This is pure nonsense. Nobody expects the ball to be pulled down the line by Crispy. At best into the hole, which is why the defense was set up that way. This is absolutely a non starter of an argument. So if we are now at the point where we have to fear Mariano being pulled down the line, then no wonder Cashman hasn’t extended his contract.

And yeah Steve, I knew Crispy switch-hits and was batting lefty. That is why I said who expects him to pull Mariano (down the line). Duh!

As for Phelps (ESB), what is he now, some great player? The season hinges on his bat?

Could Pettitte have gone longer? The pitching line says no, they got the maximum out of him last night. Besides, had Joe stayed with him the same Torre bashing would be going on as to why did Joe leave Andy in so long.

The pure hatred for Torre in this place is so thick, you can cut it with a knife.

Interesting point about Minky’s positioning on the Crisp triple. I was so consumed with hatred for Torre’s “managing” that it never even occured to me.

Why not let Proctor pitch around Ortiz in the 8th and leave yourself some options later in the inning rather than rushing in an underprepared Mariano? Why not go to Bruney before Rivera? Terrible work before even mentioning the misuse of Thompson and Phelps.

Two questions… Joe, explain why Giambi gets pinch run for with a 3 run lead? Bites him in the backside everytime he does it. At least hold up Nieves if Thompson is going to run. No, he swings at the first pitch. Second, couldn’t Andy have finished off Lugo and Youkilis in the 7th? Proctor gets underused as a result. This game was lost long before Mo came in.

~~~Oh yeah, Yankeee fans expect the ball to be pulled down the line against Mariano… Hmmmmmmmm? Talk about unreality.~~~

Crisp was batting left. (He’s a switch hitter.) The cutter comes in on a lefty. It’s a pitch begging the batter to open up early and pull it – if he wants a chance to hit it at all.

The Red Sox have been opening up on Mo, “cheating,” for a while now. Varitek and Mueller were masters at it. That’s why you guard the line.

That’s reality.

Let’s see, a usual [dumb] complaint against Joe Torre is: He doesen’t ‘trust’ enough in all his bullpen guys.

Now the usual suspects are complaining that he did trust the players he has. Hmmmmmmm?!

Then they fail and Torre brings in an underworked Mariano who promptly blows it.

Oh yeah, Yankeee fans expect the ball to be pulled down the line against Mariano… Hmmmmmmmm? Talk about unreality.

Farnsworth pitched Thursday. Mr. Delicate cannot go back-to-back days. Duh!

Charlie Manual may soon be available. May he brighten your days………..

This loss is killing me. Torre’s management was that of a senile old man. I can’t believe how many people are defending his moves around the web, the most common defense being “Torre didn’t make all those bad pitches” which is an absolutely ridiculous argument. Under that reasoning, nothing is the manager’s fault since he isn’t on the field. I’m sorry but Vizcaino threw 30-some pitches yesterday and was shelled, yet Torre sends him back out there tonight? That one move cost them the game. Might as well bring back Heredia or Avecedo or any of those other jokers that Torre falls in love with from time to time. I appreciate most of what Torre has done, but his time is up; unfortunately I don’t see a way out of it so we’re stuck.

My God, Joe, will you please stop with the pinch-running of Giambi in the 7th and 8th innings of games…PLEASE!?

They always do, Steve. They bucked up after the devastating Oakland loss and swept Cleveland on the backs of three rookies.

Torre is a disaster. Why would Cashman put himself on the line to keep this guy? He’s a horrendous in-game manager. Pinch-running for Giambi. Allowing Wil Never-hits to swing the bat. Using Vizcaino after all the pitches he threw yesterday (instead of Bruney or Farns). Not pinch-hitting with Phelps.

He just drives you crazy. Torre always kills himself by only trusting one person in the ‘pen — and for no reason, that guy is Vizcaino right now. Bruney has been amazing. Why wasn’t he in that game?

And he once again panicked and rushed Mo into the game without a warmup.

It was like a Torre greatest-hits reel right before our eyes.

// Of course, if we find out tomorrow that Posada has a broken left thumb or something//

According to Abraham, X-rays were negative.

Sorry about your day Steve.