Cliff, you are really on fire today. Again, greatly appreciated.

I want to stuff a bloody sock in Steve Phillip's mouth.

I have to admit, I'm fired up about this series. GO YANKS!!

ESPN is really going crazy with this. Chill out espen, it's a regular-season series. And even you guys know the Yankees are a better team.

3 I'm not. If we do anything less than win 4 of 5, this is a complete failure.

4 There's only so much Mo Clarett/T.O. drivel they can muster up. Time to show all the past Yanks/Blosox highlights.

BTW, I'd like to point out that the pitching matchup for the first game is Wang v. Johnson. Bit of a pissing contest there?

3 I don't know if I am fired up or my blood pressure is shooting up.

Is it too much to ask for the YES feed instead of ESPN? Now let's all pray.

7 Not even. Wang is loaded up on Gatorade and all ready to fire. Johnson is all dry having wondered the desert for the past couple of months.

5 Good gravy. I think your expectations are a bit high. I'll be happy to win the series.

Is it me or is Tim Kurtcheon (sp?) slightly pro NY?

8

I hope it is the YES feed as I live in Athens, GA and have given up ESPN for the most part as outside of a few personalities it has transpired over the last 10 years to become Stuart Scott and the others thinking they are the story....

I do miss Harold Reynolds as he was pretty knowledgable

Lucky me at work this afternoon. Get good old gamechannel instead of the bloviating Boston barmaids at ESPN.

5 Ron, you are setting yourself up for failure, demanding four of five. That is a tall order even if it were KC. Boston does have a good team, Yanks are on the road. 2 of 5 leaves NY in front, with 3 in the Bronx.

7 Yeah, but our Johnson is almost 7 feet...And we have a 6 foot 3 inch Wang too...They only have one 6 ft. 6 inch Johnson (which kind of makes me sad that Johnson vs. Johnson didn't happen, that would totally be the ultimate showdown...two Johnsons over 6 1/2 ft...Yikes...)

Okay, sorry, had to be done...

speaking of ESPN has anyone over the age of 30 ever looked at that magazine ? It should serve as a test for illiteracy and ADD...

10 We are a much better team than them, thus we should win big-time. But I DO realize that with that Little League ballpark, nothing is safe.

15 Hell, I still have a subscription for that that doesn't expire for another 3 years or so, and it was up-front payument.

Hey look, an interview with "Big Papi" on ESPN! I did NOT expect that! With his ONE World Championship, he is Larry Bird, only in baseball.

Anyone else at work and debating the wisdom of getting a beer or two at lunch? I want beer goggles before I listen to Sterling and Waldman. Er... beer headphones.

17

Send them a letter telling them you can read and thus do not fit their market, perhaps they will send you a check and terminate the subscription

I'm not convinced we're a much better team than they are. As Cliff's breakdown showed, it's pretty damned close.

The thing about Ortiz is, try as I might, its pretty hard to dislike the guy. He might be big, fat, and pretty lazy, but thats not so bad, plus he seems like a genuinely good guy. Always smiling, good clubhouse guy, does a lot for charities etc...

But what really gets me, and makes me root against him (besides him being a Red Sox and scaring me to death, but I have rooted for Sox before, like Nomah, who I always liked no matter what), is the media overkill, blatent bias, and ignorance of the stats. Okay, we get the point, he has hit a lot of "clutch" HRs etc. But they play him up like he is the best player in MLB, which, as we all know, is nowhere near the truth. Just looking at Cliff's earlier stat comparison proves that, since Giambi's EQA is shockingly the same. Throw in Thome, Hafner, and hell, Manny, and there are far more MVP candidates. Throw in Mauer and Jeter, and there are even more in the race. Without Manny, who knows what Ortiz's #'s would be, but I can guarantee he wouldn't get so many meatballs...

No this has all been discussed time again, I know, but it really does get in the way of enjoying a really fun player to watch...

21 Pretty much agree 100% there. If it wasn't for the non-stop ESPN "Papi is teh CLUTCH!!!!!111111" and "Papi is a HOF!!!!!!" idiocy.

20 Obviously, we would love to believe that we are a better team, but I agree with you, randym77. I think we are only but definitely a better team in terms of personality. (HA, how long before a Sox fan shows up here?)

18 I'm at work which is a travesty in and of itself, because I was supposed to be on the golf course this morning, but got called in to prep for a meeting that I just found out has been postponed until the end of next week. You could say I'm a little pissed. Not only that, I'm forced to follow the game on GameCast.

20 Check out SG's anyalysis over at RLYW for another point of view.

i'm stuck in a hot storage building all afternoon sorting paperbacks.

at least i have a crappy boombox that picks up an AM broadcast of the game from 60 miles aways.

Le*CRACKLESTATICCRACKLE*t's Go Yank*crackleSTATICcrackle*ees!

14 Gotta admit, that would be one hell of a pissin' contest... (while I sip my cup of STFU)

23 And some Red Sox fans agree. On the pre-game show, they said a Boston fan yelled at Jeter during BP: "Derek, you're a class act!" (He laughed and waved in response.)

28 Because he is, of course, a class act.

28 To me, somehow, that incident is pretty much equivalent to the scene in Fever Pitch of which a female fan yells to Damon, " Johnny Damon, you got the sweetest ass in the league!"

ESPN's top yanks/sox moment: Sox win '04 ALCS. Shocker.

18 I also have the pleasure of listening to the John and Suzyn show at work. I'm hoping for the Yankees to go way ahead early so I won't have to endure the whole broadcast.

8 12 Don't know if you are talking about mlbtv.com or Extra Innings. Here's the Extra Innings schedule and feed for the rest of the month. (Fox and ESPN carrying this weekend's Sat. and Sun. games, respectively).

Today
1pm at Boston NESN
8pm at Boston NESN
Monday
1pm at Boston NESN
8/22
10pm at Seattle FSNW
8/23
10pm at Seattle FSNW
8/24
10pm at Seattle YES
8/25
10pm at Angels FSW
8/27
3:30pm at Angels FSW
8/29
7pm Detroit YES
8/30
7pm Detroit YES
8/31
1pm Detroit YES

31 In the history of the rivalry, I agree with them. It was when "The Curse" ended definitively.

34 I thought the curse prevented them from winning a WS, not getting TO the WS.

From LoHud:

>> Torre said his plan was to catch Jorge Posada in Game 1 today, tomorrow and Sunday and have Sal Fasano catch the other two games.

Hideki Matsui has told Japanese reporters that he is starting to wonder whether he will play this season. <<

35 Ok but they had to go through us to win their first WS since 1918. So in the history of the rivalry, I still agree with ESPN.

25 Love the Giambi vs "Snaggletooth" comparison. Heh heh heh ....

So Cliff has Jeter better than AGonz on Defense, but GS has it flipped? Color me confused.

Now Shall we all say it together?

Let's Go Yankees!

What do you think of this 5 games in 4 days format for a playoff series? I know MLB/FOX would never go for it. And the travel logistics might make it impossible. But, it would be exciting and intense to see in a first-round series.

Teams would be forced to throw at least 4, probably 5 starters out there, so teams with 2 hot starters wouldn't have the advantage that they do now in the playoffs. It would add the March Madness intensity factor because you wouldn't have a chance to catch your breath.

I'm stuck at work today so it's Gamechannel and BB for me.

Let's Go Yankees!

Steve Phillips in the ESPN booth. Shoot me now.

14 The Yankees should have filled the last roster spot by calling up J. B. Cox.

38 Papi is the left hitting twin of Florida from "Good Times"

YES just ran a "Ortiz or Jeter" for MVP segment.

Well, lets play five.

No such luck. MLB.TV has no YES feed. 42 I might need be shot as well.

32 18

I can understand but down here in Athens, GA I got a choice between ESPN and NESN on MLB Extra Innings......So ESPN it will be..

was hoping for YES...

I am blessed. YES feed on TV, who knew? Check back later. Enjoy the games, y'all.

Someone needs to tell Al that no matter how good the intent is, the phrase "he fell down" always has a negative connotation

Nice start.

Damon might have been able to score there. Great start.

Lead-off triple, Hi-Oh!

This is the telling point. If Damon somehow doesn't score, its going to be one of those games for us.

oh man--imagine a play at the plate on Damon to begin the series--that would've fired people up...

Yeah, Johnny! Make Crisp look silly.

21 yeah, he seems like a nice guy, but there are also things I can dislike about him. I hate the posing and pointing up to the sky when he hits a homer. And I think it was my nephew who first pointed out his tendency to take several minutes to walk back to the dugout after a K, like the ump has some nerve to call him out.

Without the hype, those things wouldn't bother me so much. But with the hype, they give me a couple of other excuses.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRiiibi!

Miracle! A run without benefit of a homer.

12 pitches, no outs.

Happiness would be knocking out this guy early and burning out the BoSox bullpen this afternoon.

43 this is getting like one of those hot stove games old men play..."ok, guys, all-time penis pitching staff...."--Jeter! nice AB--

Getting into the Sox pen early in a 5 game set would be sweet.....

Hi-Oh! We score!

I think I would be testing Javy's arm behind the plate today.

can't emphasize how much we need to take advantage of this situation

what part of steal second does jeter not understand

Youkillis is one fugly son of a bitch. I think he's uglier than The Unit.

Youkillis is one fugly son of a bitch. I think he's uglier than The Unit.

this johnson guy is no Cy Lowenen or Lopez those twin aces from Baltimore

3 at-bats, 3 shots.

68

his head is Mench-esque

I think everyone should let this stiff toss 8 pitches before getting your hit off him

67 the part where you don't manage the Yankees.

so has everybody else started automatically figuring out possible situations for A-Rod two or three batters in advance?

Don't the ESPN guys sound depressed that the first 3 Yanks have reached? They seem all down now. But watch how happy they seem when the sawx do something.

This guy could end up throwing 50 pitches this inning.

74 lol, of course.

Please don't hit into a DP.

73 Yeah, I was confused, I thought I was playing MLB 2K6. But 2-1 count to Abreu, I thought it would have been the perfect time for a Don Zimmer-like hit and run at least.

67 To be honest, Alex Gonzalez aint much better.

Geez, Michael Kay. Enough with the "A-Rod was almost a Red Sock" stories. Do we gotta hear that every time?!?

79 Generally you shouldn't start using strategy until either the other pitcher get's someone out or you're facing an elite pitcher.

79 I think hitting and runnign with a guy like Abreu up is bad strategy. It forces him to swing at a 2-1 pitch.

62 I've been playing those games since before I was old. Dick Pole makes the team twice.

Kay needs to be tranquilized and put out to pasture.

The YES Camera and the shadows are making Giambi and A-Rod look like the biggest badasses on earth. They both look about a foot taller and 50 pounds heavier, and much darker.

All I hope for now with A rod is not to mess up too bad....one of the best talents in the game...making the most coin and I sit hear praying for no major E or DP

Giambi and A-Rod really screwed up there. Our two best hitters. DAMN IT!

Consecutive pop-ups on hittable pitches...ugh.

HE JUST SUCKS....HE DOES NOT EVEN LOOK CLOSE

Well is this indicitive of our problems of late or what...2 on, no outs, can't get runs in...

7-pitch ab and no DP, sadly I see this as a positive.

83 It wouldn't be a typical hit and run, and 82 I don't think its strategy either, I think Jeter has the green light to go whenever he feels like it. And when the opposing pitcher has never had a caught stealing against him, the runner has only been caught three times all season, and the catcher has only thrown out three guys all season, there's almost no risk. I hope in later innings Jeter, Abreu, Melky, etc start to take advantage.

Come on Robbie! Pesky-time!

Unfortunately, I think we're stuck with Kay. Kaat is supposedly retiring after the end of this season.

Not sure why A-rod insists on staring at fastballs down the middle.

Oh crap. It is going to be one of those games, isnt it?

damn it--30 pitches, but it's not like the bullpen is any worse than this guy....

Lame, we let that joker off the hook.

And the big guns let Johnson off the hook...

huge waste

end of first inning with ONLY one run -- this is definitely going to come back and bite us!!!!

So, we get two on, no outs, our #4, #5, and #6 hitters up. And the RUNNERS DON'T EVEN ADVANCE. PATHETIC. And again against one of the worst pitchers in baseball. They're still asleep.

96 A-Rod got 2 hanging curveballs on that AB; if he were in a groove, it would be 4-0.

it will be something to see if fragile Alex can get over this nightmare season..

hopefully with the help of his "life coach" and therapist he can get it back....

he looks completely lost and was NEVER clutch or tough to start with...

98 Remember it is a 5 game series so any pitches they can get off this staff is a good thing in the first 2 games.

77 LOL? well, more like VIM [vomit in mouth]

96 Its going to get MUCH more fun on Sunday and Monday when they start doing it against Schilling and Wells.

The strategy has always been against them take take take take take take take take take and then be dumbfounded when they strike out on four pitches.

What's Cano's BA w/ runners on base?

ooo, good sac bunt, Coco! Oh wait, there wasn't anyone on base...

Thanks Coco Chanel.

109 Lower than mine.

109 Going into today, .238.

This is where our pathetic offense wasting opportunities bites us in the ass.

Oh shit. Here they come.

Oritz's head is gigantic. It's kinda scary.

MattPat, bringing the cheer as always. Look, the strategy should be to take take take. One reason they lost the 2004 ALCS is the stopped taking pitches. Work the pitcher, burn the bullpen early in a 5 game series = Good strategy.

Didn't Johnson get those same outside pitches called strikes?

Wow.

But here comes Manny.

Papi pop up. Love it. Hands sweaty. Scary Manny up. Reach for rolaids.

Oh look David Ortiz made an out and didn't even advance a runner.

105 Maybe Alex needs a new/better therapist? George may even foot the bill.

Teh Clutch Pig Bapi pops-out. Wait, according to ESPN, that was clutch because it rallied the troops.

109
Cano, 2006 runners on:
152 AB, .283/.311/.382
runners in Scoring Position:
84 AB, . 238/.283/.369
None on:
157 AB .359/.396/.561
Overall:
310 AB .326/.356/.471

Thank you Coco and Papi for making outs on 1st pitches!

Wow - Ramirez is 8 for 12 against Wang? Small sample size be damned, that's amazing.

Take it easy guys, we do have the lead after all. If it makes you feel better, my irritating Sox-fan boss is cursing in his office right now.

118 Fenway has its own umpiring crew.

just walk him!

now batting Mel Gibsons favorite 1b...Youk !

How did he NOT swing there?

There are few people in baseball that I don't like. Schilling (in part because he looks like Uncle Joey from Full House) and Manny Ramirez are on the top of that short list, though.

Amazing how having your own umpiring crew can be helpful.

Oh come on, that was strike 2 on Pukelis.

this guy thinks Abreu and Melky have average arms out there?

Steve Phillips: "The arms in the Yankees' outfield aren't very good. Bobby Abreu in left has an OK arm, Johnny Damon doesn't throw well at all. Melky Cabrera, well he's just average in left."

DIAF Steve Phillips

Is that dip in Youk's mouth or just a bulldog's underbite?

135 136 I was just about to post the same thing. I think the Steve Phillips auto-text is still stuck on the 2004/2005 Yankees.

Steve Phillips, is it really THAT hard to look and see that Melky has 11 OF Assists? Pure, IDIOT.

136 Wheneever Phillips is talking I just assume he's from Bizzaro World.

138 Lets hope that Phillips and the Red Sox baserunners/base coaches get their information in the same place, resulting in a plethora of outfield assists.

136 The YES guys say the same thing. Well, maybe they give Abreu a little more credit. But they don't have much respect for Melky's arm.

DIAF? Die In A Fire?

Steve Philips prob thought Mo Vaughan's arm was above average to give him that contract

117 They lost the ALCS because Gordon and Rovera blew games. They lost the ALCS because we were too nice to bunt on Curt Schilling. We lost the ALCS because Brown and Vazquez melted down in the biggest game of their lives.

Schilling and Wells don't walk a lot of people. Hell, they don't throw a lot of balls period. They're always amongst the leaders in thrown strikes and lowest walks. If you go up there looking to do nothing but take, chances are you're down 0-2.

And yeah, knocking the pitcher out is always good. But knocking out the pitcher in thr fifth with one run and 100 pitches is much less favorable than knocking him out with six runs in the second. We took and took and took and took and took and took against Javier Vazquez, and boy-o, did he throw a lot of pitches. Of course, he held us to two runs and won the game, but we got a moral victory of knocking him out after five.

For those watching, is Wang elevating his pitches? Odd for him to get three fly ball outs in an inning.

Oh, you have got to be kidding me...
DIAF Home Plate Umpire.

138 Between Wendell Kim and their last 3B coach (drawing a blank) maybe they have.

What do you expect from Phillips. He was the GM for the ugly step sister in the Big Apple. He refused to auntie up for A-Rod and has been defensive about it ever since, plus he wasn't the most well liked GM by his peers. All that explains why he constantly bad-raps the Yankees. Also, he's a dick.

Dang, 140+ posts and it's still the first inning? The toaster is going to be working overtime today -- scratch that, this whole weekend.

Actually it looks like is sinker is starting too low, so he is compensating by trying to throw it higher...Too many balls...

148 Whoops, I meant 141

someone talk me through this whole pitch count...pitched too many innings... one batter relief specialist (Myers)....

These guys do not throw any harder than when I was a kid 70's / 80's and guys pitched 200-300 innings regularly...Goose and Lyle came in for two inning saves...

If anything these players took worse care of themselves and were not the lifting gym rats like Fragile Farnsy who is a durable as a chocolate Easter bunny around a stoner..

It is just nonsense that Wright and these guys are commended for a 6 inning start like they should win an award..."he has heart" for 21m for 3 years what he has is a part time job...

a real joke

148 Dale Sveum.

148 Dale Sveum

154, 155 Yes, how could I forget. It was a long night.

148 Dale Sveum

Anyone else get the "we let this bum off the hook and now will score at most one more run off him" feeling? I hate that crap...

148 Dale Sveum

(thought i'd join the party)

145 Come on. Everyone knows they lost the ALCS because ARod isn't clutch.

Interesting fact, I was not aware that Melky was a switch hitter until about 3 minutes ago.

148 Dale Sveum

6 straight outs against this crappy pitcher. Not good.

Wow. I guess he made a good impression.

I've seen this game already, and I know how it ends. Pathetic joke. Third day in a row they're making some piece of crap with an ERA over 6.00 look good.

Well, I'm certainly glad that no one swung at strikes down the middle in the first. It sure did us good in the second

Lowell jumps into the Yankee dugout to make the catch. (Crap! Snakes in a plane!)

Ah, fuck Lowell.

That was a nice play.

Those not watching, he drifted over to the third base dugout after Melky's pop-up, went to the edge of the steps, reached out with his glove for the ball, caught the ball, and only then allowed his body to fall gracefully down the steps.

Beautiful piece of balletic athleticism.

Ron Burgundy, why exactly do you watch baseball? You don't seem to enjoy yourself very much.

posada, wilson and cabrera gotta do a lot better than an 8 pitch inning.

Mike Lowell February 1, 1999: Traded by the New York Yankees to the Florida Marlins for Mark J. Johnson, Ed Yarnall, and Todd Noel (minors).

Just thought I'd throw that out there. Of course, no one could have predicted 1) Lowell would have blossomed 2) recovered awesomely from testicular cancer and 3) recovered once again from a 2005 "slump"

I remember the days when I was in college (96-99) when my buddy and I used to chant "pitch-count" en-route to beat-downs. I don't know why that mentality left the team. It seemed to work pretty well.

169 he watches it for his report on the 6 o clock news...
you stay classy san diego

153 "These guys do not throw any harder than when I was a kid 70s/80s"...well, all due respect, but how do you know?....Think about this: if most guys today could throw 300 inning seasons without long term ill effects, what team wouldn't go to a four man rotation, 3 guys in the bullpen, mop-up man, and platoon like crazy? The last three guys on every pitching staff stuck....But today's game wears down starters. Check the ERAS of that White Sox staff this year--wanna bet that Ozzie destroyed at least a couple of those guys?

I thought Wilson had a good eye and took walks. We have certainly not seen that player as of yet.

Speaking of strategies we employ against the Red Sox that never, ever work, who wants to bet the strategy to get manny out next time up is a high fastball? We tried that multiple times the last time we went to Fenway.

Hinske annoys me. He reminds me of Trot Nixon. The "do you know who I am" type of middling player.

169 I enjoy it. And if we get shut down by a good pitcher, well what can you do? But when you get shut down by pitchers with ERAs OVER 6.00 for THREE straight days...

169 You can't tell me that you actually enjoy these yanks-Sox games do you? I hate them, for oh so many reasons...

Case in point, Hinske...infuriating...

And Hinske lives up to his billing...

175 I thought I saw that Wilson has yet to take a BB since becoming a Yank. This ain't the Bucs and it ain't the NL, Craig.

171 Lowell had a great April and May, but has slumped offensively since then.

http://tinyurl.com/q96nj

He's still playing Gold Glove-caliber defense, however.

This is purely based on my own shaky recollection but when he was with Toronto didn't Hinske kill the Yanks?

168 Thanks for that. Any chance you'd consider applying for a job as color commentator over on CBS 880?

OK, I know I'm beating a fallen horse here. But when Suzyn Waldman says that "Hinske has always been hard on Wang," I can't help it.

Also, this game is going to take like 5 hours.

182 He may be like Chone Figgins where he doesnt hit anyone else.

171 Didn't we get David Wheathers in that trade too? Not that it makes it any better...

I don't like the look of this so far. Too many fly balls. ANyone watching the game care to enlighten us Gameday-ers with how he is looking? I'm not too optimistic.

185 And have a 2K post list.

Nice hitting by the lefty to go the other way.

Sometimes I think the secret to baseball is just so easy: hit 'em where they're pitched.

If you do that, you'll never strike out with risp and you'll likely not pop up.

Why can't our guys change their approach with 2 strikes?

Who taught these people how to play baseball, I often wonder.

Fundamentals, man.

It's ok to be a superstar yet still be able to rely on fundamentals when the occasion demands it.

I know, I'm a curmudgeon, and I'm only 33, but really, it's just exasperating to see other players do so effortlessly what our guys do rarely.

Does he not have much control right now? Wang seems to be throwing a lot of balls (hee-hee)

Seem to be an awful lot of flyballs for Wang today (I'm "watching" on gamecast)

ton of flyballs.

188 I was thinking the same thing (got Gameday on too). Where are the ground balls?

We'll see. Here comes the top of the lineup...

174 typo in that last sentence...I stuck.

190 I think only Ichiro and a handful of journeymen know how to hit w/2 strikes anymore. It's all about the HR's and the next $ now. The arbitrator doesn't emphasize 2-strike hits.

Lot of fly ball outs for the Wanger...

so far the worms look safe today.

Is Wang wild today? More balls than strikes (or is that normal for him and I just never noticed it before)

182 2006 overall: .264/.353/.513
vs NYY: 19 AB, 2 HR, .368/.429/.737
2003-2005 overall: .250/.324/.411
vs NYY: 173 AB, 3 HR, .221/.320/.364

187 July 31, 1996: Traded by the Florida Marlins to the New York Yankees for Mark Hutton.

A year later they traded Weathers for Chad Curtis, so that's not bad.

182 Hinske's stats against the Yankees (.256/.344/.412) are pretty much the same as his career stats (.259/.337/.437).

http://tinyurl.com/s2xh4

178 I enjoy them immensely. This is a pennant race for crying out loud. Head to Head, Toe to Toe, Mano a Mano with our chief rival.

They are gut wrenching at times sure, but these kinds of games are what baseball is all about in my opinion. If I didn't enjoy these games, I'm not sure what games I should enjoy. An April game against the D-Rays?

Nice hitting by the lefty to go the other way.

Sometimes I think the secret to baseball is just so easy: hit 'em where they're pitched.

If you do that, you'll never strike out with risp and you'll likely not pop up.

Why can't our guys change their approach with 2 strikes?

Who taught these people how to play baseball, I often wonder.

Fundamentals, man.

It's ok to be a superstar yet still be able to rely on fundamentals when the occasion demands it.

I know, I'm a curmudgeon, and I'm only 33, but really, it's just exasperating to see other players do so effortlessly what our guys do rarely.

Wang has left a few sinkers up, but I think the main problem is he's still trying to get used to the strike zone. The ump is kind of squeezing him.

Ugh, good lord, can we please hit this guy. Not only are we not hitting, we aren't really taking many pitches. I swear, if for the third straight game we score less runs than the pitcher's bloated ERA, I will go crazy...

171 That's what I had always remembered too, but no, Weathers came over at the trade deadline, 1996, for Mark Hutton... and was traded to the Indians less than a year later for Chad Curtis

yep. one of those games.

christ, I hate to bitch this early, but why are guys like this turning into Greg Maddux against the Yanks so much lately?

You gotta be kidding me, after throwing 29 in the first and getting in deep trouble, Johnson is now back to a normal pitch-count and has retired 8 Yankees in a row pretty easily.

184 That reminds me of the joke about the smut on Leave it to Beaver, where the mom asks the dad "Don't you think you were a little too hard on the Beaver last night?"

Now is the time to shine Bobby, Jason and (even you) A-Rod.

210 But we made him throw 29 pitches! Don't you see the logic in not swinging at the fat strikes? We made him throw a lot of pitches. If Giambi or A-Rod would have hit those pitches 8 miles, it would be several less pitches.

210 Ya know, I used to not really like all the negativity from you, but I have changed. I welcome it with open arms now. You pretty much say what I think. (but I know I shouldn't type) So keep on keepin on. Besides, it's funny in a pessimistic sorta way.

A walk!

I wonder if that was the first time Jason Johnson has ever retired 8 straight batters.

I wonder if this game will be over before the nightcap is scheduled to start...

213 I am very grateful you are not managing the Yankees. You seem to have a rudimentary understanding of the game.

211 They didn't really say that did that? That is just way to obvious...

what an addition by cashman. i am so comfortable with abreu up there. isnt he just always down in the count and drawing 5-10 pitch walks?

214 Look, if this was a genuinely good pitcher doing this, I would have no complaints. I mean, because it would be a good pitcher shutting us down. But it's one of the worst pitchers in baseball, with an ERA over 6.00, and for the third straight day.

214 you know, that's a good way to take it--Ron Burgundy is suffering for all of us--stay gloomy, Ron!

I hate this umpire. I truly do. He might as well have a Sawx jersey and cap on.

221 So Ron Burgundy is our Christ-figure?

It would be great to get to the Sox BP early today, to negate their offday...hint hint...Ok, I'll just say it: Chase this bum from the darn game!!

Many of these called strikes are below gamecast's strike zone.

Alex Gonzalez with a successful pin of Bobby Abreu.

Man this seems like a wacky strike zone...

225 I noticed the same thing on strike one to Giambi.

221 But I don't want to! Why can't they hit one of the worst pitchers in baseball?! Over the past 3 days, we have faced: Adam Loewen, Rodrigo Lopez, Bruce Chen, Russ Ortiz, and Jason Johnson and totalled 4 runs.

Really, DIAF umpire.

Nice deke. Fooled Abreu into thinking the ball was in his glove.

225 The first strike to Giambi and the payoff pitch to Abreu were pretty much in the same spot. The second strike to Giambi was off the plate AND down... meh.

Part of me thinks "don't steal and take the bat out of Giambi's hands"--logically, I want A-Rod up with two on, but emotionally?

I have become ESPN's bitch. I hate myself.

My God this team is a joke.

Man, that Jason Johnson, what an ace! Making it look easy...

225 But Wang is not getting anything low. :-P

219 Agreed wholeheartedly. I'm very comfortable with him up there, like Matsui when he's in a grove.

How did Jason swing through that pitch?

How?

Who the fuck am I kidding, we're gonna get ass-fucked. If we can't hit the worst pitchers in all of baseball in three days, what are we gonna do against average guys like Beckett and Seanez and Timlin?

My buddy said Giambi missed a meatball on strike 3.

The good news is: A: We're leading. B: We're probably going to get to Boston's bullpen early in the 1st game of a 5 game set.

At this rate maybe Jeter gets to him in the 6th.

233 This team is a first place joke last I checked. The bats are in a collective slump. It happens. Color me not worried.

153

confused..what do you mean "how do you know they threw as hard ? " simple Ryan, JR Richards, etc...all pumped gas...

honestly I think we are looking at guys who are concerned (probably rightfully so) more about extending their careers with 11-10 5.34 ERAs that net 3 year $9m deals rather than going all out...

How can Farnsworth not pitch two days in a row ?

How can Wright be only good for 5 innings on a great day for him...?

229 That's the way it is with the Yanks. They have no trouble with Cy Young winners, but struggle against the no-name guys.

217 Perhaps. I just think that when you have a shitty pitcher on the ropes and he's throwing fat strikes, its time to hit them.

I realize its not cool to say that a walk isn't as good as a hit. But it is, in fact, not. A double is better than a walk. a triple is better than a walk. a homerun is better than a walk. an rbi single is better than a walk. a single that moves a man first to third is better than a walk. But walks have become sexy so no one can say that. And you know what? that doesn't even bother me as much because at least a walk is productive.

What REALLY pisses me off is this new philosophy that all that matters is the amount of pitches seen. Somehow A-Rod and Giambi's 8 pitch pop ups were more valuable to the team than a second pitch homerun.

Wright is only good for five innings because he seems to implode immediately after...

245 5IP or 100 pitches, whichever some first. He's like a damn Yugo.

244 Well said, Mattpat.

Looks like Wang finally got a Johnson call on that first strike to Loretta

Ugh, seeing as Wang is giving up a ton of flyballs and doubles, and we have no BP, can we please score some runs sooner or later...With Ortiz and Manny coming up with one out, so much for our lead...

I hate this stadium.

241 In a 5-game series with a 1.5 lead against the Sawx in their Little Laague park and our our offense completely dead, I am a little conserned. Add to that the fact that the umpire has a bigger strikezone for Jason Johnson and that Wang keeps getting fly-balls, and I'm downright in need of some Scotch.

237 Havn't you noticed? It's like last year, they tend to do better against actual cy youngers

245 try leaving work today at 2pm and tell your boss that is it "I am imploding and will have Steve down the hall finish up"

That is crap that this guy is given a pass because he implodes after 5 innings..

There really is no expectation for this guy to become a full-time starter ever again...

I think that if I were Francona, I would have batted Hinske fifth.

Ortiz is 0-2 with RISP today. No one will notice.

i don't think anyone gives Wright a free pass...We just take him for what he is...5 pretty good innings on average is better than 6 crappier innings...We just need a long reliever better than Ponson...

243 Didn't see your post. Great minds.

253 Hey, I might actually try that.

255 It didn't happen in a clutch situation, so it doesn't count anyways

242 Ryan might be the hardest throwing pitcher of all time, in terms of never taking anything off his fastball, but I still think it's a tough question. Guys walk a lot more now=more pitches per inning...I think you're right about career length concerns, though.

Yanks RISP is better than Bostons ? Amazing as the Yanks have recently been crap with RISP....

253 Try chewing tobacco and spitting on the floor of your office. I don't think the situations are comparable.

255 True enough. He did hit the ball hard his second time up, though, fwiw.

Well, looks like its our starter who will be out early and our BP that will have to be streched, rather than the guy with the 7 ERA...

263 And it's worth a lot. Means he's seeing the ball well.

Man, I'm gonna go on record and say I'm very worried about Wang for the rest of the year. He looks tired. I would skip him a turn in the rotation....not possible, I know, but....

260 And J. R. Richard, his teammate, may have thrown even harder. Add in his size and his scowl, and I don't know if anyone's ever been more intimidating.

He didn't have Ryan's curve, though.

Whew.

Thank you Mike Lowell for swinging at the first pitch!

I'll take the out but was it hit hard?

fly ball after fly ball after line drive

262

I dunno we got a guy in our office using HGH and Andro and he is pretty productive and rides his bike really fast well

OK, can we like, I dunno...SCORE SOME RUNS!!!???

Wang doesn't seem to pitch well at Fenway. All things considered, I think he's doing okay.

But I'm wondering if maybe they should have gone with Karstens instead of Beam. A guy who can go long.

So instead of constant complaining, can we tip our hat to Wang for hanging in there so far and keeping Boston's rallies from reaching the scoreboard. Or is that too much to ask?

Wang is in for 6 or 7 innings no matter what he gives up....

270 No. Weak fly ball to shallow right.

this game is like watching a drunk chase a balloon on the edge of a cliff....

275 I can't see the actual game but from the looks of it on Sportsline, he's more lucky so far than anything else.

I'm all for a little more positivity though.

There we go A-Rod, lets get this started!

Unclutch single by A-Rod.

277 Grr... Sportsline said "Line out to right".

Stop the Presses!
We got a hit off Greg Maddux!

Oh good Lord, this is just pathetic...

Cano...that big green thing in left field is your friend

ugh

I feel like throwing up..

I hate this team. Way to go Robbie.

What's with all these weak-ass rounders?

Alex hit a weak-ass grounder that amazingly found its way through the whole and then Cano hit a weak-ass chopper to get doubled up.

I'm mystified.

Come on, whether or not you think the Yanks will break out the big bats later on, there is no way you can say that this is anything but inexcusable...there is only so far you can take the "these guys are just pitching the games of their lives" argument time again...

I'm back at "work" now, "entering data." I would really like to know how the pitch data is entered into ESPN's gamecast, if its automatic based on thier "K-Zone" technology, or if there's some guy in charge of putting the pitches up. Because if its the latter, he needs to be fired. Or the ump does. Either one, really.

Robbie with runners on. Snakes on a plane!

this fucker is pitching well: hitting spots, throwing slop, changing speeds: he's making our guys look bad, they're not doing it to themselves

wait...Cano is supposed to be on 1b when A Rod grounds into a DP...they got their roles wrong

Jason "Walter" Johnson is settling down...what a joke

and we just got lucky, cause that was strike 3 on Jorgie...

that was a great play by loretta

Cano is unfortunately proving that he should not be batting in an rbi spot. Swings (and makes contact) with too many balls.

275 Indeed, indeed.

I've no beef with Wang.

Let's go YANK-ees!

294 The DP is still ARod's fault, obviously. If he were clutch, Cano would have gotten a hit.

See, the Yanks need to hit a HR to score runs, and Johnson is a sinkerballer...eve if a crap ass one...ergo, no HR, ergo, no runs...

294 Yup, pretty sure its still 1-0 Yankees. I'd be more concerned about Wang than about the Yankees' offense...

293 He also has an ERA over 6.00, as did Rodrigo Lopez, Adam Loewen, Bruce Chen, and Russ Ortiz. There's a reason they get molested by the rest of the league: They're the worst pitchers in the legue.

C'mon we need at least 5 more pitches in this inning

Nevermind the fact that between the last three pitchers, we have shown an amazing inability to make contact with breaking balls...Its like we are in jv baseball and freeze in wonder: "waht the heck was that, that ball just did something crazy, I better not swing at it, since if I do, I'll just look bad"

Well at least Johnson is at around 80 pitches, and remember that's the most important thing

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!
I can't take this bullshit anymore. Screw this, I'm gonna watch a DVD. Hell, we all know these fucktards will blow this thing.

Does anyone else feel that Wang is trying not to throw a strike? He is apparently throwing a shutout throwing more balls than strikes.

He is behind every hitter. He is unbelievably shaky today, and yet he has gone unscathed in terms of giving up a run.

I just hope that he keeps somehow not giving up a run.

244 I get what yer saying, it's frustrating to be patient w/o purpose, and the plan above all should not be to only draw walks. But we've been playing right into J Johnson's plans by swinging early in the count since the 1st. Look at Cano in his at bats.

I was wondering where the real Randy Johnson went. Apparently to Boston

307 I really hope you just knocked on wood...

here's for a nice 1-2-3 inning by the wangster. 7-9 pitches

the Sox are going to get 6 or 7 innings out of this retread bum....that is amazing given he was on the ropes on the 1st inning...

Ah yes, Hinske, forgot he was a freaking all star...So, who's not worried about Wang again?

307 This is totally your fault :)

who is this guy? and what did he do to CMW?

who is this guy? and what did he do to Hinske?

it will be a looooong September if Wang is toasted in mid-August....

Interesting how when Wang gets out of a bases loaded jam, its kudos to Wang... but when the Yankees strand baseruners... all the blame is on the Yankees' hitters. I realize its a fan bias thing, but some of the people here really need to lighten up. After all, last year the Red Sox got shut down by Alois Troy Leiter. Sometimes stuff happens.

313 I'm not worried about Wang.

I can't believe all these fly balls by Wang. It's like he's a completely different pitcher today.

Dear Coco Crisp,

That sideways hat thing went out like two years ago.

Love

Me.

Red Sox manufacture a run with outs. Unusual.

With both Not as Big Johnson and Lester the Molester pitching today, there is no reason what so ever that we shouldn't be burning their BP...

310

I just did, but it didn't matter, tie ballgame.

Wang is throwing like crap today, and Yankees are hitting like crap.

I would be amazed if the Yankees end up winning this one.

308 Just blindly taking in the first is probably why he's still in the game. Giambi hits a three run homerun and A-Rod follows it up with a solo shot on those meatballs they took, and its just as good as taking a million pitches and knocking him out in the fifth. Significantly better, actually.

317 Except that Wang has been a good pitcher most of the year. Johnson has been horrible - and the Yankees beat him all over the Stadium in June.

318 But are you worried about the Beaver?

317 The thing is, that this is the game we are supposed to win, not just win, but win easily. It only gets harder and worse from here. Remember, Ponson is pitching tonight, so expect about 2 innings from him, maybe 9 runs...This is our best matchup, by a lot, in a very unfriendly park.

317 It's Alois Terry Leiter.

And I can't believe I know that...

317 i agree, Johnson is pitching very well. mixing speeds and junk all over the place, but keeping them off-balance.

the giambi K was great (junk, junk, fastball, junk, fastball).

now, lets go and get this over with with a nice rally here!! I'm looking at you wilson!! look at the new guy from the red sox, let's go!

320 that is pretty funny, when i first saw that photo I thought the Sox were helping the community with a Special Olympics outing....

320 it never was in style.

326 Well my gf actually got a call from her gynecologist earlier this week, so in fact, yes, I am slightly worried about the Beaver.

325 327 Orrrrr you could just let the baseball players play the baseball games instead of sitting around speculating. I'm not saying that I'm not frustrated by the team's performance; what I'm saying is that y'all are way too reactionary. Sometimes good pitchers have bad games, sometimes bad pitchers have good games. How much of that is due to the pitcher, how much to the batter, and how much to luck? I'd say its 25%, 25%, 50%, on any given night. If you want a predictable outcome, baseball is not your game.

Ah yes, that magical breaking ball...

Was that strike looking to Craig Wilson really low?

Wilson, an automatic K today.

Damn!

Wilson stares at the Whatever it was by Walter Johnson right down the middle for strike three.

Maybe Wilson should have come up with the "injury" while Andy played in this series.

333 Wait, what part of being a fan don't you understand? "Let the basebal players play the baseball games instead of sitting around speculating?" What would be the point of that, I might as well just watch something else...

335 No. Backup curveball.

335 that was a perfect 2-2 pitch there. this guy is pitching today. DAMN

Wilson for Chacon is beginning to look like a bit of a wash. Hurry back, SCUBA Sheff!

333 Honestly, how many times can we say "well, the awful pitcher just had a good game"?

Why can't the Yankees hit bad pitchers? I am starting to get worried...

339 You know if we all start turning on each other, the Red Sox Terrorists have already won.

342 At this point, Sheff is our 1B next year along with the combo of Giambi/Abreu/Matsui and has a place on the team.

333 True. As John Sterling says several times a game: "Baseball is THE most unpredictable game."

i am gonna be sad next year not seeing too much of melky, not that im complaining about damon, abreu, matsui, and maybe a lil sheff at 1b, but i love watchin the kid play everyday

C'MON JD!! show those guys what they're missin'

[Wacky Dance]

JOHNNY!

go Johnny go!

Johnny Baby!!

JOhnny D! Long live the moustache!!!

Go, Johnny, Go!

And the boos rain down....

A little fly ball.

Wow, I didn't think that was going out!

Thank you, Johnnie Damon!

much better.

What is that, 19 HR?

Damon gave a little shake of his head too, apparently he didn't expect it to go out either.

Johnny PESKY!

take that boston. JOHNNY DAMON!

DAM-A-LAM-ON-DING-DONG!!!!!

Damon has such an ugly, one handed swing that I never understand how he generates any power...

The best (possibly the only good) thing about the ESPN broadcast: the super-slow-mo replay of a swing.

346 Man, don't tell me that. One of the things I liked about the Abreu deal was no more Sheffield.

Ok, 5th inning, 95 pitches, lets chase him here!

OK, now we got something. Just keep doing the OBP and HR thing.

The porn-'staches are condusive to HRs apparently.

363 K zone rules too.

Johnson is toast. get your sucky bullpen going francona!!

A-Rod will hit a 500 Foot Grand Slam this inning.

333 As a fan I like to play with statistics, analyze what could have been done differently, cheer when my team does something good and my spirits sink with the team's failures. What I don't do is fret over the things I, and no one in the universe, has any control over- like whether or not the Yankees hitters pick up Johnson's breaking ball... like whether or not a fly ball drops in or is caught in certain Web Gem fashion... like write off a game after a couple of innings or even before it starts! Meanwhile, as I write this, Johnny Damon proves my point...

Never, ever write a game off before its over. The 2006 Yankees (See May game vs Rangers) are perfect proof of that.

Jeter on, I think they have a nice 1-2 tandem going today.

Let's go Bob-by!

Dam. I come in late, the Yanks are up 1 - 0, then I have to go do some work and now it's 3-1. Maybe I shouldn't watch the rest of the game, Yanks don't seem to score when I do.

If this were a wrestling match Circa 1989 Hulk Hogan would be wagging his finger in someone's face and shaking his head right about now.

Love it, Bobby A!

367 I don't think they have K-Zone today, or at least, I haven't seen it.

332 Bronx Banter reaches a new level of intimacy....

Lets get it going now. No letting up!

Ok, here we go.

Notice how Abreu hit it where it was pitched?

Notice the result?

Just saying.

:)

And that's it for Johnson.

Johnny be good! I love how him and Cano are killing my buddy who has Abreu and Giambi this week. You know, cause I can't root against them.

Johnson gone? How many pitches for him today?

Mission accomplished, sort of. Starter gone early in the game. Hopefully has an impact this evening.

Hey all! Damn - I love Johnny Damon!!! It must be so sweet every time he does something like that in his former "home"

francona and his red pijama

376 Well, someone asked.

I think I've wondered into Bizzaro-Banter. 20 minutes ago I was reading through the comments quickly to catch up, and I was sure the Yanks were down by a few given the negative tone . . . and then I found out the score was 1-0 Yanks.

Now its 3-1 Yanks with 2 men on and 1 out and there's partying in the streets!

Let's keep the hope alive folks - there's a lot more baseball left to be played!

Wow, that's one short leash on Johnson.

Here comes another pitcher with a 6+ ERA. Let's see what happens.

2 HRs, 1 3B, 1 2B and 3 RBIs in these past 2 games for JD

Why did I have Snyder listed as a lefty? Appologies, previous post has been fixed.

4.1 ip. 95 pitches. 7 hits. 3 er. 2 bb and 3 ks.

not too bad. im happy with seeing bostons middle relief in the 5th inning. where em down boys. its gonna be a long series!

373 Giambi needs to nail the three punches.

Memo to Yankees: Please score lots of runs today, if only to help Ron Burgundy. Otherwise his head may explode.

Come on G-man! Power of moustache!

389 Maybe because Snyder is a switch-hitter?

This Snyder guy looks like he last pitched in Williamsport. And the talking heads were getting on the Yankees for playing KC rejects (Guiel and K. Wilson). Ugh. Research reveals he used to play for UNC-CH... Tarhole AND Red Suck? Now I HAVE to hate him.

Just amazing in a key game like this, we get to see two 6+ ERA guys in a row...

370 I do all that, and I don't care HOW a ball is caught as long as it is or isn't. But, for me, baseball is a game of constant conversation, strategy, second guessing, and dialogue. Having grown up practically at the stadium, I treat all games like I was still there, in discourse with everyone around, either bitching or cheering...Add that with growing up in a family with a long history of pessimistic fandom, and I can't help but gripe...I am not overly negative in the shade of Ron, I think, nor am I a diehard rationalist, and I don't really get overly worked up over individual moments, but there are certain things that infuriate me: Torre's BP management, not hitting crappy pitchers, Steve Phillips, John Sterling etc...

389 Possibly.

Giambi finds a hole. 4-1.

Come A-Rod. whip them into the ropes

Yes! Giambi singles, 4-1 Yankees.

Yee-hah! Run scoring play!

OK A-Rod, its your turn!

392 Well, they're helping out a bit.

369 Sorry Ron, I'm not sure he is going to pull this off.

Come on A-Rod!

385 Welcome, Shaun. Before the Damon homer, I was trying (in vain) to keep things positive. I'm sure Ron Burgundy still thinks we'll blow this though.

384 yeah, I did :)

385 Fortunately, we're immune to cognitive dissonance.

Well, a sac fly doesn't really do anything, but it was a good swing and drive at least...

Come on! Go for the juggular!

DAMN IT! He just missed another HR.

406 With this ballpark, I'll be confident only if we have a 7-run lead into the 8th.

time to make the sox pay for picking up a royals reject... i think the yankees finally learned that lesson.

arod flied out, bobby at 3rd, giambi at first for cano..

Didn't Cano kill the Sox last year? Come on Robby!

Snyder's stuff is, if anything, worse than Johnson's.

Snyder just throwing random junk, and hoping some of them find the plate.

Yankees need to capitalize here.

397 "pessimistic fandom": great post. Did you grow up with the frustrating early 80s teams? I did--it took me years to understand my dad's sense that the Yanks were SUPPOSED to win...

Leiter for President!

397 I suppose we're not all that different. The only thing that bothers me is assuming a 1-0 lead in the fourth = loss, or that an inferior pitching matchup that hasn't occured = loss. Other than that I'm right with you. Let's keep the [Wacky Dance] rate high!

nice long rest for wang who sits at 59 pitches

Anyway, some cushion for Chien-Ming, hopefully he throws some strikes now.

No seriously, Robbie, I LOVE your hitting with the bases empty. But can you please get a hit w/RISP?

But whatever, a lead is a lead, let's keep this.

406 Its nice to know someone else is keeping positive! Where's tocho - he's always good for staying hopeful even in the worst of situations. Which this is far from!

416 And I grew up with the mid-late 60's teams. I've never taken winning for granted.

416 Yeah, but my family has alway been fairly reactionary too, goes back a few generations, but the 80's certainly set me up to never expect the best, and count on the worst...Some way of looking at life...Maybe I am a buddhist, or Samuel Beckett...

409 Agreed. Fine ab.

Giambi - 3 LOB
AROD - 4 LOB
Cano - 5 LOB

Rest - 0 LOB

4,5, and 6 hitters need to produce just a little bit more. at least giambi got that rbi.

Giambi - 3 LOB
AROD - 4 LOB
Cano - 5 LOB

Rest - 0 LOB

4,5, and 6 hitters need to produce just a little bit more. at least giambi got that rbi.

Joe's gotta have a quick hook with Wang here. They need this game.

396 "we get to see two 6+ ERA guys in a row"

The Yanks should have a >3 run lead against these AAA pitchers...

I think Wang's pitches are not sinking today, for whatever reason. He has an awful lot of flyballs today.

That's more like it, 1-2 on Loretta.

422 right here shaun, see 329 only happy thoughts.

Now, this inning is crutial for CMW.

quick hook is tough when you are in a 5 game set, even if you do need a game. but i sort of agree that we need this one bad

key inning here: Wang gets past the big dogs once more and we'll have a real good shot...

K for Wang! Beautiful pitch to get Loretta.

416 The late 80s, early 90s teams were how I got my start with the Yanks, which is how I can claim beyond a reasonable doubt that I am not a bandwagon Yankees fan (despite being only 12 in 1996). My dad's devotion to the Yankees was paramount... in fact, the first time I ever heard him curse was when Junior Griffey scored the winning run to win the 1995 ALDS.

423 And heck, you are a positive force as the family goes...

430] On the radio, they're saying that Wang just isn't throwing his sinker, mostly sliders. They're not sure why.

Ortiz is just saving it for the 9th inning, right ESPN?

Ortiz jammed. 2 outs.

You can almost hear the Sox fans grumbling about Damon already. Lovely.

Wang K's Loretta, 1-pitch ground out by Ortiz - that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

428 Agree Cliff, gotta go for broke with this game and then deal with tonight when it comes. Win now...

this ump sucks: the 0-1 and the 0-2 were the same pitch...

Sterling: "You know Wang, he's from the inscrutable East. That's as much emotion as he's showed."

Wang is actually settling down some. The reason people were so negative was Wang was pitching in out of trouble like crazy in the early innings.

416 - I'm with ya, one of the first yankees games i remember was righetti's no hitter in the early 80's.... and it was pretty much downhill till '95.

wanger will make manny the dredhead sit the F down.

Well, who didn't see that ocming after the no call?

Orientalism from Sterling.

I quote, "You know Wang, from the inscrutable east..."

Meanwhile, homerun by Manny because Wang didn't get the call that led Sterling to comment on his racial characteristics.

I don't think I've ever actually seen a player talk an umpire in to calling a strike a ball. Verbally convince him.

I'm fully in favor of firing that man.

Shut UP RSN, Johnson was getting a k-zone bigger than David Wells the entire game. And after callig a strike a strike, the HP ump is an idiot and goes right back to squeezing Wang. And instead of striking out looking, Ramirez hits a HR. Really, screw you Tony Randazzo.

436 It's true. At times I'm downright hopeful.

431 Keep 'em coming, tocho!

OK, now its 4-2, but that's Manny for you. Gameday had all those pitches low and away - were they sinkers or not? Just wondering . . .

A-Rod's with leather!

was that a pop-up foul ball or a HR? stupid ballpark

thought we had a nice inning. manny being manny

2 more innings from Wang would be luscious

love seeing Ortiz and Manny up with no one on...that is the way to beat this team..

HR for Manny on a tough pitch, hat tip.

Nice play by A-Rod to end the inning.

4-2 Yankees.

Amazing, the ump literally gave the Sawx a run. See, this is where DIAF is actually to soft.

Let's get the bottom third in on this hit-a-thon.

454 Hey, fair's fair. Damon got the same break earler, what can you do?

458 He actually struck out in that at-bat, but the ump didn't call a strike because Manny told him not too. Funny how that works.

shit the TiVo factor had me two minutes behind the Manny HR...

Huge play by Rodriguez there. If Youkilis reaches and that inning gets extended Joe might be forced to take Wang out right there. Instead he's through five and will face the 6, 7, 8 hitters in the sixth, which is officially Everyday Scottie Proctor territory. They're also set up to get Proctor in and out without having to face Ramirez. They've got Myers for Ortiz and Farnsworth and Rivera rested. Big big big out to end that inning.

shit the TiVo factor had me two minutes behind the Manny HR...

going to be tough if we need to use farnsworth and mo in the first game.

Anyone else see Hinske as the next RSN irrational fan "dirt dog" favorite?

459 Have to let that go. Bad calls happen (cf. Jeffrey Maier). Good teams win anyway.

That would have been a HR in the Stadium.

454 Damon's went to the farthest part of RF, over 390 Feet. Manny's was at first a K, but then went all of 302 feet for a HR.

466 Not at all. Get the win, let the nightcap be a house money game and start fresh tomorrow with Villone having had a full day off.

468 Agreed.

i'll shut up now... marley, er, manny just homered but they're out of the inning.

466

agreed..with these two bums the Sox are rolling out there we need to rip the game open a bit and give the pen a break....

Snyder and Johnson are pure waiver trash

I think the big reason that the bottom of our order hasn't left anyone on base is that they haven't gotten anyone on base...

Terrible inning there for the Yanks..7 pitches retch...

470 Fair enough. Still, I never expected Damon's ball to go out and it did.

Point taken, though.

Now Kyle Snyder is Cy Young?

They just got Snyder to replace Arroyo in the team photo

I still can't get over that. a player actually told an umpire not to call a strike and he listened.

477 Yes, Ron, because he had one 1-2-3 inning against the bottom of the order he's Cy Young.

I'm going to turn away from the computer now.

Can I get a STFU for talking-Babe-head?

480 No, just saying, 7 pitches was a bit too weak against Snyder. I thought, maybe someone has a nice long at-bat, fouls some pitches off.

Wang...two more innings please...

Cripes, and here comes MVP Hinske...

Crap, this was my big fear. Hinske as the tying run.

Dude, you do NOT walk Mike Lowell and his still barely hanging on to .800 OPS.

Little League World Series

Saudi Arabia vs. British Columbia

Now you talk about a rivalry !

I wouldn't give Wang the go-ahead run...

281 Amen! (Nod, Nod, Nod)

Is Proctor warming?

Hinske does suck, right? Are the Yankees unaware of this?

Oh please, this is rediculous, Wang really needs to get through this inning...

Christ on a Cracker, gime me a break.

f--king hinske.
f--king wang.

3 doubles by hinske. unreal.

Yes, Proctor's warming.

SNAKES ON A MF'ING PLANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 out.

Torre will get to do what he has really always wante dto do today, pitch proctor twice in the same day!

491 Hinske has a, what, 850 OPS? Unfortunately he's a significant pickup for them...

Nice play JD! bad throw JD!

Great play by Damon there. If Bernie's in center, it's a tie game.

HUGE play by Damon!

Damon saves one, but a run scores anyways. DAMN IT!

I guess Hinske's numbers against Wang aren't a fluke of small sample size.

Nice catch by Damon.

Damon!!!

What a signing for this year, I am a total convert now.

well that could have been worse

Come on Wang!!

501

you cannot complain about the throw...anyone was scoring on that catch

One more baby...

YES!!!!!!!!

And Wang works out of it with minimal damage. I would let him pitch to Loretta, then go to Myers for Ortiz in the 7th.

maintains the lead going into the 7th. is it looking liek proctor, farnsworth, mo? i am watching on gameday

Nice escape Wanger! Gotta give props to second and third no outs and only one in!

Now, I assume EDSP comes in?

We need to score a whole bunch here to chase Snyder, they need to go into their real BP in this game...

Ok, top of the lineup now needs to have a feast

Top of the order. Need some insurance here, boys. In part because Manny's due up third next time and he's 3 for 7, all home runs, off Proctor.

deep breath everyone... yankees still have the lead. hopefully they'll score a few more in this little league park

If this is the only game where we had a huge edge, and we can barely hang on and keep the lead, how are we gonna do in the other 4?

wang is only at 87 pitches though. but 2,3,4 coming up in bot 7

MLB.tv must be 5 minutes behind you guys. Just only now saw the last out of the 6th.

This has been a very atypical CMW outing, the amount of flyballs have been exorbitantly high.

I am guessing he has not been able to get his sinker going today for most part. Hasn't done poorly considering that.

If he goes oe more inning that would be tremendous. But my guess is he will not start the seventh, with Loretta, Ortiz and Ramirez due up.

Need some more cushion now.

I've been out of the loop for the last two days and I'm just logging in for the first time today and haven't had a chance to read thru the posts. When did the Sox get Hinske?

Oh, but, EDSP should NOT pitch to Manny, no way...

Come on Johnny! Big fat juicy double please...

JD will start the rally again!!

more runs....please....more runs...

If A Rod hits a bomb this inning I will take back everything I have ever said about Pavano (for me to take back all I have said about A Rod will take a lot more than a 1 HR)

Wang is history - for sure...

Ah, the "Yankees Suck" chant. How classic. And where's that 10-year grace period Sawx fans? Drunkard morons.

Goddamnit

Its kind of scary how much Snyder really does have the Arroyo look going...See, give a baseball player the chance to do their own style, and without fail, they make themselves look like high schoolers just able to grow facial and long hair...

Wang has not given up a single or get a double play in 6 innings....87 pitches, still, I wouldn't let him start the 7th...maybe one batter then Myers?

522 They opened up a box of cracker jacks yesterday -- and they were disappointed they didn't get one of those rub on tatoos.

Is stupid Bennifer in the stands?? What a jerk-off.

Heh, a break, Lowell's vacuum finds a hole for a change.

I just can't stand the thought of EDSP pitching to Ortiz and Manny, but on the other hand, I don't really feel like seeing Myers pitch to Ortiz either...This also sets them up to most likely come up in the 9th too...

528

this 2004 issue is going to haunt us for at least a generation before the rivalry assumes it correct place of us being the hammer and them being the nail..

it is hard to live with, especially when i see these bandwagon Sox fans with their pink Sox hats who do not know who Rich Gedman is

More flyballs than groundballs is highly unusual for Wang.

Hinske was acquired yesterday, I believe. This is his first game with the Sox.

No out recorded!!!

wow... lowell making an error is definately a break.

Reminder, Kyle Snyder is pitching guys. RUNS PLEASE!

Bobby looks like a drug dealer on Gameday.

Boo, A-Rod, you suc-- er wait, another player besides Alex makes an error? I thought only he did that.

or go Wang--Myers--and then Farns in the 7th, Proctor for the 8th? if Joe takes those #s Cliff quotes seriously....

I hate Snyder. only junk

So, Snyder is throwing everything in the 60's.

Basehit Abreu, first and second.

Come on Giambi!

Sterling: "I know I tend to be melodramatic..."

Oh yeah, the Fenway Faithful are waxed.

530 I know: the Yanks are the only MLB team without eight goateed white guys...

Sterling is right, these 2 atbats by Giambi and Arod will determine the game.

...would love to see Arod finally come thru big time and maybe even put this game out of reach....that is ofcourse unless Jason hits into a DP.

here comes the 3-run HR that will let us all exhale

does anyone else believe that the curse was broken by the Red Sox having their greatest player ever beheaded after his death and stored in a 55 gallon drum in some suburb of Phoenix ?

They realised Williams was not coming back and sacrificed him to the gods

yes!!

Giambi! HUGE run...

HUGE!!

This is where A-Rod hits a "meaningless" Home-Run, right?

Yes, Giambi comes through again!

5-3 Yankees.

Very nicely done, three well-placed singles = one insurance run. That's great hitting.

Yes, Jason!

oh, Arod, oh Arod, do not foresaken us!!!

550 or the RBI single, followed by the 3-run HR that will let us all exhale

557 Wasn't Jeter's ball an error?

snyder is finally showing his true colors...ROYAL BLUE!

c'mon slappy mangina!

I would go with the Wang-Myers approach, and then just walk Manny. Just don't pitch to him

557 Indeed, Cliff, indeed.

Nice to see, eh?

The Giambino is the real freaking deal!!

Is that clutch?

Clutch-Rod!

A-ROD~!

561 Yup. Sorry.

Another nice hit, another insurance run, with Manny helping the runners move up. Good stuff.

A "garbage time" RBI double for A-Rod.

Yeah A-Rod, that's more like it baby!

So kirribilli, hopefully not another word from you today on A-Rod.

Wow!!!!!

Alex comes through, and there goes Manny being Manny!

Thank you, Alex, thank you!

RUN-SCORING PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Who is EDSP?

thank you Alex Rodriguez.

An error by the third baseman leads to a multiple-run rally, but it doesn't fit into the storyline.

I'm not asking for much here...just get the guy in from third.

Who is EDSP?

RUN-SCORING PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!1

And Delcarmen has to pitch too, which is good...Although I'd rather see Snyder in for a few more batters...

RUN-SCORING PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!!1

There you go, just padding your stats, A-Rod
/jk.

there we go!!!!! thats what we need from the 4 and 5 spots!

awesome for arod!!! 6-3 yankees now

awesome for arod!!! 6-3 yankees now

560 or the RBI double, followed with the 3-run HR that will make us all exhale (this seems to be working)

DelCarmen VS. Cano is just SOOO a mix for a 3-Run Home-Run.

577 Was it really an error?

That double is the disadvantage of playing so shallow, as Manny does.

A Rod ! YES !

we have seen false starts before but MAYBE he is starting to come out of it...

I am glad Francona came to get Snyder as we will need that guy tomorrow...

HA! Manny being Manny.

With a three-run lead they can leave Wang (at 87 pitches) in there to face the big guys and hopefully not have to use either Proctor or Farnsworth at all.

That last Geiko commercial was actually funny, unlike the other celebrity ones.

551 http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam's Razor

579 Everyday Scott Proctor

Stat padding again A-Rod. Its not like the 7th inning, against the Sox, at Fenway with two on and a 2 run lead is an important situation.

now a single, and we can see wang last 8 innings and possibly only use one extra arm today

579
EveryDayScottProctor

588 Why? Delcarmen's been solid for them. He's their third best reliever easily.

572

agreed....

Boy there is a lot of posts here today for a day game. Who are the Yankees playing this weekend?

Nine outs and it's 2½ games with a freaking game in the hand!!

595 Good to know.

Trivia question that nobody you know will get right: "Which NY third baseman has the most runs batted in in 2006?"

579 Every Day S. Proctor.

By the way, hi to all -- I've been following the game but just logged on.

And, I'll be happy with a Cano single.

EDSP is just my abbreviation for Every Day Scott Proctor...Mostly, I am just lazy...

Cano, hit a double, or a single, NOW.

589 Unless they've changed the official scoring (and the scorer at Fenway is really hesitant to give anyone an error, so it still might happen), it was an error.

YES, nice timing RIYANK!!

That works too

yes! Cano with RISP!

Cano: hitting machine

Come on Cano!

RUNNING SCORING PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Robbie blows it open. I love it when a plan comes together. Five-run lead.

CANO!!!!

RUN-SCORING PLAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Cano Can-Do. Nice.

CANO !

YES !!!!!!

He and Melky are just fun to watch....

Now hopefully Torre does not bring Mo in for a two inning save

8-3!!!

manny being manny delcarmen

8-3 Yankees.

Cano RBI, his numbers with RISP improving.

1000 career runs for Giambi, not bad for a guy who cannot run.

THE BATS ARE ALIVE!! THEY'RE ALIVE!!

RI Yank, your timing is impecable... a single you ask, and you shall recieve

ROBBIE!!!!

Screw Manny.

that's it baby, keep hitting their bullpen.

Me thinks this game is over because Francona will probably leave Delcarmen in to take a hit for the rest of the pen.

for a non-athletic type in the field that was a nice play by Manny

C'mon Robbie.

I came back to my office. What did Steve Phillips say when A-Rod came through in the clutch? So far my favorite annoying/moronic statements:

1. When A-Rod popped out, Phillips claimed he was pressing. When Ortiz did the exact same thing it was because even the best can't come through everytime.

2. There was no, I mean zero, zip mention of that diving play by A-Rod which saved at least a run and possibly Wang's start.

A-Rod is having a great game so far. 2-4, with a near miss for the HR to center and stellar, clutch defense.

Leave Cano in for one more inning now

Farnsworth for the save. No doubt.

Unless the Yanks go up more, I don't want to see T.J. Beam until the 9th. I still remember that horrific loss in Washington.

I would def. advocate Wanger pitching the 7th, but I don't think Torre will let it be...

With Craig Wilson batting, Robinson Cano steals (4) 2nd base!!

I love this! Error, single, single, double, single, hard out, single . . .

629 How bad is Steve Philips? When John Kruk becomes the voice of reason on A-Rod, you know things are really bad.

Every time I take my headphones off to answer the phone (I'm listening on the radio), the Yanks score. Not that I'm complaining, but it woulda been nice to hear some of it.

he has got to let him start the 7th ? no ?

629 But the Yankees are winning 8-3, which means there were no clutch situations in the game, at least by ESPN standards.

629 I guess now that there's a 5-run lead, Rodriguez's single isn't clutch anymore

so ... wang starts the 7th, no?

gotta try and squeeze another inner (or more) to save up for the nightcap, right?

Jen, I think you have it backwards, you need to leave the headphones off clearly!

DAMN IT! Hard out by Melky.

OK, our pitchers just need to pitch 3 scoreless innings and we have Game 1.

4-run inning! Nice, very nice.

That inning was heavenly. It's a beautiful day and I'm home from work due to summer hours with the windows open watching the Yankees rack 'em up against the Sox. Doesn't get much better.

Wang should pitch the 7th AND be allowed to work around a little bit...Don't panic, but keep a short leash. Not the one guy on leash, just a short one...

alright, time to shut down the 2-3-4 hitters

642 Yeah, but what if it's the same for when the Sox are up and they too score when I'm not listening.

636 I stopped watching to go back and "work" but he was awful. At one point he claimed to analyze how Manny was a Yankee killer, then they showed his stats against the Yankees, which were basically precisely his typical season numbers (it was over 171 games). So basically, Manny is good against everyone. Great analysis there, a hall of famer is a good player.

Also, he discussed how Ortiz clearly deserves the MVP because he leads in HR (a valid point) and RBIs (which is retarded) and that even though Jeter plays the field at a gold glove level, Ortiz's numbers are so much better than everyone else's he deserves to be MVP. I guess that .283 batting average counts more if you play for Boston.

643 I'm no math whiz, but I think our pitchers need to pitch 3 innings in which they give up a total of 4 runs or less.

637 Quick everyone, call Jen.

Time for defensive substitution A-Rod out Phillips in at 3b. C'mon Joe

Wang stays in the game. :-/

648 Hmm, good point...

Wanger is in, come on guy!

He needed that strike first pitch. The umpire is inconsistent.

wang back out for the 7th

641 Yep, but I'd keep the leash short. these Sox have an odd way of coming back at Fenway, and one could envision Papi doing damage in the 7th AND the 9th.

652 I know you're kidding, but Phillips went on the DL today with an "injury."

Phillips is on the DL...

Ugh, leadoff double, Joe will def. bring in Myers here, and then Proctor for Manny, I can't watch!

Time for defensive substitution A-Rod out Phillips in at 3b. C'mon Joe

Does anybody know if the game tonight is on Extra Innings?

652 That's insane.

Very short leash for the Wanger.

best laid plans of mice and men ... thanks wang

652 Gonna be hard with Andy on the DL.

I don't agree with pulling Wang here. He's not pitched well, but with a five-run lead they can absorb a Papi homer here. Why not give Wang a shot, he's gotten him out three times already.

Myers is alive?

loretta double, wang is out, myers in.

here's to hoping myers looks better than he did yesterday

Wanger handled Ortiz all game, I woudl say leave him in. Now, Torre is FORCED to bring Proctor in to face Manny, which after the inevitable Myers walk, will mean scary times...

Why is he still in the game?????

6 2b by 2 players off the same pitcher. Amazing.

Myers....this is the sole reason we carry this guy on the roster...how much did he end up pitching yesterday ? and why ?

Andy's on the DL. It would have to be Nick Green if you want to do a defensive substitution.

Nick's better on D than Andy, anyway.

This pitching change doesn't happen if Myers isn't on the roster. That is, Joe lets Wang face Ortiz w/o a dedicated LOOGY tempting him.

Myers better get one out. Manny vs. Proctor the will mean an 8-5 game.

I mean, as a worst case scenario, which is likely.

This is the only reason they signed Myers. He better get this out.

666 An apt number for that post Cliff. I agree with you. On the plus side it limits Wang's innings a bit. Gotta preserve your starters too.

Maybe Myers to Dotel?

Let's go LOOGY.

I don't have a problem whatsoever with Joe going for the win here, I just don't know if this is the best way to do it!

This is no good. We need to get Big Papi out. NOW!

Man this ump is inconsistant...

Loretta always looks so unhappy.

Loretta always looks so unhappy.

glad to eat crow there! Is there any reason NOT to IB manny here?

21 innings all season for Myers...but that makes it all worth it...

walk Manny ?

A few more of those, and Myers will have justified his place on the roster.

Pheeew...

Sterling on Myers: "If he's not amazing, I don't know what is."

Proctologist versus Manny.

I would have liked Dotel here, just to see how he fares.

do we know torre or what???? proctor in to pitch to manny..... ugh

684 5 run lead, turning over the lineup sooner. I think there are reasons.

Well, Myers got 'im, so yeah 675, 8-5 after Manny's second homer of the game.

I have a bad feeling about this...

652 Or IBB, set up 2 vs Manny, save Myers for a possible higher-leverage situation (as opposed to 8-3, one man on)

'The Bobby' has a .925 OPS as a Yankee.
The 'Robby Curse' w/RISP seems to be broken.
We HAVE to win this one, because a loss would be unbearable.

While the Schill/Moose matchup looks even on paper, Schill has been much better in the last month. Wells has also pitched very well, as a number of unearned runs have scored in his games.

This is the BIG game of the series.
A must win.
Lets Go Yankees.

If you consider salary per pitch, Myers has to be the most highly paid player in baseball.

684 well, the 5-run lead, if he homers its 8-5 which is not bad, if you put him on, then its another runner that can potentially score in another HR.

I would walk him with a 2-run lead

696 I think Carl Pavano has that title locked up.

Why not walk Manny? It worked twice before with 1 out a shaky Wang in there

671 Even more amazing -- by a big margin -- because the pitcher is C-M W.

Ok, lets all admit it, that was the last thing we expected to happen there!

696 Did you forget about Glass Carl?

Myers isn't really taking someone elses roster spot. We've no one else good who could be on there.

Nice out by Proctor

I am exhausted already game 1...7th inning..

Proctor's got the 'stache going.

698 Actually this year he mathematically does so far. Let's see, Pavano's salary/0 = undefined!

Yes, Carl Pavano has reached a special mathematical territory. Even mathematics doesn't know what to make of him.

If the score stays 8-3, do you bring Mo in for the 9th?

Holy Shnikies, talk about effective pitching, yay EDSP!!

701 Pleasant surprise...

698 I forgot about Mr. Fragile Butt.

705 - seriously???? damon looks like he has a 'stache trying to come in... what's with this?????

703

you would go out and get someone....

the guy should be the closer in Columbus with Red Sox games circled on his calendar..

707 No freakin' way, but he should be a little warmed up.

707 No.

Damn, ESP is lights out. That was impressive.

708 All that, and you haven't even had to waste a Wacky Dance yet.

Who is this Proctor fella? He is looking pretty good.

661 8 p.m. NESN feed

I did use one [Wacky Dance] after Damon's HR, it was called for...

707 I would not bring him in to start the 9th if they are still 8-3

Youkilis's foot was off the bag there.

718 Thanks, Dwight. Better than MLB gameday. I can always provide my own commentary.

711 If they think it'll bond the clubhouse together for the stretch run, I don't care. Just keep kicking the shiznit out of the Sox.

a 1-2-3 8th would go along way towards to not facing Ortiz and Manny until they each hit 500 foot hrs off Ponson tonight

So, Proctor has got a couple of high leverage outs.

Next up, Lowell, HInske and Lopez. So should the Yankees run Proctor out again?

Perhaps, there being two games today. Better to conserve on arms if you can.

Hopefully Farns and Mo do not get used.

Abreu, excelente! Arriba!

723 hey, if it worked for donnie...

Man, this Abreu guy sucks. Maybe my initial reaction to the trade was slightly off? :).

Lets all put our hands together for Cashman once again.

707 NO--Joe would, though, except that we're playing two today...

abreu is 4 for 4. booyah!! thanks cash-man!

so, who pitches the 8th? proctor? and if so, who the 9th.

is it beam territory or should they still use the good silverware, I mean bullpen?

725 Why not? You warmed him up which means he's burned anyways and he's thrown 3 pitches so far. Proctor pitches the 8th and Beam or Dotel can pitch the 9th.

Abreu really seems to bring his A-Game against the Sox.

do you think Steinbrenner is awake for this ?

If it wasn't a double header, I would def. say Mo for the 9th in an 8-3 game, and even so, considering that Ponson is pitching tonight, Mo prob. won't be needed, but on the other hand, might as well keep him rested if possible...He hasn't pitched in at least two games already...

I'd be tempted to try Dotel, Bruney and Beam here with a five-run lead. That or just let Proctor finish the whole thing and save everyone else.

Good job boys...this is the situation where you take pitches and wear their BP out

The Red Sox are bringing in a reliever whose name ends in a "Z," so I feel pretty confident about this game.

732 Joe figures he can pitch Proctor another inning now, three in the nightcap, and still have him fresh for the weekend.

Is Abreu officially a True Yankee?

728

Are you Aaron Guiels dad ?

I am not sure how you could hate the trade when we gave up nothing....the guy was going to be a slight upgrade from Guiel and Bernie out there

Torre says Dotel is off-limits today.

736 I would be tempted as well, but this is really a must win game.

Fourth pitcher in for the Sox. Importantly, the next pitcher is Jon Lester, who has not been able to give the Red Sox too many innings.

So, Red Sox bullpen should be in pretty bad shape going in tomorrow if the Yankees can drive Lester off the game quickly.

Some moron keeps calling "E-Rod" at every A-Rod AB. NESN world, sigh.

742 Probably wise with his injury history.

736 I agree, but dotel has pitched back-to-back games.

i would not use rivera or farnsworth today

so the media are blaming the fans for booing A-Rod--hmmmmm--look in the mirror, guys?

741 I initially didn't like it because I thought Abreu hadn't waived his option year and it could handicap the team. Once I found out that he did, I was ecstatic.

736 In principle, but even if Proctors closes it out, if tonight's game is close I could see Joe running him back out there. Maybe we can change his nickname to TADSP.

I still imagine a Proctor 8th, Rivera 9th, just because thats how Joe does it...

What did Steve Phillips say about that A-Rod K?

I could have gone for another meaningless 3 run hr from him....he is looking at career high E's and K's

Geez, I don't think we reached this level of comments last year until the playoffs.

Ugh, and now with MVP Hinske...

proctor back in for the 8th

OK, let's see if we can retired The Great Hinkse today...

751 Maybe he will save a 3 run hr for another game this series.

744 yeah, but they mainly used their scrubs.

they still have Hensen, Timlin, Papelbon and even Tavarez for the nightcap.

I saw Foulke warming up but I think he's still not activated.

I think the bullpen's work in the 7th ought to earn it a pat on the back.

Farnsworth warming.

Woah, we got out MVP Hinske!

Beautiful breaking ball for Proctor. 1 out. 1 on for Lopez.

farnsworth is warming up........

Yug, this is not going well, and now "Manny Ortez" will have to come up too, which means Mo will have to come in...sigh..Come on Boys!

757 Rumor is that Johnson will be dropped and Foulke activated between games. Crafty move by Epstein to basically add another pitcher to the roster for the series.

Hoo boy. A base hit and things get scary. Can this team ever not use five pitchers?

Can we just get FIVE OUTS without giving up a run?
You can't let Lopez, Gonzales, Crisp, or Loretta beat you, or Hinske for that matter.

Man, what a difference 400 or so comments makes. Where's Chicken Little when we need him?

Don't bet against Proctor.

I love you EDSP!

K's for Proctor. Gonzalez badly fooled on the second, bat flying.

Crisp retired, Proctor strands two at scoring position.

Sox are 0 for 15 with RISP today.

OK! Now, do you dare send Proctor out for the ninth?

only breaking balls for the K there

Do we bring in Beam and throw him to the lions?

Whew. NEVER Doubt The Proctologist.

5 run lead...let Proctor start the 9th...

Considering the fact that the Yankees have been without Sheff and Matsui since May, and that Randy's been a shadow of his former self, and that A-Rod has been a 'complete bust' this year and yet the Yankees are still in first place, the amount of hand wringing and pessimism blows my freaking mind.

Is this the record for most comments?

772 No, absolutely not. This is why TJ Beam is here. Beam... then break the Mo glass in case of emergency. That's all I want to see here.

I just saw that in my fantasy league, a rival manager just dropped Tom Glavine to pick up... Scott Proctor.

What? Gabe Kapler replaces Manny Ramirez? Isn't he due to bat 3rd in the 9th?! Is he hurt or is Tito smoking crack?

771 so surely ESPN will speculate on their lack of clutchitude...

774 I think he can hold a 5-run lead. With Seanez, it may be a 15 run lead.

Kapler in for Manny. Wow.

777

pre 2004 I am laughing now...it is a different world now

778 Day game vs the Red Sox in a pennant race. Pretty much the perfect storm for comments round these parts.

783 i would hope manny pulled something on that diving catch.... other than that I cannot see the logic there.

Manny batted after that tumbling catch ?

little league game up on the scoreboard...gotta love Fenway....

Have we ever broken 1,000 posts, that would be insane?

Oh come on, how is Cano's SB scored a deffensive indifference?

these ESPN idiots are acting surprised that Torre has not called off the dogs...

787 Yup, and popped up to left.

777 It gives us a great opportunity to be pleasantly surprised.

Of course, then we'll just start bitching about the second game.

I think we have broken 1,000 posts.

Ruuudy Ruuuuuudy Ruuuuuudy. You and your negative WXRL. Please pitch many innings.

784 we lost our inocence...

I'll take a few runs here--do I sound greedy?

WILSON WALKS!

Craig Wilson finally draws a walk!

Bases chucked for Melky

Melky Grand Slam. I can sense it.

790 Because the defense was indifferent to it.

First walk for Wilson as a Yankee. Bases loaded, 0 outs.

D'oh!

Wilson with the walk. Hope he keeps that up.

Bad AB by Melky.

795 Yes, but only as long as he leaves some playing time for Tavarez.

My Red Sox fan boss just stormed out of the office. Man, is that sweet.

Beam warming.

785 I wouldn't be contributing except that (a) I'm at work, and (b) school is out, so there isn't much for me to do. LIke you said, perfect storm.

...or not.

795 Yes, but only as long as he leaves some playing time for Tavarez.

My Red Sox fan boss just stormed out of the office. Man, is that sweet.

Bases chucked for Damon

Beam and Farns up, lets go with Beam, no that we are up by 7! Yeah JD, POTG!

What in allsortsofcursewords is Joe doing warming up Farnsworth?!?!?!?!

Hmmm. Let's say the Yanks score three or four runs here. How about this plan--Ponson for the ninth and thene let him start tonight (four or five inning limit)?

Crazy, I know, but I'm playing Tony LaRussa here.

Gotta love Johnny talk show!

804 Wilson keeps doing that and we're good.

The Fenway Faithful are wasted. Ha-Ha.

Man, Damon is throwing the old BOOs in their faces today.

AS much as I dislike ESPN, their slow-mo shots are amazing...

beam, beam, beam, beam

awesome, johnny is shutting up the fenway 'faithful'

Nice.

Prediction: Hinske will never play another day game in right in Fenway.

793 here's the good spirits test--did anyone have time to bitch about Melky swinging at the first pitch? I haven't updated.....

Remember when Paulie lost that ball in the sun, when was it, back in '99?

Only game the lost that year?

Now they're embarrassing them. Beautiful.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Great Eric Hinske!

Hey y'all.

It's 5:30am in Japan, and I woke up to 'Gameday' this 1st game about 2 innings ago. I'm tired, but thrilled to see this apparent win in the bag thanks to Johnny Damon.

Copyright True Yankee

Looking forward to the second game too. Ponson's gonna pull a Leiter. That's the new expression for a piece of crap pitcher coming into Fenway in a Yankee uniform and defying all logic to win a game.

Hinske is the lord.

Steve Phillips is the greatest GM of all time, all freaking time. You can ask him, he'll tell you.

I guess that ass kicking yesterday really did fire them up

Abreu has had a hell of a day, but no RBIs yet.

OK, please tell me Farns is back down...

Wow....how'd they get Abreu out?

Farnsworth better not come in to this damn game.

830 That's why Ortiz deserves the MVP. He wills other batters to get on base when he knows he's going to hit a double.

829 I think the Sox's crappy pitching and poor performance with RISP has fired them up.

What the hell was that? Why did Hinske fall down? Not going to argue, though

True Yankee, I agree. I got 100 Danish Kroners on Yankees to win Game #2.

830 If he keeps getting on base like this, I'm OK with the lack of RBIs.

828 Now he can say that Rodriguez's hit wasn't clutch. He's a genius.

822 I dunno, 3 for 4, all doubles, is hard to resist.

He got the error, but it could have happened to anyone. Just lost it in the sun.

827 I'm with you. Ponson will be fine tonight. lester will be out in the 3rd. inning after craping his pants.

What the hell was that? Why did Hinske fall down? Not going to argue, though

Timlin, Tavarez, Foulke (?), Hansen still in the pen for the nightcap. They'll need them with Lester on the mound. Even with Ponson going for us, I like our chances with that.

it has got to be Beam in the 9th, no ?

827 Don't tell that to Zach or Ron Burgundy, who have already give the Yanks a L tonight, so I guess they won't have to play the game.

This result makes my decision easy. With less pressure to win the nightcap, I can, with good conscience, go see some Mother F---in snakes on a Mother F---in plane!

Nice long inning at the bat to take some spring out of the Sox fielders' legs.

Save the energy, Giambi!!

200 pitch day for the Red Sox...nice work

843 No Foulke, check the previous post for the roster.

Bases loaded for A-Rod up 11-3. Can anything good come of this?

11-3! Ridicolous...

Giambi, stat padding with his walking.

Great, a 2 GS cushion.

Can we see Beam now please?

Yeah Giambino.

How many years until we're allowed to start the '2004' chant?

I love Jason Giambi.

Jason Giambi with a 9 pitch walk, up 10-3 in the ninth inning of an August double header... its that kind of sticktoitiveness that's going to win us the division.

I know its stat padding but I'd love it if A-Rod hit a grand slam here.

843 Timlin, Tavaerz, Hansen, and Foulke? They might as well be coming in with a gallon of gasoline and matches.

849 Isn't there a possibility Foulke will be activated for Game 2?

849 Yeah, but as someone previously mentioned, it's rumored the Sox were going to DFA Johnson after this game, and activate Foulke.

Though maybe Johnson pitched well enough to save his job...

854 When others start the 1994 chant for the Rangers ;)

Seanez sweating through his cap.

Seanez at 39 pitches.

wow! I take it back--defense of A-Rod, vs a hypothetical Jeter situation...

they are talking about dropping Johnson and adding Foulke for tonight

854 For credibility's sake, I say we have to win at least 3 WS before they win another. Let's start with this year. Of course, chanting 2004 doesn't have as good a rhythm to it. Damn.

See what happens when you walk, Craig? You score...

There is nothing A-Rod can do here and not be criticised, sad.

sox relievers have really worked today, they should be out for the game tomorrow as well.

let's hope the relievers for tonight also get a high work out

845 First off, its ZacK, come on now...

And I never said the Yankees were going to lose toay, anywhere. I just said that their early performance was unacceptable. They proved me wrong, but I would like to think it, clearly, has something to do with my urging them on...Some people root in some ways, others in other ways. Something very unique to the east coast is their live and die by baseball mentality, and living here in SoCal, I long for that back...

849 Cliff, Sterling and Suzyn said earlier that Jason Johnson will be sent down after game 1 and Foulke would probably be called up.

Best possible outcome - A-Rod walks, Seanez has to keep pitching.

12-3!! This is nuts!!

Clutch walk.

this is getting pretty fun to watch.

868 he could walk.

868 A two run single, or a walk, would do nicely.

Where's Mattpat11, with the doubting of working the pitch counts? Grind it out boys, grind it out.

860 4.1 innings, 4 ER is saving your job? That is a great commentary on the Sox pitching.

I agree with Francona. Let Seanez pitch until his arm falls off.

Ha-Ha...this is funny.
I REALLY hope the other 4 are just like this.

Seanez up to 45 pitches.

835 Don't you believe in "momentum," Cliff?

Awesome, Cano finally fouls out and a Sox fan smacks it away, the inning continues . . .

872 I don't know, I think this means that Seanz won't be able to pitch the rest of the series, which is actually bad for the Yankees. More innings for Julian Tavarez, though.

Come on, keep batting, get JD his double for the cycle!

Seanz is closing in on a start

Cano almost went with the Bo Jackson, break the bat over the knee angle...

Beam coming in.

Yes, Beam is out for an inning.

Why did you swing at that, Cano??? Ah, who cares...

Who is in the 9th? Beam?

882 Not in baseball.

So are you guys trying to tell me that they might activate Folk?

Darn it Robbie, that wasn't a strike.
OK, T.J. Beam has a perfect opportunity to just pitch a 1-2-3 inning.

889 Because Cano loves to swing the bat. He's one of those Soriano/Vlad kinda guys.

TJ Beam's Gameday photo is enough to scare the Red Sox into going 1-2-3.

Like a troll.

886 You mean like David "Mr. Clutch" Ortiz did when Mo struck him out earlier this season?

Its Bat Boy! Go Bat Boy go!

884 Agreed, which of course is why Francona was doing the right thing.

Good to see TJ "Bat Boy" Beam in...

894 He looks like skeletor.

This is prime Pena HR time...

4 Hour game against Red Sox, solid start by Wang, good performances by the Yankees bullpen, poor pitching by Red Sox

all equals to

900 posts on Bronx Banter.

Next on Sportscenter: the Yankees lead 12-3 in the bottom of the ninth but it was all a bunch of stat padding. David Ortiz hit a clutch 10 run homer in the ninth, as per a rule change that any Ortiz homer can be worth any number of runs, as needed.

870 Some people just don't get it...

Beam isn't nearly as unattractive as his photos. I think he just has an unfortunate smile.

Now, imagine Beam with a 'stache! 'Zounds!

Is Seanez pitching himself out of the entire series? That can't be good for the Yanks.

Oh, for chrissake. Just throw fastballs down the middle.

Barney Rubble up for the Sox

200 pitches by Boston is a perfect way to start this series.

906 Just more innings for Julian "Wall Masher" Tavarez

C'mon Bat Boy....you have a 9 run lead.

get mo in

My next question, will the afternoon editions of the Boston papers already declare the season over?

Oy, strikes, T.J., c'mon. Just one more out.

Come on Beam, I think everyone wants this game over, just get it done...

See 907 fastball.down.middle.

Jeter given a hit on that fly ball to Hinske. The Boston scorer remains the friendliest in baseball.

What? They gave Jeter a hit on that Hinske play? What are they smoking!!

Ugh, come on TJ, just end this...Don't temp Joe...

DO NOT PUT IN FARNSWORTH

Beam sucks.

Oh man, come on! Just get an out. Couldn't we have traded Beam instead of Smith?

Man, you can see Damon's experience with the Monster. He knew just where the ball was going to bounce.

870 Zack, sorry about the name mixup, I blame the Saved By the Bell reruns. But I was specifically referring to your post in 327, where you had already written off tonight's start. I'm really not trying to criticize you as a fan... Personally I'm more interested in saying things like "Well, the offense will pick him up" after an error rather than something like "Well, this game is lost." (Hypotheicals, not actual quotes). For the most part I enjoy your posts, and I was not trying to single you out, but along with Schteeve, Shaun P, and others, I think there are a few of us here not enjoying all the negativity.

882 joke--hence the scare quotes--I agree with you 100%...

Joe Torre has quite an unpleased look on his face right now...

916 he certainly listened to you guys there

Finally! Nice win, Yanks.

Well, this was fun. Let's do this 4 more times. Hi-Oh!

926 What are you talking about? He walked Kapler. Walking anyone with a 9 run lead is inexecusable. That led to the run when Youkliss doubled.

Sweet.

4 from Ponson
2 from Villone
1 from Farnsworth
1 from Dotel
1 from Mo

Double header sweep, 12-4; 7-5

See you all later.

good game, good game. let's hope ponson give the team a chance tonight!!!!

YANKEES WIN.. THEEEEE YANKEEEEEES WIN!!

923 Don't worry, not offended. I try not to be overly negative, and attempt to stick more to frustration, rather than the DIAF seat of the pants freak out...

Oh no! we might not get to a 1000 posts!

Let's discuss a solution for the middle east

Beam is not quite ready for prime time.

Dunno who else we could have called up, though.

Beam extended himself a little, maybe Ponson will take MikeP's suggestion and do the Leiter thing.

Nice Win!!! 209 sawx pitches. OUCH.

930 DO you think Villone can pitch today after 2 yesterday and about 34134 the previous few days? he might be offlimits...We can def. get another 3 from proctor though, come on...

929 the double came off a fastball right down the middle.

anyway, great win here. must make them pay tonight!!

936 Torre said Dotel is the only one off-limits today.

936 I think Joe has Proctor lined up for at least 3IP in the nightcap.
Fine W, gents. I'll probably miss the 2nd game. I'm heading to meet my new niece. She must be a good luck charm!
Go Yanks!

930 I didn't think Villone or Dotel would be available today.

So we won the game we were supposed to win, and very nicely at that. Now let's see how the Sox do with the game they're supposed to win. They saved their "best" relievers, and we're going to be throwing out arguably the worst pitcher on either team (though Seanez and Tavarez are close). Should be interesting if we can find a way to get to Lester.

939 Nah, Proctor's set to start tomorrow, and then again on Monday.

941 Proctor could go use his left arm and pitch the other two games.

A Red Sox fan interviewed on ESPN. In text on the bottom, it said his name an "Red Sox fan since 2004." Hmm, I wonder....

933 I think Dave Barry or Scott Adams had the solution: air conditioning.
1 down, four to go :-))
Missed the end of this game, had to leave work & go walk the dog. Now I'm going to miss the nightcap, got tix for the Mudhens game.

Go Yankees!

942 A switch pitcher? hmm that would be useful

any update on Matsui ?

He was supposed to get some news today

946 Does showing Matsui's face in the dugout by YES count?

946 Peter Abraham said Matsui told the Japanese media he might not be playing this season.

Wouldn't it be nice in these stupid "whos the mvp" discussions to actually use some of the stats we toss around here? In ESPN, "if the season ended today, Ortiz would be the hands down mvp" That, and his team wouldn't be in the playoffs...

And then they go on to say that only "a few clutch hits" would get Jeter ahead of Ortiz...

945

Ponson starts to get blown out early and he should be brought another glove by Guidry to allow him to toss with his left arm...

Torre can send the entire pen to Daisy Buchanans on Newbury St. to watch the nightcap and get some rest....then Ponson's bloated carcass can be DFA in the morning

Heh, the "disco riot."

951 I've always wondered why more young pitchers don't try to be ambidextrous hurlers.

I love the ESPN headling "Head Start" but if Boston had won in this fashion my money would be on "Boston Massacre".
So transparent, Worldwide Leader. We'll play your game.

Was Jeremy Schaap bred to have an ESPN voice? It really bothers me, for some reason.

i'm pretty happy with the results, epsn made note of lowell snapping his 70 game errorless streak. glad it was against the yanks.

941 & 953 Check out this article on Switch Pitchers:
http://tinyurl.com/9zuct

It is nice to see that after all of the Lowell for All-Star and whatnot talk out of Boston early, his #'s have been returning to where his slowing bat speed proves they should be...

Don't make me post 41 more times just to break 1,000! I have nothing else to do!

OK, Zach, I'll contribute.

Woohooooo! 1 down 4 to go!

960 It's ZacK... come onnnnnn.... ;-)

For the rest of the posts, we should debate whether I should

A) Stay in my apartment and watch the NESN feed of game 2 on mlb.tv
B) Go see Snakes on a Plane

I

am

very

happy.

Wow, thanks Sportscenter, I had no idea that the Yankees and Red Sox had a rivalry, and had no idea that there were so many crucial moments. Its montages like yours that really remind me what's important in sports.

/sarcasm

961 I vote for A.

961 How about watching the game on NESN and adding your own Samuel L Jackson commentary?

961 If Ponson tanks, you can still catch the late showing of B.

968 A-Rod you better get a got-damn hit right now mothafucka! Shiiit.

970 You're sending in Mo? Thats all you had to say!!!

If one sox player gives another sox player a footrub, they're definately gay

Somebody tell that fat mothafucka to start throwin some mother fuckin STRIKES!

I think the SLJ commentary would work great if Sheff were playing. They both seem to have that badass attitude.

961 Isn't the MLBTV NESN broadcast and "Snakes On A Plan" is the same thing? Can you get beer at the movie theatre?

Zach, right.

mehmattski, come on, Snakes on the Plane tomorrow night....