This is particularly ugly and painful to start the season. It's really hard to know what kind of team we're going to have by July. Who will be pitching? Who will be hurt? Which bullpen guys will be the "trusted" favorites?

Why is Joe constanty pinch-running in the middle to late innings for Giambi? He hasn't played a game at 1B all year, does he need rest? I know he isn't Vince Coleman on the base-paths, but did he seriously think a 4 run lead in the 7th (with Boston yet to bat) was game set and match against the Red Sox? Would we have won the game, who knows? But this is the third time this season we needed Giambi to bat and to protect Arod, but he was taken out as early as the 6th inning. That is nothing more than incompetence. Especially considering Joe did nothing following the move to plate that run.

He went with Thompson because he has more experience and Joe figured it was the "right thing to do." He may be right in a perfect world where no one wins and no one loses, but sheesh.

It also didn't help that the entire offense sputtered, and Arod kept it close.

This game also illustrated what happens to this club without Posada, bot behind the dish and at the plate. Those who believe he's at his end and think we should look for a replacement are out of their minds. Expect many games like this if Posada ever goes down for an extended period of time. He is as important to this team at Jeter, Arod or Mo, no doubt about it.

It's just one game, but Joe's robotic managing drives me nuts. Doesn't mean it's time for him to go, but come the hell on already.

I know there's a shortage of catching talent out there, but they should have gotten a young catcher of the future this year, if not last. I love Jorgie, and I don't think he's in decline yet, but he's geriatric for a catcher. It would be nice to be able to give him some time off without adding an insta-out to the lineup.

Wish we hadn't traded Dioner Navarro for Randy Johnson...

The lineups in the next two games look funny even just on paper.

Mo's problem is simply that he's not getting enough work. More work = tired arm = not leaving the ball up.

I think Torre is a HOFer but his time has passed. How long has he been Mo's manager? We've known 8 (not getting enough work) for years, and yet Torre has to relearn it every year?

And to further that, they'll start Mfhdoiljgkvf and Nieves today and tomorrow. [Wretch]

I agree with Cliff - anything less than a sweep and the Sox have to feel bad.

[sorry had to get that out]

I'm not worried about Mo.

As for Eyechart...I really think he's on the team to make sure A-Rod has a friend in the clubhouse. That saddest part of that SI article last year was when they asked A-Rod who his closest friends on the team were, and he couldn't name anyone. (He finally said Mo.) Now he has Minky.

There's no reason we should have to watch him play every day.

9 Jim, you take this stuff too seriously. It's a beautiful day in the tristate area this morning, we've got the whole weekend ahead of us. I haven't felt this good all week.

I really wanted to win last night's game--especially when it was 6-2--because I am not so confident in the next two games.

Oh I think we will score some runs...even with Nieves in the lineup (though, I hope that is countered by having Phelps in to get back at least a little bit of offense)...against Beckett and Matsuzaka. The Yankees are a patient team, and both pitchers have had spotty control at times.

I just wonder if Karstens and Wright will be able to keep it close. I wouldn't usually be so concerned about today, but I think Karstens was rushed back a bit, and under normal circumstances (meaning with Mussina and Pavano still active) he would have had another rehab start.

I also don't know if Wright will do as well with a more patient Boston team.

I will still watch both games completely. From watching this rivalry over the years, I have maybe learned one thing--the series never goes the way it's expected to.

Of course, they DFA'd Moeller this week, because they decided they needed someone who could hit. Maybe we should have grabbed him. He doesn't hit much, but he hits more than Nieves. And he had a pretty decent spring.

We're actually better off without him.

On another note, I'm usually annoyed by the vociferous criticism of Torre by some here, but in this case I agree that the bullpen was managed poorly. Proctor could have pitched to Ortiz and Ramirez, why Myers at that point? Then, anybody but Visciano, who had to have been gassed from Thursday's debacle. Gotta go for a run and burn off this frustration...

But at this time, Pavano could be quite useful, given the alternatives at disposal. Yes, it is frustrating that he gets injured at amazing frequency, and that diminishes his value greatly. But the question is: if he is healthy and taking his turn in the rotation, is he a useful pitcher? The answer is: Yes. He is a league average pitcher, and certainly a better option than the Darrell Rasners, Jeff Karstens and the Chase Wrights of the world. If he was blocking Hughes, I would understand. But given the replacements, Pavano is useful to this ballclub at this time.

1) When Gibbons pulled Halladay out in the 8th inning in Toronto on 95 pitches with the heart of the Sox order coming up.
2) Instead of a big present, Torre gave a lot of little stocking stuffers that added up to a lot.

On this second point, the post game interviews from Torre and ARod were from the same script: "In this ball park, no lead is safe." Which makes me a little confused as to what Torre was doing in the 8th inning on both offense and defense.

And I completely disagree with that sentiment. We know what we have in Carl Pavano. Throwing out the injury history, he's a guy that very rarely even pitches to the league average. He's a (slightly below) league average by virtue of the averages working out that way (if that makes any sense.)

In other words, he's not a league average pitcher because he can be counted on to pitch to the league average year in and year out. He's a league average pitcher because his anomaly year of 2004 and his 97 innings in 2000 drag the rest of his really bad numbers up to e league average. He can be counted on to pitch to a number below the league average, often significantly so.

The two dingers took some life from the Shil. Cannot stand him or any of their pitchers for that matter. DICE K-keep the hat on the right way and speed it up, will ya. Creamed the first on, high and far. Second one was a liner that just keep going.

Red Sox reliever looked pretty good, yes. Bad.

I've said it before, Cliff would make a great Little League coach.

Also, this is why baseball is so much harder than any other sport. A-rod is Kobe Bryant right now. He rarely ever misses. In basketball, you just give the ball to Kobe when you need it. But you have to wait to get to A-rod.

I would have kept Giambi in, but with the bottom of the order up, Joe was trying to plate an extra run on a bouncer or sac fly.

If Minky was 60% brought in to make ARod feel better.... well.... I ain't gonna argue with that! (cause ARod looks like he feels a lot better).

Francoma left a 'rookie' lefty in to face ARod (and then KT). Looked wrong to me, but it worked. Bad decision that worked good?

I don't think Torre really wanted to bring in Mo for 5 innings. I think he wanted to save him for tonights game. He only brought him in when he 'had to'.

Was Viz the wrong guy? I don't know his BB rate, but both Bruney and Britton are known for walking guys, and Joe really hates that (as we all do)

Subtract Farns, and our BP gives up under 2 runs per 9? Who thought they would give up 4 in 1?

I like Joe managing the Yankees. I don't like many of his moves, but overall, he's the man for the job. When Yogi was asked what makes a good manager, he replied:
"Good players".

You can blame Joe for 'bad' moves, but really... Myers/Viz/Mo had plenty of breathing room, and should have gotten it done.

Hopefully, we will have a 'take no prisoners' approach tonight.

Meanwhile, how many clutch situations does ARod fail at before he is booed again?

Agreed. If that was the plan, it's working!

"Meanwhile, how many clutch situations does ARod fail at before he is booed again?"

I can't help but think that this scorching spring is setting him up for a fall. He can't continue like this all season...can he? He's on pace for, what, 130 homers? That's not sustainable.

And if he slumps in September or October, well, the "Mr. May" accusations will be out in force.

Says you!

Matsui cannot come back any faster. Just stay healthy this time.

Its a nine man circular lineup. The "enough offense" theory means jack when the bases are loaded with two outs and here comes The Stink.

A-Rod has to hit like this all year to even try to justify Mientkiewicz. I have to assume at some point he will hit like a human being.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18059324/

I was reminded of it because of this part:

====
Many think the ultimate compliment is to be described as a great handler of pitchers. Show me a catcher who's described that way and I can probably show you a batting average under .230. A former catcher had it right when he said, "The best handler of pitchers is the catcher who drives in the winning run."
====

IT seems like every single year the first Sox series in Fenway is a disaster in favor of the Sox, and yet, come August, things have changed. I'm not worried, never was, just annoyed. The Sox are kings of April and May, and have been how many years in a row now? Its not like if we get swept this weekend, we aren't playing them AGAIn next weekend.

What I don't get is why Joe treats Boston like its the playoffs and does his panic style push button BP management, but won't do that for, say, the Jays. Yeah, they are good and are in our division, but its still April and its just one game of 19. No need to panic Joe.

I will be stuck in LA all day and night so I'll be saved either the pleasure or the pain. Guys, I leave the fun of watching Beckett last 2.1 innings to y'all, do good work!

"Gritty" is another one.

"He crushes it. No need to even look, the sound is easily recognizable from guys that swing like that. Now I'm down 2-0 and just got beat by the guy I knew I had a plan I could execute and get out."

What was the plan, Curt? Don't throw a meatball? Intentional walk?

One of his commenters suggests brushing Arod back because he's so locked in. For a guy who's not crowding the plate, that's as bush league as it gets.

*

Red Sox

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Jason Varitek, C
8. Coc