Enjoy Vermont, Alex. Beautiful country, indeed.

The standings don't mattah a lick to fans like the one you encountered. They reflexively respond to Yankee gear like butane responds to flame, which is fine.. just not my style.

I'm always polite to Sox fans, no matter the standings, or the situation. Shook hands with the ones who sat in front of me celebrating Game 7 ALCS 2004, and wished them luck in the Series... even if I didn't mean it...

There's been a lot of talk this season about Beckett's development as a pitcher. But his curveball looks pretty flat - a far cry from a Flash Gordon curveball. In fact, it's even looks flatter than a Scott Proctor curveball. It seems the reason he's having more success is simply that he's only throwing 80 fastballs per game instead of 100 fastballs per game. And a little variation makes a 95 mph fastball harder to hit. But I'm not convinced he's on his way to taking the mantle of 'best AL pitcher' from Johan Santana anytime soon.

2 He snapped off a few good ones yesterday. I think a lot of what's going into his "development" angle is that he was so bad last year that this year is great in comparision.

1

not to start a story telling session but ny fans are surely not all like you. my first time in nyc a few years back, me and my buddy went to a bar for lunch and a drink after the long drive and parking at the hotel. we went outside to have a smoke and some dude walking by got up in my face because i had a sox cap on. i love talking with fans of other teams though and generally like sitting next to them at games becasue you egt that different perspective and learn things about the players you may not normally know.

1 Right. It's paht of the New England cultchaah to despise the Yankees - little old ladies and toddlers alike!

Personally, I get a kick out of igniting tempers over my Yankees gear, although when times are tough I prefer to don my Tampa Yankees cap and pretend that I'm from Florida. :)

It's not just New England. I can still remember going to my first MLB game as an eight-year old in Kansas City, the Royals vs. the Brewers. I was dressed down in the parking lot by some old codger for wearing a Yankees hat. And I was eight!

4 yeah, certain fans of all creeds and colors take the 'enemy' 'rivalry' 'hate' thing waaaay too far.

sometimes it's hard not to take the crap you hear from a rival fan personally, I mean, they are insulting your FAMILY, right? but anybody who physically gets up in someone's grill is seriously lacking perspective in life.. and is nobody I want to be around.

7 by colors I mean team colors, lest anybody think I'm brining race into the discussion.

Back in '99 when I was living in Seattle, the Yankees swept a series at Safeco Field. At the end of Sunday's game, a couple of guys with Yankees caps paraded through the concourse pretending to sweep it clean while chanting, "Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!"

I looked at my girlfriend and said if someone ever tried that at Fenway (or the converse), there would be an altercation. Seattle fans were too nice.

Of course, even here in Syracuse, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone wearing a sox hat these days.

7 Some guy got in my face because he couldn't tell the difference between a Brooklyn Dodger cap and a Boston Red Sox cap. I ignored him, which must've pissed him off. The reason I ignored him, because I had no idea as to why he was yelling "Boston Sucks." This was in Detroit, back in 2003; I remember Weaver had started the game.

I've been hoping that Jeter is the DH today, and Betemit plays short. With Wang pitching and the day-game effect (white shirts in the crowd), if our usual shortstop is out there we'll be eating lots of pasta divingjeter for lunch.

I find the whole "Boston sucks" thing really bush, if only because it's so...so Red Sox. I mean, last night was a fun game - not exactly an artistic success, but lots of interesting goings-on and a satisfying Yankee win in the end. And there are thousands of drunk assholes yelling, "Boston sucks!" Why? To me, the point of the game was the Yankees, not the Red Sox; why not cheer the Yankee win rather than the Red Sox loss?

For years, RSN has tended to view their fortunes in light of the Yankees - yelling "Yankees suck" as the Pats were winning the Super Bowl. I really hate to see Yankee fans fall to that level

I actually like being jeered when I wander into enemy territory. In February 1999, I was in Boston on business and decided to go to a Bruins game. It also happened to be the day the Yankees acquired Roger Clemens. During one of the intermissions, I went up to the concession to buy a beer and a hotdog and the vendor asked to see my driver's license. He looked at it carefully, handed it back to me and said something like "You're from New York. I am not serving you." Thinking he was joking, I laughed a little, but he repeated, "You got Clemens, I am not selling you anything". Realizing he was serious, I moved on to another stand, but this time bought a soda instead.

12 word. I thought "19-18" was bush, too.

nothing was more bush to me than, "just say no!" one of my favorite baseball moments ever when Darryl shut them up.

6 On the other hand, people in Baltimore seem to treat you better if you wear Yankees gear. It's almost as if they appreciate the infusion of tourism dollars into the local economy (or realize that they are outnumbered).

12 "I really hate to see Yankee fans fall to that level."

With all due respect, painting all fans of a team with a broad brush ("so...so Red Sox") and considering yourself and the other supposedly definitive fans of your team far above that other team's fans is the level I'd prefer to avoid.

12 Agreed...but I think that's the result of the Yankees trendiness. Far too large a percentage of people who go to YS aren't really fans, but rather loudmouths looking to drink beer and misbehave in the Bronx.

12 Living in Boston, I get to see the best and worst of this baseball-crazed town. The best part is that it keeps baseball in the news all year long -- I love that. The worst is that people lose perspective, and sometimes treat the rivalry as real life.

In my professional career, I prefer not to disclose I'm a Yankee fan since I realize some people will actually dislike me for it. While this is patently ridiculous (after all, die-hard Red Sox fans don't switch to rooting for the Yankees if they move to NY), it's a distraction I'd rather not have at work.

16 Sorry Josh, but I don't see the problem with looking down on Red Sox fans :)

living in L.A. in 96-97, (I was there for 6 years) several years before the Angels took ownership of the Yanks, I actually felt sorry for Angels fans, they were so outnumbered when NY came to town.
It wasn't that Yanks fans were getting in their faces or anything, it was that there were like twice as many of us in their park.
I was almost embarrassed to be part of the invading swarm. Poor little kids in Angels gear having to suffer these boisterous fans from another planet.
I got over that feeling for good when the Angels fortunes changed, and the rally monkey emerged.. but by then, it was time for me to get back to NY anyway.

"1918" at least had the virtue of being true, even if it was cruel.

Neither "Yankees suck" nor "Boston sucks" have that. Worse, they're totally unoriginal. I mean, damn, try harder. It depresses me to hear Yankees fans sinking to that level.

I remember the look on the bartenders' face when I was up in NH during the 2003 World Series when I walked up to him with a Yankees cap on and asked him to put on the WS. He eventually did as I asked, allowing me to watch a frustrating loss. I think that made him feel a little better.

16 Nah, I don't have nearly as much of a problem with smug superiority. That's the level Yankee fans have been at for years.

Actually, I think that kind of chanting is bush league regardless of who does it; and, of course, I'm not talking about Red Sox fans in toto, but the WEEI types. When I went to Fenway a couple of years ago, I had a great time with the fans around me in the center field bleachers - we were baseball fans talking about baseball.

Having said all that, there is a kind of insanity that is specific to RSN as a group (not necessarily as individuals), and I think the Super Bowl chanting says something about it.

Not that Yankee fans are necessariy better, just different. Fans of other teams have a point when they identify an arrogance and entitlement among many Yankee fans (again, the sports radio callers), and I don't like that either.

0 So does that mean Em's folks are Sawx fans? If so, lament with me brother.

Oakland used to have more Yanks fans. It's pretty much swung the opposite way. Those dynasty years while in was in college were great times. There's way more agressiveness by A's fans now. I don't let me wife wear Yanks gear there anymore. Sad really.

13 I don't like being jeered in enemy territory. Too many clowns out there, and it only takes one to try to start something. I wore a Dodgers cap to a Yanks-Tigers tilt, and I still got into it with someone.

Whenever possible, I try to wear something neutral. I have no problems holding my own in the knuckle game, I'd just like to avoid it whenever I can.

Having said that, the first time I was in Fenway (Yanks-Sox, Sept 1997), I sat in the bleachers. A Sox fan bought me a beer. But this was before the rivalry got out of hand.

Oh and...Let's go YANKEES!
Time to burn some worms.

22 : Well put. I agree with you on pretty much everything (all but the use of the term Red Sox Nation (RSN), a term I hate). I'd also add that the two team's specific insanities feed into one another.

Yankees going with the "A-team" again...no house money this time.

PeteAbe also has some interesting quotes from Moose. As one who likes Mussina, I really wish it hadn't come to this. Hopefully, he can rebound.

28 don't moose (meese?) always land on their feet, or is that another animal?

23

i dated a rabid yankees fan in college. i cant say we didnt have our differences, but large breasts tend to soften the animosity i felt towards her home team ;)

27 Fair enough on RSN. It's a convenient shorthand, not for all Sox fans, but for a certain breed - but I'll try to avoid it.

I have to say, I kind of like MFY. There's a certain elegant, straightforward simplicity to it that works.

Well, I made it into work this morning around 10:30. Told everyone I'd be late because I was at the game last night.

What a game! What an experience! I've been to other Yankees games before, but everyone was right, there really IS something about this rivalry and the electricity in the stadium when it's a Sox/Yanks game. The atmosphere was sheer lunacy.

It had everything I could've hoped for - great pitching - can't tell you what a thrill it was to be able to say I saw Roger Clemens pitch. Not so great...UGH! Farnsworth! Another home run from A-Rod, and even witnessing the Ortiz home run, pretty darn cool!

I said it was a good game when it was 4-1, but when it went to 4-3...THEN it was a GAME! Mariano Rivera...I love how the stadium goes fucking nuts over this guy, especially with a game like this on the line. And they go even nuttier when he shuts 'em down!

Some of the Sox fans were of course, big douchebags. Most were good sports, which was refreshing. I felt like I was in a cattle herding trying to get out of the stadium (even more interesting when you factor in I was with one of my girlfriends and her sister who was 8 month pregnant...talk about being a trooper!!). We almost got into a fight with a Sox dude because he pushed her trying to get through the crowd (there is one of the 'big douchebags' I mentioned), but we made it out of the crowd.

WOOHOOOO!

32 Yanks/Sawx at the stadium really is something else. My wife & I went to one last year (or was it 2 years ago already...), she had her Sawx garb on, my with my Yankz gear. We got no end of perplexed & amused looks from the gate attendants, vendors, etc. Fighting for the kids loyalties, when we have kids, will be epic.

Funny moment on YES the other night. Camera finds two smiling kids in the stands wearing their rival garb, holding a sign that reads "Best Friends."

Girardi cracked, "Yeah, for how long?"

Another reason I wouldn't mind if Girardi eventually replaced Joe. He gets it, and has a sense of humor, self-deprecating one at that. He could certainly handle the P.R. aspects of the job.

33 You owe me a nickel.

35 huh

35 freakin' hilarious >;)

36 You used my name! "my with my Yankz gear"

This shit ain't free!

37 Thanks ;)

36 Sorry, I just pictured you with this really blank look with your head shaking back and forth trying to figure out what that meant.

38 You deserved it. Makes me proud to see another quick-witted lunatic doing his thing.

"Sox got a seven-game lead (now six)"

That old lady (though she took it a bit far) just knows that until the Yanks are mathematically eliminated from the AL East, there's still a chance for 'em. You NY fans might be concentrating on the WC, but we Sox fans (well, a lot of us) still think the Yanks have a legit shot at the division.

12 I've always hated the "Yankees suck" chant. (Every time it starts, something seems to go badly for the Sox.) So as far as I'm concerned, NY can have the new version.

40 "NY can have the new version."

Nah, that's okay. Most of us don't care for it, either. Me, I tend to think people who do that on this side are front-runners or casual baseball fans who get caught up in the moment. Of course we have a lot of knuckleheads too, but who doesn't these days...

I asked about this late last night, I'll ask it again now. There was a scorer's decision that is completely inexplicable to me, and I wonder if anything was said about it on the air (or if anyone understands it better than I do).

Third inning, Hinske on second, one out. Pedroia drops a little bunt ten feet in front of the plate; Clemens throws him out easily for the second out as Hinske moves to third.

Pedroia is credited with a sacrifice. Wtf?????

1 So I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that Park Slope, much to my deep dismay, has turned into a Little Boston, with that damned 'B' seemingly on every head.

I try to be gracious too, sliced, like you, no matter the situation, one baseball fan to another and all that. So on my way out of the bar one night--this must have been when we were within 4 or 5--I wished a Boston fan good luck.

"Thanks. I won't say the same to you" was his reply.

Couldn't tell if he was being ungracious or just pathetically fatalistic.

Oh, and as I was walking past the courthouse in lower Manhattan, I stopped a woman with a Red Sox shirt to ask what gives!

"There's a game tonight," she replied.

"No, I mean, ten years ago, I never saw a Red Sox fan in the street and today they're simply everywhere."

"It's because we finally won," she admitted.

Least she's honest.

44 Right, I have absolutely no problem with them coming out the closet.

Btw, after the first game of this series, I predicted that the Yankees would sweep - and I'm sticking by that. They'll do it just to give us another glimmer of hope, then they'll collapse against TB this weekend.

44

i find it hard top believe that there were sox fans in ny before that were too scared or ashamed to wear bos caps or whatever.. baseball is alot more popular now than 10 years ago. and if my large number of friends that moved to NYC says anything about percentages, there are prob more transplants these days than before.

47 Speaking of transplants; when I lived in Inwood in 2004, many residents wore B caps right after Boston won the AL championship and especially after Boston won the series. That lasted until Pedro left for Queens; when I went through after that, there were a lot more Mets caps.

It'd be a damn shame if the Yanks miss the playoffs. Of all the teams that have a chance of making it, only LAA scares me.

Of course, that's what I said last year about the Tigers.

Beautiful sinker down and in to put away Ortiz.

What a pitch.

King Kwang

That's an acceptable first inning, though the worms were spared. Based on quotes in PeteAbe's notebook column today, it looks like Wang has realized that the Red Sox have figured out the sinker. Therefore, he's changing his approach. So far so good.

Wow, Schilling's really down to 86mph?

That's unbelievable.

Do we think Derek has one last tear left in him, get back up to .330?

Ah, nice dunker into center.

52 You think he'll go to the slider more, then, especially in sinker counts?

Aren't those girls' sunglasses?

54 Well, he seems to throw the sinker just about all the time normally, so I think a fair mix of straight fastballs (which for him can reach 95-96) and sliders should keep hitters off balance enough that the sinker becomes effective late in counts (like with Ortiz), as a strikeout pitch and not just for inducing grounders.

Oh, Jesus, the man wears a cross, now?

Schrill doesn't look like he has great stuff, but he is hitting his spots. It looks like he's looking for a 'Clemens' type performance.

If Chien's not going to get that call, he'll be forced to elevate and he'll get hit hard, I fear.

58 Indeed. Masterful strikeout pitch to Alex.

Didn't Clemens have a huge role in Schilling's career? I seem to remember something from '01.

Euclis.

Starts Lowell off with what looked like a slider.

Holy God!

Did Jason just make that play?

Wtf with Jason?

He's all nimble all of a sudden!

Giambiiiiiiiiiii

Man, if Giambi was playing first, he never would have made that play. Wait? What's that? All the hand-wringing about Giambi playing first is unwarranted? Oh, well, then...

Wow, did that really happen?

He made that great play yesterday, too.

Who is that on 1B and what did he do with Giambi?

Who is that at first?

Cano owes him a milkshake.

He's so money.

Giambino flashing the leather!

66 Well, I wouldn't exactly say it's unwarranted. He's clearly not the same defensive player he's been...

Jason Giambeeno - your late inning defensive replacement.

And as long as we're speaking of leather, how 'bout that Alex, eh?

That short-hop play he made last night behind Mo was a really, really fine play and he made it look easy.

PLEASE stay A-lex!

71 Ya think Kelis has time to teach him?

Damn.

That ball carried so much farther than I thought off Hideki's bat.

Thought it was a lazy flyball; it just kept going.

74 I feel that Giambi's defensive woes are overblown, and that Andy Phillips is no Keith Hernandez. If Giambi can be an average 1B and play every day, it makes the Yankees much better... Giambi (1B)-Damon (LF)-Matsui (DH) is much better than Phillips (1B)-Matsui (LF)-Giambi (DH).

79 Indeed. IF.

79 I think we will be seeing more of this lineup, at least until we either clinch or are eliminated.

Melky would have been on second.

That 2-1 to Pedroia was a gift.

2-2.

And Jason AGAIN!

Get over yourself, Jason!

It's official. Giambi was most definitely abducted by aliens.

Trivia question of the day: who is that at first?

Who is that out there wearing #25 and what did they do with Giambi.

Too bad Giambi sucks so bad with the leather. Also, is it my imagination or does he look materially skinnier than he's ever been as a Yankee?

What happened?
Stupid work -- all I get is game channel.

The Knicks really think that them going undefeated in the summer league will make people buy tickets? Not to mention the acquisition of yet another malcontent (Zach Randolph) and how Nate Robinson dominated a bunch of rookies and scrubs? Woo boy- feel the excitement!

(Go Nets)

Wow.

Robbie with the power!

Left-center.

Nice.

Was that like all shoulders?

ROBBY!

Never doubted Giambi's glove work... it's his arm that can kill us without warning.

88 Giambi made a diving stop to his right, a great reaction play, since he was playing almost on the grass, holding the runner on. It's his third flashy play of the day.

Let's make Schilling "cut and run"!!!

Cano and Cabrera. Man I love these kids.

87 No, it's not your imagination. Or if it is, it's mass delusion because I have the same impression.

He really looks leaner stepping up to the bat.

Aggggggh!

Nice play by Crisp.

Schilling's getting hit hard, though.

93 Thanks.

Good cuts, Team!

Nicely done, Derek.

Bring it back up to .330.

89 Oh yee of little faith in fisticuffs >;)

85 ,86 (since Bama isn't here yet) Karim Garcia?

We're just one big hit away and at this rate, it'll come by the fifth.

Agggggggh!

Alex missed that one.

Damn, that kind of hurt.

hasn't Giambi had virtually zero plays at first since returning from the DL?...
and lookit him go today!

he's a fuggin' goalie out there.

Looks like I'm missing a good one :(

Burrell ol' girl killin the Mets as usual.
and now Rowand.

5-0 Phils.

The club from Queens is hackin' and wheezin' these days.

103 Indeed you are, Will. :(

Three g.o.s that inning, three more dead worms. Sounds like Wang is really on today.

104 They are, but as their fans have trouble appreciating, they are still in first place.

If Atlanta or Philly were serious, they'd have made their move long ago.

Which, incidentally, is how I feel about us these days.

Four games back, looking forward to that next push to get to around 2. Next thing I know, it's back to 8.

I know, I know, wildcard.

Still, I'm really gunning for Boston, just because.

105 Just keep us updated on the score... I can't run GameDay where my workstation's situated or the sun will catch on fire (very bad fung shui on this floor...)

108 I think you'd have more of a problem if the sun wasn't catching fire. After all, the sun is a mass of incandescent gas...

(1-0 Yanks, end of the fourth)

108 You got it.

Giambi stepping in, bottom 4, 1-0 Yanks, two out.

Giambi skies the first pitch to right center.

Go to the top of the fifth.

Cano with a nice play ranging far to his left. One out.

Varitek takes a 3-2 sinker just off the outside corner for a one out walk.

109 There are a lot of people like that here (again, bad feng shui)...

Thanks, guys!

Vermont is not Yankee friendly. Many rooters, but you sort of get tired of the razzing. So you don't wear your hat or shirt and you don't talk baseball.

Its not that they follow the Sox. They just look to see if they won or lost. Not alot of player envy. Don't see a lot of Sox shirts with names on the back. Lots of poor people. Cannot afford them. Too far to go to the games and cannot get tickets. Moreover, who do you root for. Papi large. Manny is a jerk. Schilling worse. Tech unapproachable. The Japanesese contingent too new. Wakefield isn't real. Lugo. Drew. Talk about buying a team.

Not enough games ahead to satisfy them. Sox have folded so many times that the fans still believe that they will do it again. Don't see it happening this year, but ya neva know.

48 I'm not surprised, given the DR presence in Inwood & the Heights.

Hinske takes a 2-2 fastball (great movement on the ball, went from inside back over the plate) for the strikeout, 2 outs.

71 pitches through 5 for Wang

Nice catch by Leche, there, on a scorching linedrive hit right at him.

I thought that might be trouble and that he'd suddenly have to dart at the last moment.

Nice play, Melk.

Why don't the Yanks ever seem to work the count on Schrill? 50 pitches through 4 innings?

109 Are you quoting They Might Be Giants, or do you know it from the original, by Tom Glazer? I had that record when I was a kid, and so - obviously - did TMBG.

Dontcha know!!!

ROBBY... AGAIN! OPPOSITE FIELD!

STRONG!

Deja vu all over again for Canoe!

The opposite field power is awesome.

Robbie!

ROBBIE!!!

that's 2 solo shots!

Damn, another fine, fine dinger to left-center by Robby.

Wow.

Opposite field... RF in YANKEE Stadium!
How good can this kid be???????

He really does look like Mattingly up there when he's on, which is why he's my favorite hitter on the team.

I love those left-center lasers.

But he has to be on!

errrrr...... make the LF (eegads)

Cano into uncharted areas of HR for him, new career high

120 I first heard it from TMBG, but then when I played it for my dad, he knew the original.

128 when he's not on, he's probably my least favorite yankee hitter ...

Robbie! Robbie!

Apparently, he's still locked in for the second half, and the only reason it appeared he was struggling was because he was stinging hard hit balls right at guys.

130 That's great, just so long as he doesn't start to get ideas...

That was unlucky.

Why, why the hit and run??

132 Almost unwatchable.

Excruciating.

I hope he matures and that he won't go through the rest of his career being so streaky.

Nice hit by Derek.

He's back on track, kept the hands back.

You know, the way our guys are banging the ball around, it's amazing we've only got two.

Wowzers, I get the chills reading all this...

failed hit & run coming back to bite us.

115 --> 121 Try mundo...

Damn, another lazy flyball that just kept on carrying.

Abreu skies out to the track in left.

Pedroia hits the first pitch to right, Abreu comes on and makes the catch on a sinking liner.

140 Frankly, I don't mind it too much, just as I didn't mind Alex getting caught off of first yesterday.

I'd rather err on the side of aggression.

143 Is he still in one piece?

136 I sometimes like the hit and run, but
the Yanks were clearly starting to bleed Schill to death, and I would have preferred they remained patient (even at the risk of a routine double play) through Damon's AB.

It's not like we're in any rush to drive Schill out of the game just yet, and get into the Sox pen, which is one of their strengths.

Coco Crisp Pitch sequence:
Sinker (called strike) Sinker (low), Changeup (called strike), slider (pulled foul hard), slider (too low), fastball (chopped foul), slider (doesn't slide, ends up high), fastball (popped up to center).

Two out, Ortiz up

Do you think its wildness, or a game planning approach that has basically said, its okay to walk guys, pitch around them?

Big swing and a miss by Ortiz through a great changeup down and in.

Lined hard foul, third base side.

0-2.

Ooooh!

Ortiz checks his swing (barely) at an 0-2 sinker (actually looked even like a split).

Fastball high, taken.

2-2.

Another fastball, in on the fists.

Count holds, 2-2.

7 GB, 5 FB, 3 K, 1 DP

does that seem right?

Change, low, over the plate.

Ortiz gets a piece of it to stay alive.

Oooh, Ump just got nailed by a foul ball in the jewels

Crowd going wild...

152 BTW, thank you for all the updates, much appreciated.

Ortiz Pitch Sequence:

Changeup (swung through), fastball (outside, fouled off), slider (down and in, Ortiz checks his swing), fastball (upstairs), fastball (fouled off), changeup (fouled back off the ump), changeup (swung through, strike three!).

Oooooooohhhhhhh!!!

Beautiful sinker!!

Ortiz swings right through it, strike three!

150 Papi got a break on that call...

BUT WANG PUTS HIM TO BED!
DOWN SCHWINGING!

Nasty pitch to K Ortiz!

Nice CMW, K the big guy swinging.

Or maybe it was a slider.

Lot of downward movement, but didn't seem to have a lot of velocity--Ortiz looked to be out in front.

157 The last pitch was a change.

162 Ah, was it?

Damn.

That's a lot of downward movement for a change.

Kay is an idiot

164 What'd he say now?

164 Tell me about it!

165 He kept emphasizing that there are a lot of zeros on the scoreboard. And he said it in his always over-enthusiastic tone; simply acting his part as an idiot.

163 Yeah, and it had opposite movement from his sinker, it broke away from Ortiz a bit, kind of like the pitch he struck out Hinske on, except 13 mph slower.

156 et al, Woo-Hoo!

167 Can someone break into the booth and duct tape his mouth.

So are the Yankees hitting Schill hard. Gamechannel is showing lots of deep fly balls.

Schilling is pitching a pretty nice game too. I'd tip my cap to him, but he's a dick.

Wang's change reminds me of Edwar's with the down and away movement.

I've heard Kay talk about this on his radio show.

He loves, LOVES blatently going against the so-called jinx re: talking about, you know, works in progress.

Anything happen for us in bottom 6?

I don't feel good about this game all of the sudden.

There is no way Wang can finish the game with his pitch count and Schilling is just getting out of innings too easy. He will probably pitch a complete game today.

87 pitches for Chien.

He's not going to make it through 9.

170 Yeah, lots of deep fly balls and line drives right at people. If not for the hit-and-run double play, the Yanks would have a lot more off of him.

Not to break the mood, but man, did those 2 one-run loses to Detroit kill us or what?

There are days like today where this team looks so good.. so complete... and Joba is waiting in the wings.

175 But it's a Joba day! :D

Yanks seem to have warning track power today, save for Cano

170 Very.

We should have more runs but they're not falling in.

175 better we slowly bleed Schill to death than force the Sox A-team relievers too early.

Um, Derek?

That's two sloppy throws in one game.

Get it together, Derek.

Do not talk about Fight Club.

175 Yeah, but it wil be an 8-inning complete game.

The 1-1 to Youk slices down the right field line but ends up hitting the top of the wall for a foul ball. He then hits a grounder to short, Jeter throws wide and Giambi's sweep is too high, above Youk's slide. Replay says he's safe.... E-6.

Fu*k Jeter!! How hard is it to throw the ball straight?!!

182 Schill is the new Pedro. All we need is patience...

Thats got to be an error by Jeter

6-43 Wang, come on, you know you feel it!

Agggggggh!

Fuck.

Nice job, Chien!

But now it's a ballgame.

I blame Jeter.

That one's totally on Derek.

F'ing Jeter blew it.

175 You're disturbing my chi, mm-kay >;)

damn, of course it Lowell, who else...

175 You're disturbing my chi, mm-kay >;)

Lowell hits a fastball through the hole to right field. Good work by Wang, but he's over 90 pitches. It's gotta be Joba time (two innings, please?).

Arrrrggggh!

Standing O to Wang.

191 Yup.

ah, oh well, let's just keep the shutout.

Well now things could get ugly

Lowell hits a fastball through the hole to right field. Good work by Wang, but he's over 90 pitches. It's gotta be Joba time in the eighth.

200 How about we keep the lead?

If we lose this one, I put it on Torre for playing Jeter. {:-)

Is Joba getting up?

If not now, when?

He is allowed to pitch two, right?

Well?

Crazy play by Alex.

Thats BS, Lowell went WAY out

how the fuck is Youk not out on that.. runs out of the basepath to avoid A-Rod tag.

should be double play, blue!

The runner was on THE GRASS!
Bad choice by ARod. Should have gone to 2nd.

205 Not in the middle of an inning. It's gotta be Viz to close out the seventh if necessary, then JobaMo.

Yeahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

umpires converge near short to discuss.

HE;S OUT!

YES!!

Thank freaking God, if they hadn't reversed that...

Francoma will get tossed. Watch...

Hats off to the umps for conferencing and making the right call.

209 Oh, fuck, that's right. Not in the middle of an inning.

I was going to ask what you guys were talking about - FoxSports.com showed Lowell on 2nd and 2 outs...

214 And there he goes...

Terry better be careful not to choke on his chaw

217 Sharply hit ball to Alex, who runs at Lowell, coming from second.

Lowell evades the tag and Alex throws to first.

Umps confer, rule that Lowell did indeed run out of the basepath.

Damn Mets tied it. I was hoping they'd sweat a little before it's all said and done.

219 I think it's just a giant wad of gum, the YES cameras showed him with a huge baggie of bubble gum yesterday.

220 Thank you again!

Man, this is a helluva game >;)

Joba for 2? Wang for the 8th?

Youk, not Lowell fellas.

Yesssssss!

Nice job, Chien!

What a stud.

220 It was Youk doing the evading, not Lowell (who was going from first to second).

JOBA TIME!

Awesome Wanger. I say Wang for the 8th, Joba 9th

Wow... I think we dodged a bullet there. Still the wrong play by ARod.

And now for the 2-headed monster known as 'JobaMo'

222 Some guys mix gum and chew, which sounds nasty. I never understood chewing, period, though.

226 Whatever.

How 'bout "Boston Runner X?"

:)

221 I give the Mets a pass, only because of Willie and Omar.

220 Wasn't it Youkilis who was the runner? (i'm listening to gameday audio, sterling said it was Youk, who shoulda been the lead runner anyway i think)

boy do i wish i was watching the Wanger tear these guys up. haven't even been able to hear it all, missed Robinson's second homer! Still a hell of a game, how is Schilling not getting shelled!

Remember that if Wang starts the 8th, Joba won't be finishing it if Wang gets in trouble. Part of the Joba Rules.

231 Well, I guess A-Rod was trying to get the lead runner.

Great job by Wang, I was a little worried about this start from him as Boston seems to hit him well.

230 Really?

What's your thinking on that?

Why not Joba?

235 Sorry, I'm always going to hate the Mets. Going to high school during the Mets' peak in the mid-80s was very painful -- and yes, 20 years later, I haven't gotten over it.

232 That would be a pretty high workload for ol' Mo, 4 outs last night, 3 the night before... Bottom of the order coming up, let Wang go for the 8th, then Joba for the save, with Mo bailing him out if necessary (it wont be!)

Wang's at 103 pitches, I don't know if they will (or should) have him out for the 8th. He'd be facing 8-9-1 hitters though.

236 He is, but the balls aren't falling in and a lot of them are dying right around the track.

Jorgie just missed one his last ab--hit a breaking ball deep, but just off-balance enough not to have the oomph to make it out.

233 It's mostly for settling nerves. In LL, there was plenty of Big League Chew for everyone, though a couple of kids went for chaw anyway (!)

Jason really does look slim up there.

241 Sounds like a good plan.

Memo to Yankees: More runs, please.

243 I guess that explains all the Sterling freak outs "LINED to LEFT CENTER... and Crisp catches it easily..."

He's still talking about Youkilis ON THE GRAAAAASSSSSSSSSSS

246 shouldn't be a problem. into the Phils pen now.

239 See 240 Mo could use the rest, Wang could go another, and if he falter, bring in the Viz. Give Joba the shot at the 9th.

241 But Joba doesn't do the middle of an inning. Who comes in if Wang starts to crap himself in the 8th?

247 The lunatic is on the grass?

246 tripping.. thought I read Mets memo. no more jalapenos for lunch.

I'd throw Edwar or Britton out there, they've got to start relying on those guys just as much as Joba and Mo

See, two more.

Giambi's ball was hit sharply, but right to Youk at first.

And then Robbie just pulled an absolute rope run down in right-right-center.

Wow: Schilling--Ground outs: 1 Fly Outs: 15.

That's living dangerously...

240 I understand. I lived in the Mid-Hudson Valley during those times; much easier to root for either team there and then whether you were one or the other. I doubt it's like that anymore up there...

253 not today, not with a sweep on the line.

When you actually look at it, the last two days, the Yanks offense has been quite inefficient...

254 And Sterling shat himself on Robinson's LINER

I think with a two-run lead we shouldn't fuck around.

Stick with the formula, don't extend Wang.

If you want to rest Mo, then bring in Joba for two.

258 It really has, lots of baserunners, few runs. If they had been losing, we'd be flipping out.

See, its the bottom of the order, I'd save Joba for the 9th against the better hitters, especially with an overworked Mo.

But Joba it is...

259 It was stung.

Made my heart skip a beat, that's for sure.

260 I could get behind that. I just worry about overextending Mo. Joba could handle it, and Mo could rescue him if needed...

I don't get the rule of not bringing Joba in the middle of innings - They could warm him up now & have him shadow Wang, he wouldn't have to come in on a short warm up (which i agree would be bad)

Release the Kracken!

261 But you know what?--they've really done everything right.

I can't say I have any complaints about the offense today.

No one to blame, really.

And here's the Man of the Hour.

Well, I can't complain with going for the jugular.

Why would DJ get a player of the game nod, for helping the Sox break up the no hitter?

265 :)

Now we can hear Kay get all giddy over the velocity

265 Kracken -- love it.

Joba the Kracken

Alex is so fucking good.

Mets down by THREE! About to be a Four Sweep

Wow, A-Rod was positioned perfectly there

272 but Papi's soooo much more cluuuuutch.
baaaaaa (bleating of sheep)

Wow, nice hitting by Pedroia.

I've been following along here while listening to my first MLB Gameday Audio (free with signing up for a trial subscription of SI, which you can cancel for no charge). If it were up to me, if Joba gets through quickly, I'd bring him back for the 9th with Mo as backup. But I think the Joba rules dictate that he must have the same # of days off before and after, so since he pitched on Monday, he can't go 2 since he didn't have 2 days off.

Joba shoulda drilled Pedroia

275 :)

Mo's getting up.

273 Feel better, Spufi? >;)

97mph paints the outside corner up.

That was the first career extra-base hit allowed by Joba Chamberlain.

Slider hit foul, first base side.

1-2.

277 only after.

281 Absolutely! :-)

has Joba even thrown a slider yet? seems like all fastballs

98mph high, dribbled down the first base line.

A Mariano special.

No strike outs in that inning; I think his slider didn't have so much bite today.

Lots of fastballs.

nice. 12 pitches. papi leads off the 9th. worst he can do is put up 1 run. send joba out for the 9th...

12 pitches, tough not to bring him back, but gotta do what ya gotta do. I still woulda gone Joba in the 9th...

What, no strike outs? Get this chump outta here. Can't even strike out a bottom of the order Red Sox. Pfft.

287 Yeah, at least one, which was hit fairly hard foul down the first base line.

Oh, and I think he through a couple to the first batter, but he missed low.

Sounds dumb... but Joba didn't look quite as sharp as usual. Anyone agree?

Rawr! :-)

http://www.cornerstorecomics.com/images/af_cott1_kracken_L.jpg

294 Completely.

Joba did look a bit off, it happens. that's the luxury of being a reliever instead of a starter. Hughes woulda been declared a bust :)

man, this is what Joba looks like when he is off??? Guy still went through that inning relatively fast.

294 Not dumb at all.

I think he didn't trust his slider, and I think rightfully so.

No matter, 97 is 97, slider or no.

294 Maybe he was up all night fighting Lex Luther.

293 threw

294 Compare and contrast with veteran Kyle Farnsworth last night. I think Joba can still get hyped up, especially against the Sox.

301 caught >;)

I'm really surprised that Okajima has been able to keep this up all year.

Another line drive for Derek.

Right up the middle.

Beautiful hitting, Derek.

Fourth hit of the afternoon.

305 $

I can't believe we only have 7 hits.

Such good wood on the ball all day and but 7 hits.

I think Jetes makes up for the error by going 4-4. Now just hang on for the "W".

When's the last time Derek stole a bag?

Now would be a good time for one...

309 With his bad wheel? Now isn't the time for that.

Yes, insurance. Beautiful.

309 Mariah Carey..

oh, you mean a base...

Bobby!

THE 2007 CADILLAC ABREU...
SMOOTH, COMFORTABLE, QUIET

Ohhhhhhh, YESSSSSSS, baby!!

Abreu smokes the ball to the right-center field gap!

Finally, the fucking thing falls in.

Pfew!

guess the slump is busted

HUGE Bobby!

whew

I feel much better after that run.

Nice hat, Melky.

309 A bag of what, hmmm?

boBBy baseball!

Whoa! Bold!

310 Yeah, is that it? He's still banged up?

damn! so I was just logging in to say why not PH Duncan, give Bobby a break vs a mean lefty....

312 Line of the day!

316 Whoa! Bold!

Yeah, I like that they're getting to their lefty "specialist". Now bring in Gagne so A-Rod can spank him too.

312 LMAO.

If we win this game, I put it on Torre for playing Jeter.

Should pinch hit with Shelly here - how funny would that be.

318 A bag of mugwort.

I hear he practices the healing arts on the side, you see.

312 :)

C'mon Hideki, all of Japan is watching...

Gojira needs to bust this open...

321 That's the reason he's been in the slump, no? Joe gave him a day off and Pete Abe said Jete didn't even complain.

With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound
He pulls the spitting high tension wires down...

327 LOL, just flipped the switch huh?

333 Past tense, of course (pre BOS series). A mini one at that.

324 Yeah it's funny, that's how most people seem to figure it out... >;)

Suzyn jabbering about Melky wearing a sunflower seed box as a hat. Suzyn still annoying, but sounds pretty cute. like the Joba flipping his hat onto his head 'event'. This team is setting up for another dynasty!

Doesn't it seem as if Matsui is going to tank one?

333 Yeah, you're right.

Man, Hideki ripped that one.

All day long we're ripping the baseball.

334
Helpless Red Sox on pitcher's mounds
scream bug-eyed as they get worn down...

340 "jerking" it?

342 'Pasting' it?

Ha!

Ball gets away!!!!

Yayyyyyyy!!

That's why I like the aggressive baseball!

341 nice

Ahhh beautiful... sit down Mo. Take a rest.

334 Helpless people on a subway train
Scream, bug-eyed as he looks in on them.

Matsui is a clutch throwing error inducer!

THAT WAS AWESOME!!

344 That looked like the Angels when they play the Yankees.

345 Big B.O.C. fan from way back...

aww, a game-opening error by Capn Cheapshot.

tsk.

342 :)

That's right, dc, "jerking it."

I think Yahoo! must be Sox fans. No updates.

Do we save Mo for tomorrow?
Is 5-0 shitty-BP-proof?

Edwar warming up

hello, Edwar.

Edwar gets up in the bullpen.

Shouldn't Britton or Edwar come in now?

Someone please describe what happened there. Where did the ball go?

Game. Day. Frozen. Must. Know. Facts!

Has britton made a debut yet?

hopefully Okie has lost that split-whatever he discovered before arriving. still pissed about the Sox luck on that one.

Edwar warming! Leveraging!!!!

Has britton made a debut yet?

How about Britton, Joe?

man, hurry up and finish the sweep so the sox can get out of NY

Jo Po ain't exactly fast

Yea, Edwar! Get Britton up just in case...

What happened? Gameday froze...

368 Abreu stole third and Arod stole 2nd. Varitek's throw to 3rd ends up in left field. Both abreu and arod score.

359 Which one, the double-steal?

Ball thrown to third, gets away from Lowell, rolls down the line, scoring both Abreu and Alex.

Possible new nickname for the skinny kid:

Edwar Scissorhands

Man, that Jason Varitek really knows how to play the game. Even when he has a down offensive year he's just so valuable behind the plate he's still the heart and soul of this Sawx team

You guys should use GameCast (ESPN) -- solid all day. No issues like GameDay or GameChannel.

359 Varitek threw the ball about four or five feet to the left of third base. Lowell was positioned between the bag and Abreu, and tried to slide over and block the ball back-handed with his glove. He was unsuccessful, and the ball carommed off the third baseline wall into short left, where Hinske was a bit late picking it up. Since A-Rod was also running on the play, he rounded third and scored standing up.

366 No, he's not. I think even Hideki might have beaten that one out.

I was hoping Sox's luck was turning worse when Manny got hurt. But now it looks like they won't face Bedard when they go to Baltimore. Instead, they will face three crappy pitchers. Baltimore will probably get swept -- hurting the Yanks chances of picking up more games on the Sox.

why not let Joba finish, though? with "the rules" he needs a off day regardless, no?

Thanks.

372 That errant throw was obviously grit-propelled.

373 I avoid ESPN like the plague.

371 Or of he stinks it up, how about:

Ed*war* (hunh)...what is he good for?

BIG BOLD STATEMENT if we can pull off this sweep.

369 , et. al; Wow-wow!

376 Maybe Bedard will get shut down and the Yanks won't have to face him.... unlikely though as he's a legit top 3(or so) Cy candidate

Posada literally runs in slow-motion. Slow-Mo? No, Slow-Po.

377 Yeah, but he'd need two off days if he pitches two innings. Better have him ready to relieve his buddy IPK on Saturday.

377 No, he'd need two days off then.

378 I know ESPN is a huge bastion of Red Sox Nation, but their software is better.

Yet another sharply hit ball right at someone.

Andy Phillips, that time, grounding sharply to third.

We go to the ninth.

377 Yeah, but if he pitches another inning, he'll need another day off, so he'd be unavailable until...Sunday, I guess?

386 It is? Obviously you're not on a Mac.

388 On a Mac I've had good success with CBS Sportsline.

Not picking on anyone, but here's the Joba rules:

Pitch one inning, get one day off, pitch two, get two days off. He can only pitch 2 innings if he previously had 2 days off before that. He can only start an inning, not come on mid-inning. That's it.

Wow, the Kraken comes back out.

Gets Ortiz on one pitch to fly to left.

Joba's still in, and Ortiz skies the first pitch, a 98-mph heater, to left for the first out.

I don't get this, its 5-0, and now he will be down till sunday...

WTF, Joba IS coming out. WTF. i was just about to say how awesome it was that Joe was learning leveraging... but i guess they want to rest the whole bullpen and slam the door with authority... whatever, i'm finding it hard to complain

other relievers need work. And with a 5 run cushion, and Mo in the bullpen (used in 2 consecutive games, but still Mo), it's pretty safe to get some work to the other guys that they will depend on eventually, unless you want Sean Henn in tie ball games past the 10th.

But apparently the rules have changed.

Why waste Hutty here with a 5 run lead?
Bad Torre. I wish we lost so I could put the lose on you.

390 So then doesn't this violate your third postulate? He didn't have two days off and is pitching two innings today.

379 nice...
and if he's good.

whut is he good for? absolutely something! (say it again!)

This is not a bad move, pitching Joba. He now gets two days off. But since he pitched today he would have only pitched one day in the Tampa series anyway. So why not use him two today, and he pitches the last game of the Tampa series.

Yanks have a day off after Tampa so Joba rests there as well.

390 Wait, he needs a two-day buffer before he pitches two?

I thought just two days after.

Wow.

The 1-1 sails above Youkllis' head at 98.

393 Can't really blame Torre - it's huge if we get this one. Kennedy will have the entire rest of the 'pen to help him out if he needs it...

WOW, was that retribution for Youkilis whining? or did the pitch get away from him (on g-day audio)

WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!!

NOOOOOOOOO, YOU FUCKING UMP!!!

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!1

BULL FUCKING SHIT!!

WHAT THE FUCK

Well, that's one way to not pitch two innings? Ummmmm, well.... he sure did go up and in twice. I hope Torre gets thrown out here too.

WTF!!!!!!!

[384. 385, 387] thanks guys--clearly I need to buy a new copy of The Rules....

Yeah, he definitely should have put in Edwar in here. He needs more work. Could've seen Britton too!

Why the hell would Joba throw at a guy with one out in the 9th? Stupid umps

i don't disagree with keeping him in for the meat of the order.

ok, this is fucked.
Joba hurls one high over Youk's head .. and gets immediately chucked!

Torre out discussing.

Joba keeping cool, pleading his case to another ump.

muthafuckin bad call, blue

Joba exits to cheers

Ok, so two successive up and in to Youk, Youk turns to Joba, mutters, and the fucking ump tosses Joba.

3-1 the count.

I hope he can still pitch on Saturday.

Wha hoppen? Did Joba get tossed?

I think if Joba wanted to hit Youkilis in the head, he would have.

403 The 1-1 was over Youk's head, and then the 2-1 was in the same spot, over Youk's head. Neither pitch actually hit him, and the ump threw him out as Youk looked on incredulous.

411 Yes. The fact that Joba kept his cool is just so impressive.

what the fucking fuck, did it look like he was throwing at him? why the hell would he, what's the beef?

Angel Hernandez doing the ejecting, he has an awfully itchy trigger finger.

Oh Jesus, Youkilis is such a baby.

408 :) Available in a bookstore near you.

416 Youk looked incredulous that Joba got thrown out for nothing, or that he got dusted twice?

Nothing like the umps trying to sway a game...

The Red Sox certainly so seem like they are entitled to hit people and not get hit themselves, and if anyone else does something even remotely physical towards them, they whine and complain about it for awhile...

whatevs, if they suspend Joba for that, the league is officially in bed with the Sox

411 , 417 Joba just showed that he is here to stay. Excellent composure.

Tossing him out still doesn't make much sense.

420 Imagine if that'd been Manny?

ah ahah ah a ha ha hah aa ha hah aha !!!

I get giddy at the very thought of it.

Did you see that asshole Beckett jawing in the dugout? Somebody should put a ball in his whining mouth.

What concerns me is an "automatic" suspension from the league. We can't afford Joba to get banned for 5 games... I am watching on the my slingbox on mute, was there any warning from the ump?

422 He looked back at Hernandez with a weird look, and Hernandez stepped around Youk and in front of Posada to throw out Joba. I don't think Youk was all that mad.

If I was Torre, I'd put in Farnsworth for the sole purpose of drilling Youk in the back. KK gets tossed, hopefully suspended through the next series, and we get our point across.

Everybody wins.

It would have been nice to see Joe really fired up and getting tossed. Standing up for his young pitcher? Not so much.

422 The latter.

I missed innings 3-8.1: why was Joba throwing at Youk?

426 nomaas did:)

I hate Beckett, he's such a punk. That little grin he gave after A-Rod launched one against him was the definition of lame.

432 he wasn't. Unless it was just b/c hes a whiny bitch...

419 Hernandez is terrible, so it makes a little more sense. Still not much.

427 I thought it was only an automatic suspension when there are warnings handed otu. Were there?

427 Would a reliever get 5 games? What did, say Procter, get for headhunting earlier?

Kay's saying it's dumb that the rules are publicized because the other team shouldn't know who's available.

But the rules are public to handcuff Joe, right?

I mean, that's pretty much understood, no?

no fucking way was he head hunting.

yes, it was a dangerously bad pitch. coulda killed Youk, but dang... a warning would have sufficed, no?

I hope Edwar doesn't give up the run -- it would be the first on Joba's record.

I don't like Edwar in this spot. Britton would have been my choice. More hard stuff is what we needed right now, not a changeup pitcher versus the bottom part of the lineup...

432 That's the million dollar question. Seems no one can figure out whether Joba was throwing that two pitches on purpose or not.

Wow!

Edwar showing some nice late life on that fastball.

91, up, blows it by Lowell.

High cheese? Not sure Edwar has high cheese, but it worked!

Nice K, Bugs.

I would say the rules are there partly to handcuff Joe -- but mostly to calm upset fans who think Joba should be pitching every day.

I mean, come on, how many of us would be crying for Joba every time Farmadooke comes in?

we're up 5-0 in the 9th.. why the fuck would Joba throw at anybody? no fucking reason. obviously a mistake, ump.

442 He's a rookie. No way he's throwing at anyone this early in his career. Beckett will undoubtedly have an obnoxious comment after the game.

439 It wasn't even that dangerous. It was wildly high and in, so Youk could sort of slowly step back...

Alright, Eddie-baby, enough with the wild pitches!

THUHUHUH Yankees WIN!

ah, beautiful sweep sullied by a horsehit ump call.

Well, on the bright side, I think Edwar needed the work.

GREAT series, the total antithesis to the series before!

Hey, only 5...

NIIICE. And in fitting fashion, Andy has to get the ump out off the way to close out the win

Nice job, Edwar.

Nice job.

Nice job, Team.

A very crisp game.

I'm proud of this effort.

Man, now I'm missing all the excitement due to stupid work. Specifically, a stupid patron who wants the District Courts of the US, not the US District Courts. Apparently in some people's mind there's a difference.

Alex's title is appropriate to that guy.

446 The rules most definitely have nothing to do with the fans.

444 It certainly looked explosive.

Well that was an odd game.

I absolutely LOVE that Wang now has the same record as jerkface Josh Beckett.

And virtually the same ERA now, too!

God, I can't wait watch the replay tonight!!!

443 A rookie sensation, who started the year in A ball, in a winning game to sweep, throwing at a players HEAD for absolutely no reason?

Impossible. What could possibly be his motivation? I mean, few guys in the worst of situations throws a 97 FB at a guy's head.

458 No, the rules are PUBLIC because of the fans -- not the rules themselves.

for those who watched, was Wang really killin it? Dominating those bastadhs?

463 Umpires don't seem to think those sort of things through. While obvious to the rest of us, one comment from Baldy McGreek and the rookie gets tossed.

Now I'm really confused? Is this team DONE? Mattpat?

452 Aww, who gives a crap! The Yanks have the sweep, and even the bums in blue can't take it from them. It only goes that shyt would happen, so keep it moving and win. Let them whine if they want, they'll still be losers.

So what's our record since Cleveland?

I'm guessing we've been playing like .550 ball?

Lose 3 out of 4 to Detroit, sweep Boston. Sweep Cleveland, lose to Baltimore. Win 3 out of 4 against Detroit.

Solid enough, I guess; I at least feel confident we can beat any of these teams, except California.

At least it's clear we can beat any of these teams.

This series:
Boston-: .165 BA, 5.25 ERA
Yankees: .309 BA, 2.00 ERA

great game! if Edwar can sit at 90 with the fastball, he'll rack up a lot of major league Ks outta the pen...

470 Beautiful.

Who was it the other day that said he would avenge the family, godfather style, by taking out Boston, LAA, Detroit, and AZ in a row? That was one of the coolest comments I've ever read.

Oh, and by "take out," I mean end their baseball season.

471 Agreed.

I can't understand why Joba would throw TWO pitches right above the head of, Pukelis, no less, with the game pretty much won. All the signs point to intentional except for the motive. I just can't figure this out.

TWO mistakes?
above the head?
of Puke?
the game not on the line?

Somethin' aint right.

Umm, anyone that's interested can go lookey at my cartoons...

468 The ump painted a moustache on our Mona Lisa, our masterpiece of a sweep tainted by 9th inning horsehockey.

I'll be over it soon enough, but that ticks me off, bro.

You know how it goes... ESPN starts a spinnin'... all of a sudden Joba gets a nationwide rep as a head-hunter, and the kid doesn't deserve it, damnit.

the more I think about it the more pissed off I get...

now, it's off to my car so I can hear the radio motormouths' take on it.

See you guys back on the Banter soon enough.

476 I thought dc said that Joba wasn't looking as sharp as usual; maybe there's more to that than we know right now in regards to maybe being overstimulated perhaps? Just a guess...

469 Wow, answering my own question, it's better than I'd thought: 12-8.

Good enough.

beautiful day, isn't it?

478 Nah, I'm not saying you per se, Sliced, but in general. I'd rather break out the Mona Lisas in the PS, cuz ain't nuthin' stopping this train now. Those bum-asses only make the impending beatdowns worse. What goes around comes around, that's why we shouldn't fret. But go aheadm brotha, I feel your pain. Put in a good "f@#$ you" for me as well >;)

479 There may have been more going on. Joba shot a pretty nasty look at the Bosox dugout in the first game, and he was all fired up and fist-pumping. Nothing wrong with that, but I would not be suprised if some of their redasses got fired up and were riding him from the bench (presumably the Yanks would do the same to the opposition). Add in Youks complaining about being called out in the seventh (and he did have a right to complain in a sense, in that the ump who was closest and resposnsible called him safe. Now, that was a shit bad call, but you can imagine if a call going for the Yankees was overturned...) Again, it would not surprise me if Youks was giving someone a hard time. Fast forward to the ninth--who knows if frustration boiled over and someone said something, so Joba decided to send a couple of buzz bombs Youks' way.

Or, it was innoicent--too much adrenaline and not enough control.

I see either as plausible.

I also do not buy the argument that Joba wouldn't intentionally hit someone with a five rud lead in the ninth (see River Ave. Blues). The Yankees' scoring extra runs in the eighth increased the likelihood it was intentionally. You would nail someone in a close game where one batter counts. With a big lead, look out.

481 I shoulda been there... well, I was when you consider how well everyone reported the game. Thanks everyone, that was fun until the last inning; dumbasses. Someone should write a book about this season, cuz it seems like these idiot umps are assing themselves out for no apparent reason (and not just with us.) Oh well, we'll keep it moving to the postseason. Fo'ward march!

484 >> You would nail someone in a close game where one batter counts. With a big lead, look out. >>

You would?

486 Nope. I meant would not in a close game, would (or more likely would) with a bigger lead.

484 I'll say this much; if it was intentional, it's about time we started firing back. How many times have our guys been hit this season and we couldn't do anything about it, lest we get tossed with a crippling suspension to boot? It would make sense to a certain degree. But I'm of the mind that he was overstimulated and let two wild ones go; it's not impossible. He's young, so don't expect Cy Young (or Pedro for that matter) yet.

Joba speaks: "Couple balls slipped."

"No maliciousness behind it."

"Utmost respect for those guys, especially Youklis, he plays the game right..."

"Let my team down, we had to bring in someone from the bullpen who could have been used tomorrow...Edwar did a great job...mad we had to bring him in..."

"It was my job to close out the game and I didn't do that."

"I wasn't trying to send a message because that's not who I am..."

This kid is very, very composed.

Meanwhile, in Philly, Mets up 10-9, Wagner trying to close it out.

Bloop hit to left, tying run on first, no out.

489 This kid must have seen and done a whole lot of grownup things in his short lifetime. Much respect.

491 No kidding.

Worth steals second, then third, on consecutive pitches.

Tying run on third, 1-2, 1 out.

2-2, slider in the dirt.

Iguchi lines a hard single to left.

10-10.

Man, the Mets fans are going to be howling for Wagner's head.

Thanks for the play-by-play, weep. I'll catch you later >;)

495 Anytime, Will.

You too!

So what exactly are the new updated Joba rules? I hope they aren't just tossed out the window, Joe will abuse him like there's no tomorrow.

Wow.

The Phils win on a roped single to right by Utley.

Poor Mets.

498 Holy Moly. crazy. good play by play

Oh my God. This was the first time in 8 years Wagner's been used for 6 outs.

How about that?

500 or 4 outs, as it were... no?

501 :)

As it were.

So how 'bout this: seeing as how Mike's out of the mix, why not insert Joba into his slot?

Come up with new rules, fine, like no more than five innings, or 80 pitches, or what-the-fuck-ever, but if he's supposed to start next year, is there really that much of a risk in starting him now?

I can't quite figure out the nature of the kid gloves: is it purely his arm we're worried about, or his psyche?

Because if it's in any degree the latter, based on what I've seen, I'd say that's quite ill-founded.

He's mentally ready, so much is clear.

Chyll Will "I'll say this much; if it was intentional, it's about time we started firing back."

If it was intentional you nail him in the back. Those were up at his head. You're a sick dude if you want anyone, even on boston, to be hit in the head at 98.

489 The Word of Joba. Praise be to Joba.

504 Amen.

503 If you read enough Chyll around here you'll understand that's not where he's coming from.

I think I speak for everybody on this board when I say nobody here would want anybody on Boston to get hit like that.

I hope the Redsox fans on this board know that Chamberlain was not trying to hit Youkalis. It was pretty obvious that both pitches just got away from him. He was actually a little wild in the 8th, too. Probably too pumped up. I hope this is not erupt into a continuation of the Pedro/Posado/Varitek/Rodriguez thing. Joba is just not the right character for that from what little I've seen. I like the two teams to be chippy but respectful. I know I hate Varitek and Schilling but I think both end up in the Hall of Fame and this rivalry wouldn't be so great without them. (Varitek-only player to win Little League, College and World Series-just that bit of trivia gets him in-right-plus the cheap shot at Rodriguez).

507 It was, yet again, Angel Hernandez making his mark on a game rather than being an observer. I can't stand that guy.

Did anyone else notice a little while ago that the headline on ESPN.com for the recap was "Yankees wave magic Wang, sweep Sox"? Now it reads "Red Sox steamed, swept as Yanks trim lead to 5," but it was MUCH funnier the first time. Bastards.

507 I agree. But it was a Yankees/Red Sox series, so something had to happen. Squirrel on top of the foul pole and and an Umpire with an itchy finger. Such is the nature of the matchup. Clemens did plunk the Oompa Loompa yesterday, and nothing happened.

Oh....I forgot....Go Indians! Three outs down, twenty-four to go.

I agree about both points:

Hernandez once again is an idiot. Torre's remarks after the game were right on the money.

There's no way he was throwing at him or sending a message. It defies logic to think he would be.

507 Well said, but let's not get carried away. The only way Captain Facemask gets into the Hall is with a ticket. Schilling's a more interesting case, ubt even he's no sure thing.

And if those 2 get in, then Jorge's a first-balloter, and Moose gets in easily too.

513 yup.

509 In order to preach to the choir, they have to make the story about the Sox, and not the Yanks. Humorless weasels, though the original headline was quite good. The clever devil who wrote it exposed themselves as an ESPN subversive, and was immediately sacked after rewrite, I suppose.

Yeah, Varitek in the HOF? Career 105 OPS+. Posada is at 125.

Seattle losing 3-0 2 out none on, top 4.

Man, that Detroit series could come back and bite us. I'd be shocked if they're not our true competition for the wc. A split could've left them for dead. We made up the 2 games we lost to them already, but I'd be more comfortable with 5 or 6 games between us now. Let's hope the likes of KC continue to play them tough.

517 You are probably correct. As Steve at WW shows, Seattle has the toughest schedule of the 3 (Seattle, NY, Detroit) and Detroit has the easiest, by far.

I think Detroit is the enemy.

512 I think Joba has been overamped the entire series, so the shaky control isn't a total surprise. I'm still trying to figure out why in the heck he would throw at someone's head or "send a message".

Nevertheless, they're having a field day with this here in Boston (presumably to deflect attention from just having been swept), and I see PeteAbe has joined the chorus ("You don't suddenly lose control like that" "If it were one pitch, maybe, but two pitches?")

Couple that with Youkilis' whining and his revisionist take on the "incident" with Proctor, and it all amounts to gamesmanship to bring a hot team and hot rookie back down to their level.

519 Worth noting, too, that Pete Abraham, in his initial update on the situation said this:

UPDATE, 4:07 p.m.: I find it hard to believe that Chamberlain would throw at the head of Youkilis on purpose. What reason would there be?

Other than that there is always something between these teams, of course.

-------------------
I wonder what made him reverse his initial reaction. He now seems to think the opposite of what he originally felt. Weird game.

506 Thanks much, Sliced. Wowzers, can someone hand me a Root Beer? It's hard work trying to make a point when people have short attention spans. It would be a whole lot different if I said, "it was intentional and I'm glad", but I had to ruin that self-righteousness with "But I'm of the mind that he was overstimulated and let two wild ones go; it's not impossible. He's young, so don't expect Cy Young (or Pedro for that matter) yet." Yay, I'm a sicko for weighing two sides of an issue instead of jumping to conclusions! Fun! >;)

521 I got'cha back, and Joba's too. New thread up.