Yanx - Sawx II

[Frayed Knot]

It's way too early to even think about a series being a "knockout punch" for one team over the other - what with having 140-some games to go and all - but having the Yanx 5-1/2 games behind following last week's beatdown sparking a 6-game losing streak presents an unusual early opportunity for Boston to really step on their necks with a sweep or near-sweep and maybe throw them into panic mode.

That said, the pitching sked in the Bronx doesn't set up nearly as well for the BoSox as last week's series in Boston did.

[u:37cf0b646e]Friday - 7:00[/u:37cf0b646e] -- Matsuzaka - Pettitte
Dick-K wasn't very good against the Yanx last week (7IP, 6 ER, 8H) but at least gave them some length which the Yanx haven't gotten from anyone. Pettitte's been good in each of his starts this year but has been the victim of both Rivera blown saves.

[u:37cf0b646e]Saturday - 3:55 (FOX Network)[/u:37cf0b646e] -- Wakefield - Karstens
Wakefield may be 87 years old, but he throws the knuckleball and has had success over the years vs NYY. Karstens gets the nod over Igawa (banished to the pen) even though he was on the business end of the Beantowner bats in the prior series (4.1 IP, 7 ER, 9 H)

[u:37cf0b646e]Sunday - 1:00[/u:37cf0b646e] -- Tavarez - Wang
The biggest NYY edge going in. Julian Tavarez is just plain awful (and frequently an asshole to boot) while Wang has been the best Yanqui starter over the last year and a half and looked mostly good in Tuesday's game vs Tampa (6.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 H) despite it being his first start since coming off the DL.

[Guest iramets]

Frayed Knot wrote: Dick-K

Is this what they're calling him now?

[Willets Point]

iramets wrote: ="Frayed Knot"]Dick-K Is this what they're calling him now?

Maybe the Yankees fans.

[Frayed Knot]

iramets wrote: ="Frayed Knot"]Dick-K Is this what they're calling him now?

Oops!

[metirish]

Whar are the chances Torre is fired by Monday?

[Frayed Knot]

Very, very small in my mind - no matter how it all plays out.






* Only 4,220 more posts until I "trade" being Pat Zachry for Tom Seaver

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

By the way, this is MFY-RS thread.

Mariano gives up another RBI hit to CoCoCrispies. 8-4 Sox.

What's the longest losing streak for an eventual division winner?

[Willets Point]

I was really worried when Dice-K (or is it Dick-K?) loaded the bases and allowed the Yanks to go ahead in the fourth inning. I was pleasantly surprised when the Sox just took the lead back.

Now Mariano Rivera is being lifted for Mike Myers. The Yankees had a chance to humiliate Boston's big $$$ acquisition but got themselve humiliated instead.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I think Dick-K is doing the announcing. No, that's Michael Kay.

I believe Lugo needs a triple for the cycle here, good time to get it.

[Willets Point]

Four runs charged to Rivera makes it 11-4 in the 9th.

Giggling like a madman here.

[Frayed Knot]

"What's the longest losing streak for an eventual division winner?"

I remember those 2000 MFY losing like 17 of their last 20 before ... well nevermind. The division was pretty much settled by that point though. The '05 MFY also lost 6 straight (including 3 in a row to KC) en route to an 11-19 start so this one is hardly over.
The fun part about this one is that they've held the lead in every game. The streak also started the day after that 6-run 9th against Cleveland which ended with ARod's walk-off Grannie. So much for momentum.


The previous Mariano "melt-downs" this season weren't really all that bad when viewed in the larger context - a couple of bloops here and there mixed in with a hit and a walk - and I thought much of the panic talk was overblown worrying about a small sample size. But last night he was getting smacked all over the place and wasn't close to the plate on those pitches not getting whomped. Plus they had to pull him mid-inning so as to not burn him for Saturday & Sunday's games.
It's still a small sample size but he's got to start trailing off eventually and there seems to be concern about radar readings.

[Frayed Knot]

Oooh man, 1st pitch of Game 2 is a Julio Lugo liner right back at NYY pitcher Karstens. Got him on the leg somewhere and he's now up after rolling around on the ground for a minute or two.

Looks like he might stay in though.

[Frayed Knot]

Karstens stays in one more batter - a Youkilis single - and then is pulled for Igawa, the guy who was originally slated to start today but was bumped in favor of Karstens.


btw, Friday night's game: 3 hours, 56 minutes
AL games in general and NYY games in particular can be painful to watch.
The bottom 4th/top 5th alone must have lasted almost an hour. That's the inning the Yanx got all their runs on 4 walks and 3 bloops, before Pettitte immediately gave the lead back on a similar walk & wild pitch filled frame. Matsuzaka's got some good stuff but he's def tip-toeing his way past the tougher parts of the lineup and takes for-freakin-ever to throw a pitch. He does the whole; take the glove off, rub up the ball, take 9 deep breaths, throw a pitch, then do the whole thing over again routine.

[Guest iramets]

No runs, Sox strand two.

[Frayed Knot]

Lots o' baserunners but still scoreless thru 3.

Big Papi Ortiz - that never comes through against the Yanx choke artist - has two GiDPs

[Guest iramets]

Dumbo hits a two-run HR, and then in the sixth scores on a fluke ground-rule by Milky that goes about 150 feet. 3-0, Yanx.

[Guest iramets]

A-Rod up, bases full, two out, Yanks up 3-0. A big turning point. If Yanks et a hit here, it's prolly over, if not, the Sox can get 3 runs standing on their heads.

[Guest iramets]

Pop-out by A-Rod. The game goes on.

[Guest iramets]

Mariano warming up in bottom of the 7th . This could be good.

[Guest iramets]

Dumbo up again.

The Sox have gotten only one out on two consecutive innings' groundballs back to the box with a runner on first. It's cost them a run, and could cost them another here.

[Guest iramets]

Sox scaw 1, 3-1 Yanx lead. In the 9th it's Mariano--meltdown time?

[Frayed Knot]

Yanx wound up getting a better outing from the guy they originally bypassed for today's start than they ever could have expected from the guy they did start.

Sunday's pitching matchup favors the MFY getting the rubber game and avoiding panic city.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Easley!

Now PHing Castro when I'd bunt!

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Easley!

Now PHing Castro when I'd bunt!

oops

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Karstens diagnosed with fractured fibula.

[Guest Kid Carsey]

Mr Torre, I have Mr. Steinblabber on line two ... should I tell him you're not
in or would you like to speak with him?

8 of 9 baby, I can't wait to go to work tomorrow.

[Frayed Knot]

Yanx wind up winning the game with their worst pitcher(s) going and losing the two with their top guys. Who knew Kei would be better than Dice-K or that Mientkiewicz would be their main RBI guy? ... but that's why you play the games.
Some MFY fans (cough, Francesa, cough) were so sure that Pettitte would come through on Friday (cuz he always does) that it was almost treated as a sure thing. After all, they got rid of Big Unit in favor of Andy since he won't blow leads like that other bum. Ooops.

Now, in addition to their pitching woes, Abreu, Damon, Cano & even ARod to an extent, are in slumps.

[Centerfield]

I love how their best start (and the only win) came from a guy that Torre had elected to skip. I hope Torre gets fired.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I hate to believe in this voodoo stuff but Abreu must possess the loser gene.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I'm not all that excited by the prospect.

I guess Girardi is the top candidate to step in, unless the old man can talk Davey Johnson out of retirement.