Any chance we’re also putting more people on base than most? And I like our runs per game average right now too.

Thanks Steve. If memory serves, the Yanks have been at the bottom of the league in that stat over the last 4 or so years. I mean, they had the bases loaded against a wild Javy Lopez, no outs, and didn’t score a single run!

JeremyM wrote:

And Steve, do you have any idea what their numbers are as far as leaving RISP this season?

Yanks are batting .244 as a team, to date, this season with RISP. Only Oakland has a worse BA w/RISP in the AL right now.

Butchie: On your point about the Os: I saw Cashman speak in CT earlier this week. He mentioned them as a team that is building smartly through high draft picks in the model of Tampa.

ken wrote:

Butchie: I think back at how many times the last few years when in June or July I think back at a NYY/BOS series in April that seemed to important when it happened and then I can barely remember who won. Let’s not over analyze one game.
And also, that team in that ballpark is never out of a game. But I will concede one point: the Sox over the last few years have a great comeback mindset. They never believe they are out of a game. It’s like us in the late 90’s.

Ken , what is different is that Tampa is now a player and every game counts even more. The Bluebirds got off to a quick start and even though they won’t win the pennant, won’t win the division, they will be a royal pain in the butt contrary to the naysayers out there. The Os will be pesky as well. There is no given in this league anyomore when another team ascended to first place from almost nowhere,Tampa and Toronto and Baltimore are not exactly the bottomfeeders that existed let’s say only 5 years ago either. A liitle paradigm shift happened last year and things are different from a few years ago…….

Butchie: I think back at how many times the last few years when in June or July I think back at a NYY/BOS series in April that seemed to important when it happened and then I can barely remember who won. Let’s not over analyze one game.

And also, that team in that ballpark is never out of a game. But I will concede one point: the Sox over the last few years have a great comeback mindset. They never believe they are out of a game. It’s like us in the late 90′s.

JeremyM wrote:

I hate baseball. I really, truly do right now. There is no reason to get this upset over a stupid game. And Steve, do you have any idea what their numbers are as far as leaving RISP this season? It seems like they are going for a record or something because it seems even worse than usual, and it seems like it’s been pretty bad the last 3 or 4 years. What is with this team?

This was the primary adjustment the team needed to adress this off season and the response was Teixeira and to a lesser degree Swisher. It just seems like these collective cast of characters has a problem with RISP. In addition, there was some dissapointing play. Ellsbury’s scoring from 2nd on a passed ball, not scoring in the 9th with bases loaded and no out, and Mo showing who his kryptonite is again:the Red Sox.The Red Sox might have seen Mo a gazillion times BUT Bay is a relative neophyte and he smashed one out of the ballpark.

Several other things. Ken, Mo let another guy get on base before Bay, so it was simply more than a case of one bad pitch. Reference back to Game 4 9th inning when Mo let someone on and gave the Red Sox a crack at survival when the Yanks were ready to deliver the crushing blow. Jeremy M, the Sox have this comeback ability under Tito Francona that is amazing, it’s almost like a hockey mentality: never say die. I don’t know what he says to these guys BUT they are playing sans Manny AND they have won 8 in a row at home. Hats off to Doogie Howser Epstein for putting together a great team and one that is tens of millions of dollars under the luxury tax. Tresh, you are right. That Pedroia double play at home in the 9th showed how serious they were at staying in the game. It’s April, but the games count the same especially now that the Yankees are playing in the division. And to Crank, one has to have a positive attitude like that because as important as they games as and as powerful as Boston is at home, they don’t play these games on paper!Even after 22-4, 15-5 , there is a day after. Though this type of one run loss stings a little more……

Hey, I know a lot about this game was frustrating. The injuries that occurred don’t help us either, but there’s a new game today and we’ll go out and get ‘em. That’s the beauty of baseball.

The Yanks have been doing that since game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. It drives me crazy.

My personal take:

The Red Sox were playing to win.

The Yankees were playing not to lose.