, but he's really come on strong. He's still only 21. He and Hughes are going to make an awfully strong 1-2 for many years in pinstripes, barring any injuries, knock on wood.

MiLB doesn't do pitch counts. I hope he didn't throw too many.

2006-08-17 18:37:25
11.   randym77
Pavano pitches for Trenton on Sunday. Amazing. I really wasn't expecting to see him pitch this year.
2006-08-17 19:30:15
12.   yankz
LOL- thanks to some poor pig latin reading skills, I didn't realize that it was a no-no- all this time I've thought it was a one-hitter! WOW, Congratulations T-Clip!
2006-08-17 19:52:12
13.   Max
Great news about Clippard...I'm loving how the future looks.

As far as the more worrisome present, I would feel fine with winning 2 or 3 out of 5. If we could win 2 out of the first 4, I wouldn't even mind losing the last game if it's a blowout and we don't destroy our bullpen. Enduring another Wright start against the Mariners and Meche with a bombed out bullpen is not any Yankee fan's idea of fun.

If there's a silver lining to the way the schedule shakes out for us this month, we potentially get more of a "reprieve" with the Mariners after the weekend, while the Sox have to go to Anaheim and face the Halos. Then again, we just don't seem to be able to blow out opponents these days, so none of our games seem to provide a real breather.

2006-08-17 20:09:08
14.   Kirribilli Yankee Fan
13...agreed 2 or 3 wins would be fine this weekend...the offense needs to pick up and I am glad they are dl'ing Phillips and getting another arm .....

If Wang loses and it could be scary with the Aruban Ace pitching the 2nd and then Randy and Mussina matched against Beckett and Schilling....

2006-08-17 20:15:43
15.   C2Coke
13 Max, does your future include this weekend?........just wondering.
2006-08-17 20:17:27
16.   pistolpete
7 Was that some sort of Scottish dialect? Sounds like something you'd hear in a pub.
2006-08-17 20:55:24
17.   Max
15 Coke, everyone is making this weekend out to be Armageddon. The point is that unless one team wins 4 or 5 (generally unlikely given the history of the teams against each other, and the way the pitching matchups shakeout), the weekend will be a wash.

So yeah, I'm mainly concerned about getting away from Fenway with 2-3 wins and arms still attached to our pitchers. Last time I checked, we still have 14 games in 15 days after five games in Fenway.

I'll panic if we lose 5 this weekend, and celebrate (maybe) if we win 4 or 5. Otherwise, I prefer to focus long term. This weekend is for the fans and media...the division isn't going to be decided by Monday afternoon.

2006-08-17 22:25:00
18.   Kered Retej
Three words: "Sweep the leg."

(Line stolen from "The Karate Kid".)

I see that everyone is saying they would be OK with 2 or 3 out of 5, but for me, anything less than 4 is a disappointment, and I think this is the right time for the Yanks to serve notice and sweep. I believe the Yanks are the better team, but they need to go out and prove it. The pitching has been pretty solid, especially if you compare us with Boston, and the lineup is pretty much stocked from top to bottom, even with Bernie at DH. The Yanks just need to put it all together.

The team can go out this weekend and let Boston hang around a little longer, or they can step on their necks and put the AL East essentially out of reach. The Yanks have had chances in the last week or so to put some distance between them and the Sox, and they have failed to do it. Now is the time for the bats to wake up and get timely hits, and for all of the pitchers to step up and produce like they can. I want to see Boston fans crying come Tuesday.

More Karate Kid:

"Strike first, strike hard, no mercy!"

2006-08-18 06:42:55
19.   rsmith51
18 And I always though he said "Sweep the lick." No idea what that meant other than that he was going to hurt Maccio's character.

You do realize that you are quoting the bad guys who end up losing. How about "Breathe in nose, breath out mouth." or "Wax on, Wax off"? Ok, maybe stick with the other quotes...

2006-08-18 11:55:13
20.   Kered Retej
19 You're right, the quotes are from teh wrong side. How about: "Bonzai!!!!"

I'm greedy. I want to see the Yanks take the Red Sox apart and completely demoralize them. Have David Ortiz strike out 4 or 5 times in a big situation. See Curt Schilling and Papelbon get lit up for lots of runs. Even have Sir Ponson throw a CG shutout. I think this Red Sox team is ready to fall apart, and the Yanks just need to give them a good shove off the cliff.

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