Two outs…and two strikes on Erick Aybar. One strike away from a win…nope.
Two outs…and two strikes on Chone Figgins. One strike away from a win…nope.
Two outs…and two strikes on Bobby Abreu. One strike away from a win…nope.
Here comes a walk…then a single…and…
Goodbye win.
Sometimes that third strike is soooo hard to get. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Have a nice off-season, Boston.
Via the Boston Globe with a h/t to BBTF -
The random law of the postseason guides how [Red Sox G.M. Theo] Epstein and the Red Sox operate. In baseball, Epstein believes the consistent winner is better than the powerhouse.
The most dominant team in a generation, the 116-win 2001 Seattle Mariners, did not even reach the World Series. Reaching the playoffs once, no matter how dominant a team is, is like buying a lottery ticket. Reaching the playoffs often – like six times in seven years – is like being the house in blackjack. Eventually, over time, the odds dictate you’ll win.
“That’s why we have clearly defined objectives,’’ Epstein said. “In our mission statement, part of it is we want to operate with a long-term view to put ourselves in a position to win 95 games and get in the playoffs as often as we possibly can. Now we’ve done it six out of seven years. Part of the thinking is that if you make the postseason multiple times, you improve your chances of making the World Series. Theoretically, if you’re in eight times, you’ll win one World Series. Well, we’ve been in five times. This is our sixth time in. The first five times in, we won two World Series. I’m not going to [complain] about that.
“I don’t believe in building a team with the season goal of winning the World Series, and the next year you look up, you’re old all of a sudden, you don’t have any options. ‘Now we’re a 75-win team. Hey, we won the World Series two years ago.’ It doesn’t work that way. We want to try to always operate with the broadest possible lens, so we have a solid foundation so that every year, or just about every year, we’ll be in a position to win 95 games and get in, and then trust our players, trust our manager, trust our coaching staff, trust our advanced scouting, trust our ability to perform under pressure to go win a World Series.’’
…Theoretically, if you’re in eight times, you’ll win one World Series…
Well, since they brought in the Wildcard, and not including 2009, the Yankees (13 times), Braves (11 times), and Red Sox (8 times) have all made the post-season (at least) eight times. And, the Cardinals and Indians have each made it seven times – which is darn close to eight. But, just the Yankees and Red Sox have won more than one ring during this run.
So, does that mean the Red Sox and Yankees were lucky to have won as many rings as they did? Or, does the fact that the Yankees and Red Sox usually have payrolls much higher than teams like the Braves, Cardinals and Indians have something to do with it? After all, you pay peanuts and you get monkeys, right? But, I doubt that Theo Epstein and/or Brian Cashman would ever ‘fess up to the fact that their secret sauce is just having deep pockets…
…were spotted the other day splitting a pizza with Amelia Earhart and Jimmy Hoffa. And, you know what…nobody cared. Oh, my, how times have changed…
Via mlb.com -
With the Sox’s magic number for clinching the American League Wild Card berth down to three games, there’s a chance they could celebrate at Yankee Stadium this weekend.
The earliest the Red Sox can clinch their sixth postseason berth in the past seven years is Saturday.
A Bronx celebration for the Red Sox, who trail the Yankees by 5 1/2 games in the AL East but lead the Rangers by eight in the Wild Card standings?
“Oh, we will … hopefully,” said slugger David Ortiz. “So [then] we don’t have to get our clubhouse dirty.”
The Sox could be the first team to have a champagne celebration at the new Yankee Stadium. And Ortiz left no doubt that there will be at least some bubbly if that occurs.
“Oh, we have to,” said Ortiz. “Of course. We have to roll like that. That’s how we do it.”
Great…
Can you just imagine the sight of the Red Sox partying on Yankee Stadium turf this weekend? And, of course, you know that there will be at least 7,000 members of RSN attending each of these games – and they’ll be hanging out, trying to get down to the field level, to cheer their “champions” on during the celebration…
It’s one big reason to say “Let’s go Yankees…and let’s go Texas Rangers!” this weekend.
Via syracuse.com with a h/t to BBTF -
Van Buren Elementary fourth-grader Nathan Johns thought his teacher was kidding when he instructed him to go to the bathroom and turn his Yankees T-shirt inside out.
The blue shirt read “New York No. 52” on the front and “Sabathia” for the New York Yankees’ pitcher CC Sabathia, on the back.
“ I thought to myself ‘Is he serious or is he kidding,’” said Nate, 9, a student in Peter Addabbo’s fourth-grade class. “But he had this look like he wasn’t kidding at all.”
Nate complied, and said he was later told to wear it that way until dismissal. At lunch, Nate said the fifth-graders made fun of him because he wearing his shirt inside out.
“It was such a horrible day.” Nate said. “I don’t ever want anything like to happen again.”
Nate said he felt he was treated unfairly.
“Just because my teacher doesn’t like the Yankees I should still have the right to wear a Yankees shirt,” Nate said Thursday after school. The teacher has Boston Red Sox paraphernalia all over the classroom on display, he said.
Baldwinsville Schools Superintendent Jeanne Dangle said Friday morning the district is conducting an investigation into the incident, and has told the parents she will get back to them on the issue in a few days.
“We are investigating,” Dangle said. “This is a personnel issue, and we will be following up and doing what’s appropriate after we get all the information.”
Sounds like Peter Addabbo should be forced to stand in front of an entire school assemby, wearing a Yankees shirt and cap, and read from a copy of “Why Is Everybody Always Picking on Me? A Guide to Understanding Bullies for Young People.”
Neil Keefe, of NESN.com, asked me a few Yankees-related questions yesterday. Click here to see what Neil and I discussed. (And, of course, my thanks to Keefe and NESN for asking!)
Via Mark Feinsand -
“It’s always going to be amped up between these two teams,” Johnny Damon said. “It’s the best rivalry in sports.”
“We know that we can get the job done this weekend,” Mariano Rivera said. “It would be nice to do that at home.”
“Playing these tough games is important this time of year,” Joe Girardi said. “It gives you an idea of what you’re going to face as we move forward here in October.”
“It’s great for everybody to get that feeling, to play in that atmosphere,” [Joba] Chamberlain said. “October is a little different, so it helps being able to play teams like Boston in this kind of series. Coming down the stretch, trying to finish strong and set the tone will be good. People are going to be getting excited for October, so it’s going to be crazy.”
Kinda makes you think this is it for the Yankees, and those six games remaining this season against the Royals and Rays, after this series, are just going to be semi-exhibition games…
The Boston Red Sox have won 25 of their last 36 games, and have won 17 of their last 23 games, and now sit just 5 games behind the New York Yankees, in, as the great Scooter would call it, the all-important loss column.
And, some Yankees fans are starting to hear Red Sox Nation footsteps…
Now, to this, those into math will remind of us the following:
If the Yankees play just .500 baseball for the rest of the season, and go 7-7 in their remaining games, then the Red Sox will have to go 15-1 in their remaining games to pass New York in the standings. Yeah, fifteen and one…
Fat chance, huh?
But, here’s where it gets interesting. The Yankees have 5 more games on their current road trip – two with the Mariners and three with the Angels. And, after that, they meet the Red Sox for three games in Yankee Stadium. And, the Red Sox have 6 more games on their current road trip before coming to the Bronx – two with the Orioles and four against the Royals.
So, the Yankees have to deal with the M’s for two and then tackle the Angels – who usually plays New York well. And, on the other hand, the Red Sox play the O’s and Royals – two last place teams who have lost 6 out of every 10 this season, on average.
So, what happens if the Yankees go 2-3 in their next 5 games…which is possible…and, while that happens, the Red Sox go 5-1 in their next 6 games…which is asking a lot, but, it’s not impossible?
Then, when Boston comes into New York for a three-game set on September 25th, the Red Sox will start the series being just three games behind the Yankees in the loss cloumn. Yup, three games back with three games to be played head-to-head.
Interesting, huh? All of a sudden, that “15-1″ thing seems moot, eh?
But, here’s the deal…before we, in Yankeeland, get our panties all up in a bunch over this…let’s see the Yankees lose 3 of their next 5, first, while the Red Sox win 5 of their next 6…OK?
Plus, remember, in the past, the Red Sox have shown that they don’t care – whatsoever – how they make the playoffs…as long as they make them. And, right now, Boston has a 7 game lead in the wildcard race. The Red Sox magic number to take the ‘card is ten. Further, the team behind them, in the wildcard standings, the Texas Rangers, have lost 6 of their last 7 games. The Rangers are tanking.
There’s an excellent chance that the Red Sox may clinch the Wildcard six days from now…and, once that’s done, I expect them to go into Spring Training mode (and prepare for the post-season). Therefore, if you want to worry about the Red Sox…save it for the ALCS…should the Yankees get that far.
But, of course, I reserve the right to cancel that recommendation if the Yankees lose three of their next five, the Red Sox win five of their next six, and the Rangers win six games in a row… 
Chad Gaudin pitches for the Yankees, today, against the Blue Jays.
Paul Byrd pitches for the Red Sox, today, against the Los Angeles Angels.
If the Yankees lose and the Red Sox win, then Boston will be just 4 games behind New York, in the loss column, with the Yankees having 15 games left to play and the Red Sox having 18 games left to play.
Pretty big Wednesday night for both teams. Betcha their both wishing they had someone else starting for them in these games…
As we know, when the Yankees last visited Fenway Park, New York took two of three games from Boston. How have the two teams done since that series…which ended on August 23rd?
Since that time, the Boston Red Sox have gone 14-5.
And, since then, the New York Yankees have gone 15-6.
Pretty close, huh?
At the close of business on August 23rd, the Yankees were up 7.5 games on the Red Sox. And, today, at the close of business on September 14th, New York is 7.5 games up on Boston. In three weeks, overall, there’s been no change in that gap between the teams. The only thing that’s changed has been the number of games left on the schedule.
Now, that last fact is great for the Yankees. But, should New York be concerned that Boston is still playing well…despite their issues…and it appears the Red Sox will be at the dance in October? Can we handle a 4th ALCS between the Yanks and Sox in a span of 11 years? And, if they do meet, and Boston wins, that would give each team two “wins” each – with the Red Sox winning the last two match-ups…and giving Boston two ALCS “wins” over the Yankees in the last 6 years. As Yankees fans, how would you feel about that?
Me? The whole thing bugs me. Part of the issue, I believe, with the 2003 post-season was that, after the Yankees beat Boston in the ALCS, New York was running on empty at the end. It’s too much stress facing the Red Sox in the ALCS. And, now, the Yankees have to try and make up (as if that’s possible) for 2004 if they face Boston in the ALCS again. Which, if New York wins, could lead to another World Series let down.
As much as the Angels are a pain in the Yankees tokhes, I think I’d rather see them in the ALCS than the Red Sox…especially if Boston is still winning seven out of ten games, like they have been the last three weeks. How about you?
Red Sox head cheese John Henry is now blogging. (H/T to BBTF.) I wonder if this will last longer than Hank Stein’s gig writing for TSN? And, how happy can Bud be over this? It’s funny, baseball doesn’t want to let in a guy like Mark Cuban, but, it seems like they already have someone Cuban-like, in terms of using e-mails, blogs, etc., in Henry. But, then again, Bud loves John Henry…so, whatever Henry wants, he gets…
On the bright side, it’s always nice, for me, to see someone over the age of forty doing a baseball blog. Sometimes I feel like the old guy who walked into a frat party by accident because his car broke down in front of the party house…standing out like a sore thumb. Well…now…there’s at least two of us old-timer’s doing this…
No, not Johnny Damon…
Today,on SIRIUS XM’s Mad Dog Radio channel, host Gary Williams spoke with actor Matt Damon, who was on to promote his new movie, “The Informant,” and the charitable foundation he supports, “One X One.” The Massachusetts native and die hard Patriots and Red Sox fan offered bold predictions for his teams this fall. [Thanks to Andrew FitzPatrick for this information.] Here’s what Matt Damon said -
Williams: “Meanwhile, your Red Sox, they’re only about 19 games back of the Yankees. Do they have anything for them in October?”
Damon: “Yeah, of course, man. October comes and everybody is 0-0. All we need to do is back into the wild card and we’re fine. We’re fine. Listen, New York, they’re going to collapse. They’re still, I mean, nobody on that team has won a World Series in… I mean, Jeter has but the rest of them…”
Williams: “Posada has, Pettitte has…”
Damon: “Nine years ago these guys won the World Series. They got so smoked by the Red Sox in ’04, I mean, I’m telling you, man. They’ve got the yips. They’re going to fold like a cheap suit. You watch, man. You watch. If we make it into the playoffs, man, we’re taking them down.”
Just another reason to root for the Texas Rangers to take the 2009 A.L. Wildcard berth…
Cowboy Up, Matt.
Via the Boston Herald –
Boston Red Sox’ principal owner John Henry’s new bride is calling the shots when it comes to the team’s development plans at Fenway Park.
Sources tell the Herald that Henry benched Janet Marie Smith, the team’s vice president for planning and development, just weeks after his June wedding to Linda Pizzuti.
“Janet Marie was told to go because Linda’s taking over the whole damn place,” said one person familiar with Smith’s exit. Another source said, “Janet was thrown under the bus and everything is a mess as a result of the young bride. The Chinese symbol for conflict is two women under one roof.”
Smith, 51, recently ended her eight-year stint with the Sox. She is credited with sparing the storied ballpark from the wrecking ball, installing Monster seats and improving the 97-year-old stadium.
The 30-year-old bride worked for her family’s Boston development firm, which is transforming a former raincoat factory in the Bulfinch Triangle into luxury condominiums.
A third source said the conflict centered on factors that have been brewing within the Sox organization since Henry bought the team in 2001 for $660 million and hired Smith to restore the park.
In one camp were Sox staffers who praised Smith for encouraging Henry to buy properties around the ballpark to keep developers from building apartments or offices that could tower over Fenway.
These Smith boosters, including Larry Lucchino, the team’s president and chief executive, backed the “preserve and protect” mantra, saying it was worth it to spend cash to spare the area around the park from unfettered development and to ensure that shadows were not cast on Fenway.
But others within the organization wanted the Sox to maximize the property the team purchased under the name of New England Sports Ventures.
There’s no truth to the rumor that Hank and Hal Steinbrenner buried an Alex Rodriguez jersey into Linda Pizzuti just before her wedding to John Henry…
…that said, any disharmony that Henry’s trophy wife can bring into the Red Sox organization is still music for this Yankees fan’s ears…
An interesting view of the Boston Red Sox from Tom Scocca in an Op-Ed piece in the Boston Globe today:
If anything, I’m more concerned for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays outscored their opponents last year, and they’ve outscored their opponents this year too, and they’ve been buried in fourth place. At the trading deadline, the Sox tried to pick up Toronto’s best player, pitcher Roy Halladay. When Toronto set the trade price too high – high enough to maybe get the franchise back into contention someday – the Sox settled for taking the Cleveland Indians’ all-star catcher, Victor Martinez, instead.
Plucking the best players from the rest of the league has long been the Yankees’ approach. After slipping to third place last year, they outbid the world for C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira – a number-one ace and a number-three hitter – and are on pace to win more than 100 games for the fourth time in this decade.
The Red Sox, with their state-of-the-art brain trust and perpetual-sellout revenues, are hoarding talent, too. But they haven’t won 100 games since 1946. And they’ve finished first only once since Clemens left. But they’ve finished second in nine of the last 11 seasons, and are on their way to making it 10 of 12.
Since baseball added the wild card, the Sox have been playing in their own world, where the only goal is to make the playoffs. Pennant races are for the little people, in their second-class divisions. The 18- or 19-game war of hype and attrition against the Yankees is just for show. The Sox will gladly be the footstool to the Yankees’ regular-season throne, as long as they both get to October. They’re in this together.
The Red Sox haven’t won 100 games in a season since 1946? I had to check that one myself – because it seemed too crazy to be true – but, it’s correct. Furrther, the time before 1946 when Boston won 100+ games was 1915.
Imagine that – just two 100-win seasons since 1915. What does that average out to…once every 47 years? I’ve been a Yankees fan since 1973 and I’ve never known this about Boston until today. Wish I knew this stat before…it would have come in handy at times, for sure.
…even with all their ‘problems,’ the Boston Red Sox have won 7 of their last 8 games. The Sox have also won 8 of their last 10, and 15 of their last 21 games.
There’s little chance that Boston can catch New York in the A.L. East now – even with them being hot. But, clearly, the Red Sox are still a team capable of winning some games in a row.
Something to think about if the Yankees make it to the ALCS this year and have to face the Red Sox, no?
Watching the Yankees game against the Red Sox tonight got me thinking back to the 2003/2004 off-season and this story from February 3, 2004:
Shortly after the Super Bowl ended, we were quickly reminded that baseball season is just around the corner.
Major League Baseball ran an ad on CBS’s “Survivor: All-Stars” that featured Josh Beckett, along with Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez.
The “I Live for This” ad showed the three inside a plush house, with Beckett and Jeter jawing good-naturedly about the World Series. Only this time, Jeter got the last word against Beckett, the Series MVP for the Marlins.
Beckett tossed a Wiffle Ball to the Yankees shortstop, who blasted a shot off a wall in the house.
Two weeks later, A-Rod was traded to the Yankees and became Jeter’s teammate. And, less than two years later, Beckett was traded to the Red Sox. Now, tonight, all three are playing in the same game. Small world, huh?
Eric Bruntlett just made the wait for tonight’s Yanks-Sox game a little bit easier…
Via Joel Sherman today -
I formed a seven- man committee comprised of one NL GM, one AL GM, and five assistants — three NL and two AL — and posed this question:
If you could have Robinson Cano or Dustin Pedroia for the next five years, who would you take and why?
The result surprised me. All seven executives picked Pedroia. He is the reigning MVP. But his 2009 season is down from last year while Cano has rebounded to have a positive campaign. Pedroia just turned 26, Cano turns 27 in October.
However, all seven respondents followed a basic theme: “Pedroia has better makeup and gives his all every day,” an NL exec said. “On natural ability, Cano tops the list. But Pedroia is a winner and a leader.”
Still, what became obvious from the respondents was that Cano has an image problem that lingers even as his overall game has improved this year. For if both second basemen took the field in workout garb for hitting, running, throwing and fielding drills, Cano likely would be the more impressive player. But the perception lingers that Cano does not concentrate well and floats through too many at-bats, while Pedroia treats every inning as a baseball holy war.
“I trust [Pedroia's] ability to grind and persevere more than Cano,” the NL GM said.
Me? Pedroia has to prove that 2008 wasn’t a fluke…because, if he’s not hitting 50+ doubles and 15+ homers in a season, then his game, despite the high batting average, plays out to be close to a league average performer. And, we know, sans last season, Cano can post a season with numbers close to 40 doubles, 20 homers, and a batting average over .300…which is very good for a second baseman.
What do you think, which player would you rather have as your second baseman?
Some interesting stats from last night’s game, via Rob Bradford -
- The 20 runs were the most the Red Sox had surrendered since Jun 19, 2000, when these same Yankees tortured Brian Rose, Bryce Florie, Rob Stanifer, and Tim Wakefield to the tune of 22 runs.
- No team had managed 23 hits against the Red Sox since Sept. 3, 1981, when the Seattle Mariners out-hit the Sox by one, totaling 24 against the group of Mike Torrez, Bill Campbell, Tom Burgmeier, Luis Aponte, Chuck Rainey, John Tudor and Bob Stanley.
- Red Sox starter Brad Penny became one of three Red Sox pitchers since 1954 to give up at least eight runs and 10 hits over four innings or fewer against the Yankees.
- Rookie Michael Bowden followed up Penny by letting the Yanks score seven runs in two innings, the most runs allowed by a Red Sox reliever since Frank Castillo took it on the chin to the tune of 10 runs against Texas, Aug. 1, 2002.
- New York’s Hideki Matsui finished with seven RBI, becoming the first opponent since Kansas City’s Freddie Patek to manage the feat against the Sox at Fenway Park, and the first Yankee to collect as many in a game at Fenway Park since Lou Gehrig’s eight-RBI performance, July 31, 1930.
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Yankees collected 23 or more hits against the Red Sox was June 6, 1934.
Who were those other two starting pitchers, that Penny joined? The answer: Tom Bolton on June 27, 1991 and Bill Lee on April 21, 1975.
Alex Johnson was the D.H. for the Yankees in that Bill Lee game. And, Bam-Bam Meulens was the D.H. for New York in that Tom Bolton game. This has nothing to do with the game last night, or the job that Hideki Matsui did as D.H. in it. Basically, if I can find any excuse to say “Bam-Bam Meulens,” I’m jumping on it…that’s all.
One AL exec is speculating it, per Joel Sherman. Wagner and Papelbon in the same pen? They’re going to have to double up on that supply of flea and tick powder in the Boston bullpen john, if true…
Neil Keefe, of NESN.com, asked me a few Yankees-related questions today. Click here to see what Neil and I discussed. (And, of course, my thanks to Keefe and NESN for asking!)
.
Looking at the pitching match-ups, it seems like the Yankees have an edge here. But, to me, for sure, it’s going to be a different series this time – than it was when these teams met last in New York. Why? Four reasons:
It would not shock me to see the Sox take 2 of 3 here - and maybe all three.
I hope not…but, I could see it coming…I just hope this is not a repeat of July 2004 where something happens that gives the Sox some steam in their engine…
What are you thoughts on this three-game set for the Yankees up at Fenway Park?
Today is the 58th anniversary of when St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck sent 3-foot-7 Eddie Gaedel, a circus midget, to pinch-hit for Frank Saucier. Right after that, the commissioner’s office effectively barred the player by establishing a minimum height for the start of the strike zone on a hitter.
So, can someone please explain to me how, today, Dustin Pedroia is allowed to bat for the Boston Red Sox?
Hey, by the way, if you have any friends who are Mets fans, why not be nice to them and offer some encouragement. How? Simple. Just look ‘em square in the eye today and say “Hey, good news. Pitchers and catchers report in six months.”
Via Jon Heyman -
Boston is 6-9 this month and 12-17 since the All-Star break, and is now in a fight to make the playoffs. The rival Yankees are too far in first (7 1/2 games) to be a concern. The Rangers are the real competition now, and Texas’ 7-2 record against the Red Sox gives them additional reason to doubt themselves.
Boston looks as vulnerable today as at any point since 2006.
“The second half has been a struggle for us,” Red Sox GM Theo Epstein said by phone Sunday night. “The only solace we can take is that we’ve played as poorly as we possibly can and still have a chance to get ourselves into October. We have to stabilize the back end of our rotation and hit better with runners in scoring position to do it, however.”
This is funny – as just this morning I was thinking to myself about how much this Yankees season is reminding me of 2006…when the Yanks were four games out of first on July 1st and then were eight games ahead in first place on August 31st.
New York went 34-21 during July and August in 2006 while Boston went 24-33 over those two months.
Let’s just hope that October 2009 doesn’t mirror October 2006 in Yankeeland – because, if it does, I would imagine that some may want to storm the South Bronx if happens and burn down the new castle.
What a difference 6 weeks and 5 days makes…
That’s how you get an 11.5 game swing in the standings…which is what the Yankees did…going from being 5 games back of the Red Sox on June 24th to being 6.5 games up on them by the close of business August 9th. Of course, the big push here has been since July 18th.
Needless to say, the last 4 weeks in Yankeeland have been all good…whereas…in Red Sox Nation…it’s not been so nice.
Via Kevin Baxter:
Ten days after the New York Times reported Ortiz’s name was on the list of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, 10 days after pledging not to “hide” or “make excuses,” Ortiz essentially did both.
Rather than coming clean, [David] Ortiz took the easy way out, blaming the test results on nutritional supplements and vitamins he bought over the counter.
Rather than keeping his promise to reveal what he tested positive for, Ortiz took cover behind Michael Weiner, the top lawyer for the players’ association, who said the union cannot give out that information.
How convenient.
“I definitely was a little bit careless back in those days when I was buying supplements, vitamins over the counter. Legal supplements, legal vitamins over the counter,” Ortiz said. “But I never buy steroids or use steroids.”
And what were the supplements he bought, legally and over the counter?
“No idea,” he said.
Well, whatever they were, they sure worked. Because the year before Ortiz failed his drug test, he was released by the Minnesota Twins after two seasons in which he combined to hit 38 homers and drive in 123 runs. In each of the three seasons after testing positive, Ortiz hit no fewer than 41 homers and drove in at least 137 runs.
That proves nothing, of course. But then neither did Ortiz’s news conference, during which he repeatedly admitted to being “clueless,” “careless” and “confused.”
Which still left him more forthcoming than Weiner, whose lawyerly explanations and accompanying two-page news release made it clear the union will never agree to release the names of players who failed baseball drug tests in 2003, as several prominent players and managers have requested.
So, Big Papi is playing the J.C. Romero card on this one, as opposed to the Mark “Not Going To Talk About The Past” McGwire card, or the Sammy “No Habla Ingles” Sosa card, or the Roger “Deny, Deny, Deny” Clemens card, or the Alex “Young, Dumb, And Naive” Rodriguez card, or the Andy “Yup, I Did It” Pettitte card…
…that’s fine. But, Ortiz better be careful…because if he has a Brian-McNamee-type in his past who suddenly crawls out of a hole, or, if something comes out with Angel Presinal that paints a different picture of what when down with him, then Big Papi will have to call up Rafael Palmeiro and ask him if there’s room for two over at his mountain cave in the Tora Bora area of Afghanistan…because, then, the spit will really hit the hands…um…I mean…the poop will really hit the Crocker & Curtis…
Some fun numbers…
If the Yankees beat the Red Sox this evening, and if New York then only plays one-game over .500 for the season, going 27-26, then the Red Sox will have to win 33 of their remaining 54 games this year (which is .611 baseball) to pass the Yankees in the standings…
…I’m just saying…
Of course, if the Yankees win today, and if they then play .585 baseball for the rest of the season, then the Red Sox will have to play .685 baseball the rest of the way to catch New York…
…so, can the Yankees win tonight and then win at a “7 out of 12″ pace for the rest of the season? Well, it sure sounds doable, no?
This one is payback for Brad Penny nailing A-Rod back on June 11, 2009.
Copyright © 2005 - 2009 and In Perpetuity by WasWatching.com
The opinions expressed by the WasWatching.com bloggers are theirs alone and do not reflect the opinions of Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, LLC or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries. Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, LLC or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries are not responsible for the inaccuracy of content posted on WasWatching.com.
Recent Comments