Week 18 – 2009
What stands out the most in my mind, this past week, is that the Yankees, with their four game sweep of the Boston Red Sox, have now convinced me that they are a legitimate post-season contender.
Yes…sure…the win on Friday for New York was a close one. And, granted, the Red Sox were in the games, late, on Saturday and Sunday.
Also, I understand that Boston had to start John Smoltz and Clay Buchholz in two of the games (because Tim Wakefield and Daisuke Matsuzaka are out). And, Jason Bay missed the first three games with a sore leg. Further, Nancy Drew is reportedly somewhat banged up. Lastly…of course…Big Papi is besieged with his regret over not choosing Flintstones chewable vitamins back in the day…
But, Boston was still able to start their two best pitchers in two of these games: Josh Beckett and Jon Lester (and they both pitched like aces). And, the Red Sox still had Victor Martinez and Jacoby Ellsbury in the line-up. Lastly, Boston also had the two prides of Red Sox Nation playing, without issues, in these contests…you know…Yooooooouk and the reigning league MVP Dustin Gaedel…
So, let’s not make this out as if the Yankees just took four straight games from 1899 Cleveland Spiders. The 2009 Boston Red Sox, even with their current issues, are a very dangerous baseball team…or…they should be…
Brass tacks, the Yankees pitchers just took it to the Sox in these four games. Only Joba Chamberlain, Anthony Claggett and Phil Coke had some issues in this series. Otherwise, everyone else who threw the pill for New York was exceptional. And, if the Yankees pitchers throw like this, more times than not, over the remaining third of the 2009 season, it should be a cakewalk into the post-season.
What is truly missing from these Sox is Manny, aka Ortiz’s partner in better living through supplements.
Further, Nancy Drew is reportedly somewhat banged up.
Lol..that one made me spit up my coffee. Very good analyzing of the past weekend. Sox fans will whine about players being hurt and the like..but when we played them earlier we were without Arod, Wang was crappy/hurt, and we hadn’t quite gotten our bullpen in order. As every game passes and we make another comeback, this team gains confidence. That is what stood out for me this past weekend.
“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
Winston Churchill – November, 1942
You make my head hurt sometimes, Evan
This team is starting to remind me of the 1996-2000 gang. No lead was safe against that edition of the Yankees, or so it seemed. Late inning heroics were pretty standard occurrences. Even A-Rod – dare I say it – was clutch in this series!
There’s a lot of ball to play yet, though. Let’s take the sweep and move on.
Even A-Rod – dare I say it – was clutch in this series!
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Courtesy of ESPN.com:
“Rodriguez, whose 15th-inning home run broke up a scoreless tie to beat the Red Sox on Friday night, broke another scoreless tie with a seventh-inning home run Sunday before the Yankees went on to a 5-2 victory. Rodriguez became the first player in major league history to snap scoreless ties by hitting home runs in the seventh inning or later twice in one series.”
clintfsu813 wrote:
That’s how you know you’re learnin’ sumpin’.
Either that, or you need a new perscription for glasses, so see your optometrist.
Evan3457 wrote:
Sigh.