Attention Baseball Fans: I Love My Boston Red Sox This Year. How Do The Yankee Fans Feel?
Ok…tomorrow is opening day for the Boston Red Sox. Yes March 25 is opening day. Not sure the season has ever started this early nor this far away. The Sox take on the Oakland A’s in Japan–thousands of miles away from Fenway Park. The defending World Series Champions will actually have four opening days this year in three different countries. They will celebrate in Japan and then have opening day for the A’s in the US before they fly to Toronto and celebrate with the Blue Jays and the following week, open up at Fenway Park against the Detroit Tigers (this game is not to be missed) when they unveil the championship flags.
Ok so here we are. Almost five months ago my beloved Red Sox swept the World Series against a Colorado team that was hot, and captured their second ring in four years. So what has happened? I must say not a ton from my standpoint.
The Red Sox did what they had to do. They signed their free agents, but didn’t really add much of anything else. From where I sit, the Sox have a solid group of starters. Beckett (assuming his back doesn’t cause a problem) will be solid. Daisuke will have a great second year, Tim Wakefield is a solid number three and Jon Lester and Clay "No Hitter" Buchholz will be the best number five in baseball. The hitting will be better this year. Ortiz is healthy, Manny is in a contract year, Drew is in his second year, Ellsbury will be an enormous surprise and most of the other hitters will continue to do their thing. We have plenty of intangibles like trading Coco Crisp (who will get them a decent starter or a top prospect). And then there’s Bartolo Colon. Who knows what you might get from him. Not to mention a great–yes great–bullpen with Papelbon, Timlin, Okajima and others to hold the opposition off in the late innings.
Yes losing Schilling will hurt. He is fantastic and clearly a great money pitcher in the playoffs. Which by the way, when he returns–I believe he returns in August–and makes a few starts, the playoffs will be upon us.
The Yankees didn’t do much either. Yes they lost Clemens (which is probably a good thing). Their defense at first isn’t good and AROD can’t possibly improve on last year’s stats! He was awesome. Their pitching staff is weak at best and no longer scares anyone. Rivera is still in the top five closers in the American League but doesn’t dominate the good teams anymore. When the Yankees play the iron of the AL, like the Angels, Indians, Red Sox and Tigers, they will need their pitchers to go seven innings and then Chamberlain and Rivera shut the door. With the exception of Wang, their starters are old and unreliable. Clearly the Yankee supporters could say I would match up Hughes and Kennedy against Lester and Bucchholz, and the Sox fans would say the same. That is why this debate and rivalry is the greatest in sports and will continue for many years to come. We will see who is right.
Before I sign off , no one can tell me the Yankees are better off without Joe Torre. Nothing against the other Joe (Girardi), but Torre was all class, could handle the players, the media and the Steinbrenners. Girardi won’t be able to do that. His departure costs the Yankees three games in the standings.
Yes the Red Sox will win the division for the second year in a row and if the Yankees aren’t very careful they won’t make the playoffs.
Let the games begin.
I look forward to reading your comments throughout the 2008 baseball season!
- What are your thoughts?
- How do you really feel about your team?
Let’s play ball.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:22 am
How many got up to watch the opener? I was there, Had to leave for work before the end but was glad to hear the Sox won it in extra innings.
Somehow it just seems too early for the season to start. I still have college basketball to contend with (UMASS plays Syracuse tonight in the NIT.–Go Minutemen!). Like Merrill, I’m very optimistic about the Sox repeating this season. I’ll also second Merrill’s remark about Torre, a gentleman and a class act. Fortunately for the Sox, Hank Steinbrenner is turning out to be as big a [insert random off-color insult here] as his old man. As I told Ed Sugar, he’s the Harvey Weinstein of Baseball.
As for how I feel about my team, I love ‘em, as always. That should be pretty predictable.
C’mon Jennie, it’s time for you to step up to the plate and start making excuses for the Yankees! Let the games begin!
March 25th, 2008 at 8:59 am
I LOVE this time of year! 1 game - 1 win, in fact a come from behind win! Manny has the winning hit to start the year - hopefully that is a sign for a huge year forcing the Sox to pick up his option!
Only undefeated team in baseball! First place to stay!
More to follow.
Merrill
March 25th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Just like typical Red Sox fans….getting all excited because of ONE win….WhoopieDoooo!!! I can’t wait to see the Sox do the “June Swoon” and the “July Slide”!!!
LET’S GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!
March 25th, 2008 at 10:41 am
I could not agree with you more Merrill. This is the greatest time of year, especially here in Boston.
I was up at 5:30 this morning (as usual) and was glued to NESN. What a start to another great season, the young guys look promising, Manny and David will have career years, the pitching is looking to be grade A.
Tough to be a Red Sox fan!
Cheers
Jason
March 25th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Consistency will be the key to the AL East. Beckett on the DL, Pettite debut pushed back, etc. Obviously, me being a die-hard Yankees fan I am more optimistic about this season. You speak of mediocre pitching and I will agree we aren’t loaded but still solid. Last years staff was hurt early by the poor starts we were getting out of our rotation but once that was stabilized and guys started going 5 plus innings the Yankees put up unbelievable 2nd half numbers going 51-25 after the All-Star break. That tells me we didn’t really need much in the off season…except maybe a first basemen! Joe Torre will be missed but I feel strongly that players were no longer as motivated under the same leadership they have had and that shows with 3 consecutive departures in the Division Series. Joe Girardi, a student of Torre, will bring new life (not condoning this but I think we saw that “fire” in the Devil Rays skirmish) and remember what he did in his first and only year as a manager for a low pay rolled Florida Marlins team in 2006. Keep your eye on Robinson Cano and a break-out year from 23 y/o (Got) Melky Cabrera showing his value at the plate in addition to his center fielding. So what if A-Rods production is half as it was last year, that still means we get 27 HR and 78 RBI’s - I can live with that! The biggest intangible you have to factor in with the Yankees this year is home field advantage. The last year in Yankee Stadium - Wow! Fans are going to be more rabid than ever and the house that Ruth built will be rocking all season long! Can you imagine the pride that is going to be on that field? Considering the Yanks had one of the best records at home last year this will be a considerable edge in 2008. Overall, it will be an entertaining year and I’ll go with a Yankees-Red Sox ALCS with the winner taking the World Series in 2008!
March 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Todd,
I love your enthusiasm for your team. Cano is great and yes I will admit a superstar in the making. This year will be fun for sure the odds to win the World series are:
Red Sox 9-2
Detroit 5-1
NY Mets 5-1
Yankees 6-1
Angels 7-1
What that means is the Yankees are the third best team in the AL and the second best team in New York!
Music to my ears for sure.
I believe the Yankees pitching (starters) will be ugly. You need me to be wrong.
More to follow for sure.
Merrill
March 25th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Oy. Here we go again. I am an unapologetic Yankees fan. In my heart it doesn’t matter who has who or who’s hurt. I believe the Yankees will win and the Sox will always lose. Always. I look forward to another great year on 2008. However, I’m keeping both eyes on the Tigers.
My prediction for the American League East?
Yankees
The team in Boston
Toronto
Tampa Bay
Baltimore
All Yankee’s fan should take note that the next wave of Jeter’s, Pettitte’s, Posada’s and Rivera’s is arriving now!
March 25th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Perfect - about the same as the 11/2 odds for the ‘06 Cardinals but better than the 10-1 odds the Red Sox had last year! Mussina is the only worry. Hughes and Kennedy are right there with Buchholts and Lester. All we need is 6 innings and then it is Chamberlain-Rivera to close the door. Reminds me of the Rivera-Wetteland tandem in 1995. The only thing this means is I earn more money on my bet. I also saw you faired well at the poker tables while in Vegas…
March 25th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Michael,
I do agree with one thing you said and maybe only one thing - The tigers will be dangerous for sure. I don’t like their closer but their hitting might be the best in the game. If their pitchers stay healthy they could win 98+ games!
The Red Sox will win the east and the Yankees….. we will see……
Merrill
March 25th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Todd,
If your only worry is Mussina you are in for along season. Rivera is still solid and Chamberlain will be good but you still need someone to pitch the 6th and 7th inning. That has to worry you.
The Yanks play the Sox a number of games in April - should be fun.
Merrill
March 25th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Well, 40-plus years of rooting for the Bombers, but I have perhaps more modest expectations for them this year. I really salute Brian Cashman for hanging on to the youth, as I expect to see that move start to pay off in 1-2 years, and then for years to come. The Yanks run 1996-2000 was because of the kids who came up through the system: Jeter, Posada, Bernie, Pettitte, Mariano, Soriano (it really was good having George out of baseball for a time there!), and it’ll take the same approach for that to happen again. When they can bring up that kind of talent and supplement it with the high-priced stud, good stuff will happen. For this year, the outfield corners and first base are iffy, pitching iffy (I’d love for Mussina to retire and Wang to grow a spine), but they are the Bombers. Overall this year they’ll be a force, but not the force.
March 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Jeremy,
Well said for sure - I think that is a realistic view of the Yankee team. Yes they will play .700 ball for 3 weeks but they will also play .450 ball for a month.
They will be inconsistent for sure. Much more than the Red Sox.
Merrill
March 25th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
blah, blah, blah! same ol’ same ol’ from the same ol’ same old!
“Manny has the winning hit to start the year” - yeah, and he looked like the typical moron that he always does while posing and thinking he had a home run. too bad they didn’t get him out at first.
“Red Sox swept the World Series against a Colorado team that was hot” - come on now! more like a colorado team that was WAY overmatched and would have lost the world series to ANY AL opponent it faced. just keepin’ it real!
“With the exception of Wang, their starters are old and unreliable.”
1- Wang - 28
2- Mussina - 40 (that would be old)
3- Pettitte - 36
4- Hughes - 22
5- Kennedy - 24
over half the rotation are in their 20s. ok, whatever you say, dubes!
and well…
“Before I sign off , no one can tell me the Yankees are better off without Joe Torre.” boy, oh boy! good thing i’m someone! here goes: the yankees ARE better off without joe torre! there! you got it! he did what he had to do, and he was awesome. i didn’t necessarily agree with the circumstances surrounding his leaving, but yup, it was time for him to go. over and done with, and now we move on.
i haven’t needed to make excuses for the yankees, nor do i need to start now. the yanks will be fine. the young pitching will deliver. stockings fans, just concern yourselves with beckett and his back. he won’t have the year he had last year. hopefully, special k or whatever his name is can step up and help him out.
good luck!
GO YANKEES!!!
March 25th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Patty,
As Red Sox fans we celebrate our victories! Nothing wrong with that. I know there hasn’t been much to celebrate in the Bronx lately, but you can’t deny us our celebrations. Hey, I’m still celebrating 2004.
I’m sure the Yanks will put together a little win streak and all of those bandwagon fans will be back at least for a while.
March 25th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Jennie,
You have to be in it to win it! The Sox won the World series while the Yankees your Yankees were playing golf. Lets be realistic here - The Yanks have great hitting but their pitching is of concern. Petitte (when he returns) might beat the sub par teams of the AL but will not dominate against the top teams. Both teams have suspect number 4 and 5 starters. Each of us could make a case why ours are better but the other person wouldn’t believe it.
Torre was great - you more than anyone know that. He handled the situation like a pro - Girardi probably won’t be able to do that. Fighting in a spring training is really smart - considering all it did was get players suspended and light a fire under the butt of a Tampa Bay team that played you tough most of last year.
I look forward to the season and hearing your comments and passion.
Go Sox!
Merrill
March 25th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Jennie,
Manny looking “like a moron”? Well at least it’s a moron who hits (and besides you’ve got A-Rod who acts like a moron, we come out ahead).
Interesting that you call into question the Dubemeister’s description of the Yankees pitching staff as “old and unreliable” by saying “Hey, they aren’t old!” Point taken. They are still unreliable.
I’m sure the Yankees could have beaten the Rockies, too. But they had to get by Cleveland. You couldn’t. We did. End of story.
Thank you for wishing us good luck! I’m sure you will be making a least one pilgrimage this year for the last season in the “House That Harry Frazee Built”.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:16 am
Merrill (and others)
Way too much AL talk. Let them all beat each other up, hopefully have long playoff series and come limping into the World Series. There, waiting with fresh legs, hopefully fresh arms and most important a very deep line up will be the NY Mets. Yes, I know last year they had one of the worse collapses in history but this year will be different with a true ace in the rotation (no offense to Pedro - just not in his prime anymore). And they are not old at all, just a solid mix of veterans and young, up and coming stars. This is Willie’s year. The Amazins are back!
Steve
March 26th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Hello Merrill!
Yes this is the earliest start ever for a given baseball season. To be able to proclaim that it isn’t even April and fans are saying ‘1st place Red Sox!’
I would like to thank the Oakland A’s for assuming the place of cellar dwellars for one day. That makes the Texas Rangers tied for 1st place for at least one week.
All kidding aside, my Yankee loyalties went astray after numerous moves to Chicago, Anaheim, Portland, Seattle, and now Arlington, TX. It hisses me off that for the first time since I have been here, both the Yankees and Red Sox make but one trip to Texas. NY for 4 8/4-8/7th. Boston comes Labor Day weekend 9/5-7th. Nothing will ever top 1977 and 1978 in my heart and mind.
I believe it will be a long season in New York with injuries and bickering. I believe Toronto may finally become the first wild card to come out of the A.L. East since 1997.
I think Detroit will be the pick of the media darlings. I expect Dontrelle Willis to struggle with the low strike at first, then be lights out the second half.
Let me the first to state that against all odds, and with an anniversary of 100 years looming, the Chicago Cubs reach the World Series and do the unthinkable…I also will go out on a limb to say that Kerry Wood as a closer will be fabulous.
Talk to you Merrill!
March 26th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Willie,
Thanks for your comments - how could you forget that my beloved Boston Red Sox won the World Series in 2004 as the wild card from the AL east.
Probably easy to forget since we have won two out of the last four World Series!
Merrill
March 26th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Steve,
The collapse of the 2007 Mets was not nearly as bad as the collapse of the 2004 Yankees.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I think there are a lot of questions this year:
Is this the year the Blue Jays avoid the injury bug and make a move in the AL East?
Will the ERA of Dontrelle Willis go up by .5 changing leagues? It was over 5 last year on a lousy team.
Is Jacoby Ellsbury the real deal?
Will Hughes, Joba and Kennedy live up to the hype? (I am Yankees fan but I do remember generation K of the Mets in the mid 90s?)
Living in Red Sox Nation the Red Sox cannot lose enough games for me but I have to admit it is exciting when both the Yankees and Sox are in it.
With this being the last year of Yankee Stadium my dream would be for a Yanks-Sox ALCS with Game 7 in the Bronx (which means we win the division) and A-Rod takes Papelbon deep in the bottom of the 9th to win it. Then he can take his jig back to Boston.
Then the Yanks take down the Mets in the Subway Series.
One last point, in 2000 the Mets started the season in Japan and lost the World Series to the Yankees, in 2004 the Yankees started the season in Japan and hell froze over in October, in 2008 the Red Sox started the season in Japan and……….
March 26th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Bob,
Spoken like a true Red Sox fan - although I do think the Indians chocked last year as well - up 3-1 on the Sox. They should have finished them off but very glad they didn’t.
Ok so the Sox won’t go 162-0. They split the series with the A’s. A monster shot by Manny for the only Sox run - 5 Rbi’s for him - a great start for a contract next year.
Merrill
March 26th, 2008 at 10:18 am
John,
Some good points. I saw the stat on ESPN about teams starting in Japan and none of them have won the World Series. There is a factor certainly with this being the last year at Yankee Stadium. That should get the team pumped up each and everyday and might get them a few more wins.
Living in Boston and being a Yankee fan must be interesting for sure. I hope your dream of AROD hitting a HR to win game 7 never happens!
The rivalry continues and will be very strong this year for sure.
Merrill
March 26th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I have just three comments (for now):
1) Now that I am working in Chi-town, hoping for the Cubbies to win so I can see the Yanks kick their 100 year old butts into The Lake.
2) Don’t forget Carl Pavano! (Looking good to pitch his one game some time in August!)
3) Go Yanks.
March 27th, 2008 at 8:39 am
John,
The stats on starting in Japan and losing the World Series don’t bother me, for traditions are broken everyday. In 2004, no team had every come back from a 3 game playoff deficit to win a league championship and a World Series. Up until just two days ago no men’s basketball team had ever beaten Syracuse at home twice in the same season, but the UMASS Minutemen did. You’re ignoring the “M” factor: the fact that these teams are from Massa-frickin-chusetts! We laugh at the past! Any team, any time, any place! Bring it on! Refuse to Lose (copyright Jon Calipari, 1995)!
March 27th, 2008 at 9:15 am
GO BOB GO!
Boston is TITLE TOWN - we will be adding two more this year with the Red Sox and Celtics!
This time of year is the best.
Does anyone have an update on Andy Petitte?
Merrill
March 27th, 2008 at 11:33 am
He is scheduled to start the 3rd or 4th game of the season. Maybe we can bring back Kevin Brown if he can’t make it. Ugh!
March 27th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
John,
I hope that is the case. or maybe Pavono. I always liked Petitte, he will probably have a pretty good year.
I thought it was funny that Hank “I will say anything that doesn’t make sense” Steinbrenner said that Red Sox Nation isn’t anything it is the Yankees Country. If that is true why did the Red Sox out draw the Yankees on the road last year:
Road Attendance
Red Sox 3,130,043
Yankees 2,978,202
In fact the Red Sox were the ONLY team in baseball to draw over 3,000,000 people on the road last year.
Not sure you can argue with facts.
Merrill
March 27th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
I am a die hard Cub fan, as some of my greatest childhood memories include taking the ‘el’ down to Wrigley. So I am much more concerned with the Cubs winning and the Cardinals losing, than I am with what happens in that other league where the pitchers are not allowed to hit.
As is the case with many Cub fans, every year around this time I become fully convinced that the Cubs are a legitimate contender. This year is no different.
Here are a few reasons why:
* Kerry Wood will make an excellent closer
* Aramis Ramirez, Derrick Lee, Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome make up the best top half of the line-up in baseball
* Carlos “Big Z” Zambrano has another year of maturity under his belt, and he will be less prone to losing his composure, allowing him to finally become a legitimate #1 starter
* 100 years since the last World Series title, what a perfect story (and marketing campaign)
* Sweet Lou Piniella has the excellent blend that is needed for a winning manager - he can manage the team, he can manage the game, and he does not accept losing (plus he is always good for some entertaining temper tantrums with an umpire each year)
Great thread, Merrill - I had to jump on-board for this one!
Daniel
March 27th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Daniel,
Thanks for your comments and welcome to the blog. I love the Cubs. Even though I am not a National League guy they are my favorite team. I really like Lou Pinella’s energy, passion and craziness. The Cubs could be America’s team if they got on a roll. I tend to agree with you - Kerry Wood will be great this year and make the ALL STAR Game. Yes you heard it her first.
I really think they could make a run this year.
Hope you keep contributing this season.
Merrill
April 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 am
Good morning.
The baseball season has started and the Red Sox have 4 games in the record books. Not sure we learned a ton but:
Glad they are in 1st place with a 3-1 record
Their team ERA is under 3.00 - which I know will go up
Jon Lester tossed a gem
No surprise the Yanks started 1-1. Toronto will be a solid team this years with some good starters.
Keep an eye on Giambi at 1st - he made an error there yesterday and that trend will continue for the year. He is a horrible defensive first baseman. Mussina pitched OK and Wang was solid and yes Chamba and Rivera were terrific Tuesday night.
Go Washington Nationals go! They are 3-0 and one of only 4 undefeated teams in baseball.
By the way have you noticed all of the closers getting hammered! Papelbon, Putz, Gagne, Wood and others have had a rocky start!
Good luck.
Lots of baseball to be played.
Merrill
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
WOW - The Kansas City Royals are the ONLY undefeated team in baseball. AMAZING - The swept the Tigers and tamed their lineup!
The Yankees had another strong pitching day while the Red Sox had the day off.
Merrill
April 7th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Sox fans
Getting swept by the Blue Jays certainly puts a damper on the weekend. Both the RedSox and the Yankees are getting outscored by their opponents by 11 runs. That stat will certainly change and sooner than later.
I can’t wait until the Red Sox open up at Fenway Park - clearly the fireworks will be happening this week with the Sox playing the Yanks this weekend.
Merrill
April 8th, 2008 at 5:11 am
Ouch -
Derek Jeter- SS- Yankees Apr. 7 - 11:59 pm et
Derek Jeter will miss at least one game with a strained left quad, but he’s not expected to land on the disabled list.
Wilson Betemit will fill in for Jeter on Tuesday and possibly for the rest of the week. The Yankees may call up Alberto Gonzalez to help out defensively if they don’t think Jeter will be back within a few days.
Merrill
April 9th, 2008 at 6:12 am
A VERY CLASSY MOVE
A deserved welcome home
Buckner receives warm reception from Fenway faithful
BOSTON — As he wiped a tear away from his right eye, there was a lot going through Bill Buckner’s mind as he made his way from the Green Monster to the pitcher’s mound to throw out Tuesday’s ceremonial first pitch at Fenway Park. “[It was] probably about as emotional as it could get,” Buckner said. “A lot of thoughts [were] going through my mind. I wish I didn’t have to walk all the way from left field, too many things. But just good thoughts, which is a nice thing.”
Buckner was cheered loudly as he threw a strike to former teammate Dwight Evans. In what was one of the most emotional first pitches in the 97th Opening Days at Fenway, the former Boston first baseman returned on the day the 2007 World Series champion Red Sox received their just rewards.
Most remembered for allowing Mookie Wilson’s grounder to pass through his legs, leading to Ray Knight scoring the winning run for the Mets in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, a sellout crowd welcomed Buckner back with a long and rousing standing ovation.
After all these years, arguably a better way to put Buckner’s body of work in perspective is to tip the cap at these numbers: 2,715 hits, a .289 career batting average, 1,208 RBIs, 1,077 runs scored, 498 doubles, 174 home runs, 450 walks drawn (he struck out just 453 times), a career fielding percentage of .991 and he played in the Major Leagues from 1970-90.
And Red Sox fans showed their appreciation after all these years, profoundly and loudly, with their unconditional applause on Tuesday at Fenway Park, embracing Buckner, a man who gave his all to get the job done for five organizations — the Dodgers, Cubs, Red Sox, Angels and Royals — that know more than a thing or two about competitiveness and class, historically and today.
Buckner made a return to the Red Sox in 1990, and he played in 22 games before retiring from baseball. Buckner made his first visit to Boston since September 1997, when he was at Fenway as a hitting coach with the White Sox.
While it will always be part of recorded history, this was not a day to focus on the past as the Red Sox, who, through team historian Dick Bresciani over the winter, extended the invitation to Buckner.
“I appreciate all the thought, that’s the most important thing is the thought behind it,” Buckner said. “It was hard to do, for me.”
Then, in a media availability following his moment on the field, Buckner was asked if he had second thoughts.
“I had to…” and then Buckner began to well up again.
“I really had to forgive, not the fans of Boston, per se, but in my heart, I had to forgive the media for what they put me and my family through,” he continued. “I’ve done that, and I’m over that and I’m just happy. And I just think of the positive and happy things like Dwight Evans and the guys in the front office when I came.”
Part of the irony of Tuesday for Buckner was sitting among the media. His 23-year-old daughter, Christen, also a former softball player, was in Boston doing a story on her father for KTRV in Boise, Idaho.
“Occasionally, the good has outweighed the bad,” Christen said.
Buckner believes Tuesday was just another step in the process of moving on.
“It was a great season and a lot of good memories, and I’m just happy I can focus on those,” Buckner said, referring to 1986.
“I was with Bill this morning at the hotel,” said Boston Celtics legend John Havlicek. “I thought he was a little pensive, a little [unsure] of what to expect. I was so glad it turned out so great. Because this guy, you look at his numbers were so outstanding. One play shouldn’t make a career or someone think of you differently. It was an unfortunate act, but I’m so glad that this is past now. We can forget about it. He was a great player and an even greater person.”
New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi agreed.
“I thought the ovation was incredible,” Bruschi said. “You could see the emotion on his face. I don’t know if it was cleansing or not. To see the ovation he received in this park, especially, it gave me a good feeling. I can imagine what it did for him.”
Buckner felt just as good for the 2004 and ‘07 World Series champion Red Sox teams.
“I’m just so happy for them,” Buckner said. “They’re such a class organization now.”
And, as Tuesday showed, Buckner will always be a part of it.
April 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I agree that having Billy B. throw out the first ball was a very classy move and the fans’ reaction just goes to show why they are the best in baseball. Hey, Hank Steinbrenner, this is what Red Sox Nation is all about! You can deny it’s existence, but I don’t even think you understand it. (I heard about a t-shirt with a Yankee logo that says “I spent $1.2 billion since 2000 and all I got is this lousy t-shirt.”)
If the Sox win the 2008 World Series, my first pick for throwing out the ball for the 2009 season would be Bucky F. Dent. That would really show the old ghosts are buried!
April 9th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Oh Mr. A-Rod, how many rings do you have?
April 10th, 2008 at 6:27 am
Bob,
I love that picture thanks!
Here we go the first Red Sox / Yankee series of the year. OK so both teams aren’t playing great but they will both win tonight against the Royals and Tigers. I would love to say that this first series between the two great teams doesn’t mean anything but it does - actually probably more for the Sox and Yankee fans than anything else. Both teams are a little banged up with Jeter, Posado, Lowell not to mention a few pitchers hurting as well.
Before I forget I loved Joe Girardi getting cute last night and NOT starting Ian Kennedy because of the rain instead he started his relievers and brought in Kennedy in the 6th.
OK so here is my prediction - if the Red Sox win Friday night against Wang they will sweep if not they will take two out of three for sure. If Hughes shows up Sunday it might be a good match up against D. Matsusaki. OK the real question is what do Yankee fans like Jennie L, Jeremy B, Pat S. Owen J, Matt G, Jeffrey L and Joshua K think? And of course I look forward to the Sox Guru’s of Bob C, Bob G and Catie G………
Let the fun begin.
Merrill
April 10th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Ok, so I guess you are baiting me to respond to this. I laid off this blog when it first appeared (though I quickly e-mailed Jennie and brought it to her attention). Yes, Boston may have the better “consistently” hitting and pitching team, I reluctantly have to agree with you there. However, when the Yankees and the Red Sox play against each other, strange things happen. I predict the Yankees taking the series in Boston (2 out of 3). I think Wang is really on his game so far this year and when they win Friday night, it will set the momentum for the rest of the series. I think we are all in store for some exciting games —- these teams always seem to deliver games that keep me on the edge of my seat — hope they continue to deliver that “adrenaline rush” this season!
April 10th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Okay - with a few days into the season, it’s the usual - the Yanks have their traditional slow start and the cold weather hasn’t been good for anyone. Both the Yanks and the Sox are at 4-5 anyway.
Meanwhile, I’ll miss most of Saturday’s game as it starts at 4 and my wedding starts at 7 (and I’ve been told that the pictures beforehand are more important than the game). Well at least the Rangers-Devils play Friday and Sunday. Go Rangers!
April 10th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Matt,
CONGRADS!!!! I forgot about your wedding being on Saturday. Only success and happiness for the next 50+years! The Sox/Yanks can’t hold a candle to the party that you will be throwing in NYC.
ENJOY!!!!
Merrill
April 10th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
It’s so early in the season that I don’t think either team has found it’s mojo yet. I expect the Sox to take 2 out of three.
And congratulations, Matt.
April 11th, 2008 at 10:45 am
We denizens of Red Sox Nation are a wily bunch. Enjoy your new stadium, gentlemen… BWAHH, HAA,HHA, HAA…
From Today’s NY Post:
“HIGH’JINX’ HITS YANKEES
By JOHN DOYLE, CHUCK BENNETT and JEREMY OLSHAN
April 11, 2008 —
The new Yankee Stadium may be cursed!
A devilish Boston fan working on a concrete crew at the $1.3 billion stadium covertly buried a Red Sox T-shirt under what will become the visiting team’s locker room to jinx the Yanks, two construction workers told The Post yesterday.
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“In August, a Red Sox T-shirt was poured in a slab in the visitor’s clubhouse. It’s the curse of the Yankees,” one worker said. “Nobody knows about it. It’s in the floors, it’s buried.”
The workers say they now fear that they unwittingly helped hex their beloved Bronx Bombers.
“I don’t want to be responsible for sinking the franchise,” said a second worker, who witnessed the sabotage. “I respect the stadium.”
The Post has withheld their identities because they are not authorized to speak to media.
This latest hex is above and beyond any typical ritual - like wearing a lucky shirt or hat - that fans typically do to boost their luck.
“It sounds a little unprecedented to me,” said Tim Wiles, director of research at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown.
“I guess if the Yankees go 86 years in the new ballpark without a win we’ll know if we are on to something,” he said, referring to Boston’s previous infamous losing streak after they sold Babe Ruth.
“If I was a Yankees fan, that is my house. I don’t want a Red Sox [T-shirt] under my house,” he added.
Chris Wertz, co-owner of the Red Sox bar Professor Thom’s in the East Village, laughed at the ingenuity of the worker.
“I won’t be surprised in the least bit to see that visiting locker room torn up and relaid right away,” he said. “This what makes the game special for baseball fans. It’s not a mean thing, but something they will take seriously.”
Red Sox fans, he said, will see the buried garment as a good-luck charm, especially after years of seeing the retired numbers of four legendary players displayed in Fenway Park.
It has long displayed “9″ for Ted Williams, “4″ for Joe Cronin, “1″ for Bobby Doerr and “8″ for Carl Yastrzemski - which comes out to 9-4-18, the day before the World Series that resulted in the last Red Sox championship until 2004.
Baseball historians said these kinds of superstitions are not something to be scoffed at.
“Curses start off very easily. It’s all the power of suggestion and they take on a life of their own,” said Dan Gordon, co-author of the 2007 book “Haunted Baseball.”
“Even the ‘Curse of the Bambino’ didn’t really take off until the 1980s. Before then it was just hard luck,” he said.
Mickey Bradley, co-author of “Haunted Baseball,” said a worker is said to have buried an unknown good-luck charm in a water main trench of the current Yankee Stadium back in 1920.
“Prior to that, they never they won a World Series,” he said.
Players can also bring curses to their teams.
“Look at the curse of A-Rod. The Yankees haven’t won since [Alex Rodriguez] came to their game. There’s probably more to that than a T-shirt,” said Peter Nash, author of “Boston’s Royal Rooters,” a history of Red Sox fans.
“This just takes the rivalry to whole new level. If you look at 2004, the Yankees were up three games. If Boston lost that, seriously, the whole franchise would have been decimated,” said Nash, who performed with the rap duo Third Bass before writing about baseball.
“I think there is a curse in effect already. Maybe the Red Sox T-shirt is like the icing on the cake, a nice little F-you from Boston,” he said.
The year 2004, of course, was the year the Red Sox broke their own curse and won the World Series after beating the Yankees in the playoffs.
Still, stadiums have long had their own curses.
One of them is the 1945 “Billy Goat” curse at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago cubs.
Legend has it that William Sianis placed a curse on the team after stadium staff refused to let him enter with his pet goat. The team hasn’t played in the World Series since 1945.
Superstition in stadiums can also cut the other way and help a team.
The Texas Rangers languished in their old stadium from 1972 to 1993, until they moved into a new ballpark the following year. Since then, the team won three division titles. More recently, the Tampa Rays may be cursed by their own new stadium, which was partially built over a cemetery.
Over the past decade, the team had the worst record in all of Major League Baseball four times and finished last place in their division nine times.
As for the buried emblem of hated Boston, the Yankees say they aren’t the least bit worried.
“It sounds like a tall tale, and it would take more than a Red Sox T-shirt to put a curse on the Yankees,” said team spokesman Howard Rubenstein.”
April 11th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
That’s exactly where anything BoSox related should be…buried under and stomped on by New York!
Yankees will win this series!
April 11th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Jennie,
Love the spirit - disappointed that both Mike Lowell and Derek Jeter will be not playing this weekend. Certainly two great players - speedy recovery to both of them.
Enjoy the weekend.
Merrill
April 11th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Jennie & Yankee fans,
Congrads on winning game one. Wang tossed a gem - I think I just witnessed his best start of his career. Arod shouldn’t have gotten an error that was a tough play.
More baseball to be played on Saturday.
Merrill
April 13th, 2008 at 8:25 am
Good morning. Saturday’s game wasn’t really what I thought it would be . Yes I believed the Red Sox would crush Mussina and 4 runs in less than 6 innings isn’t bad. The Yanks defense played GREAT and SAVED him a bunch of runs and his BUTT!
We had a little dram with AROD coming up in the 8th and two guys on - in case you missed it the Sox brought in their closer to face him and all of a sudden…. rain delay for a few hours…… The drama continued with Papelbon striking out AROD. Was it much of a surprise - big opportunity for AROD to delivery and he strikes out…. sounds familiar to me…. big stats… great stats…. just not in big times…. just not when the Yanks need it the most….
I was surprised that Girardi didn’t bring in Chamberlain to face Manny Ramirez??? And if you aren’t going to do that Joe - intentionally walk Manny with first open … what are you thinking…. Manny already hit a monster home run of Mussina earlier in the game… So you trot out to the mound and tell Mussina to pitch him away…. was it really a surprise when Manny hit that pitch to the right field wall for a two run double… Game over Joe…… As I said before Girardi will cost the Yanks 3-4 games this year - and yesterday may have been one of them.
What did you think?
Merrill
April 14th, 2008 at 6:11 am
Good morning.
Not much was really settled this weekend. Yes the Sox won two out of three (Mark S looking forward to my taffy).
Matsuzaka wasn’t particular good yesterday - in fact he was pretty wild giving up 6 walks. Not sure what is going on with Hughes he has pitched 5 innings in total in his last 2 starts and got knocked out after 2 innings last night.
AROD - non factor 2-13 with no rbi’s - they need him for sure!
Sox/Yanks go again on Wednesday/Thursday of this week.
Merrill
April 14th, 2008 at 7:29 am
THE YANKEES FOUND THE BURIED REDSOX JERSEY
The Yankees officially reversed the jersey curse yesterday - extracting from the new stadium’s concrete a David Ortiz shirt planted by a Red Sox-obsessed hardhat hoping to hex his team’s arch rivals.
Then they warned the traitorous construction worker, Gino Castignoli, to watch his back, saying criminal and civil charges could be on deck.
“I spoke with a [prosecutor]. There may be criminal issues,” Yankee Chief Operating Officer Lonn Trost said.
Trost speculated that Castignoli could be on the hook for criminal mischief.
A spokesman for the Bronx district attorney said, “We can’t speculate” on possible charges.
Trost said that even if Castignoli ends up safe from charges, “we’re thinking of a civil case, looking for money damages.”
Yesterday’s excavation alone cost the team $50,000, Trost said, even though the actual digging took two workers just 15 minutes.
The jersey was partially unearthed Saturday after five hours of digging at the site near a planned restaurant behind home plate.
It had been buried two feet beneath the surface.
The recovery did double duty - not only taking the hex off the Yankees, but also putting one on Ortiz. The Red Sox kept the slumping slugger out of the starting lineup for last night’s game against the Bombers, saying he was taking a “mental day off.”
Yankee President Randy Levine yesterday proudly held up the tattered shirt, which he said would be donated to Boston’s Jimmy Fund for auction to raise money for cancer treatment and research.
“We turned this dastardly act into a positive one,” Levine said. He lavished praise upon The Post for bringing it to the team’s attention.
“We want to thank The Post for raising this issue,” Levine said. “Two heroic construction workers gave us a tip where the shirt was, and we acted immediately.”
One of those workers, Frank Gramarossa, who led the removal, said: “I’m glad we got it out. I was angry and upset and wanted to find the jersey.”
Castignoli, a self-professed Yankee hater, yesterday said he had spent just one day on the site, working strictly to plant the jersey. “A lot of my friends work there, and they said it was easy work,” he said outside his Bronx home. “I told them I wouldn’t work there, but then one day a few months later, I said, ‘I could just go and jinx that stadium.’ ”
Castignoli said workers at the site long knew of his devilish doings.
“Anybody with half a brain knows it was all done in fun,” he said.
“I didn’t hurt nobody.”
April 14th, 2008 at 10:17 am
please…this is hardly the only, nor will it be the last, red sox relic being employed in the construction of the new yankee stadium.
Jennie & co - be assured that not all are buried for stomping.
i can’t believe they are seriously considering charging Gino for this.
appalling to think that more time and money would be spent on this harmless prank.
Go RED SOX!!
kath
April 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am
I don’t know what’s funnier, that a Red Sox fan would bury a David Ortiz jersey in the concrete of a new Yankee Stadium, or that the Yankees would spend $50k digging it up on a weekend (incurring overtime costs). We’ve got your mojo now, Yankees, you must really be worried.
And if they try to take Gino to court, it will backfire. Red Sox nation will set up a defense fund.
And as Kath says, how can the Yanks be sure they have all the Red Sox memorabilia? I mean, you may not be paranoid, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t being followed…
April 14th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I hope his father is ok.
Joba Chamberlain Leaves Yankees to Be With Ailing Father
Apr 14, 10:39 AM (ET)
NEW YORK (AP) -Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain left the team after his father collapsed at his home in Lincoln, Neb., the Daily News reported Monday on its Web site.
Harlan Chamberlain was hospitalized Monday at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln. Hospital spokeswoman Jo Miller said the family requested that no further information be released. The Daily News said he was in critical condition, according to a nursing supervisor.
Joba Chamberlain’s sister called the Yankees during the eighth inning of New York’s 8-5 loss at Boston on Sunday night. The newspaper said the reliever spoke with his sister after the game and broke into tears, and manager Joe Girardi tried to console him.
Chamberlain, the Yankees’ primary setup man, planned to return to Nebraska rather than accompany the Yankees to St. Petersburg, Fla., for a series against Tampa Bay starting Monday night.
Harlan Chamberlain had polio when he was 9 months old, and uses a motorized scooter. He is deaf in one ear and without full use of his left arm.
Harlan Chamberlain raised Joba as a single dad. He attended New York’s season opener earlier this month, and was at last week’s series in Kansas City
April 14th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
no, the funniest thing is rsn believing that they need a bronx curse to feel better about their team and it’s future! hopefully, there is more. i wish they’d left the jersey where it was! nothing more appropriate…and, each yankee win would be even more gratifying!
i agree, dubes. nothing settled this weekend at all. both team’s play pretty much sucked…the bosox just sucked a little less this time. no worries though!
go yankees!!!
April 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Jennie,
You are right for sure - we haven’t seen the best baseball from the Yankees or RedSox in 2008. Both teams will figure it out - now th Tigers…….maybe not
Merrill
April 15th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Merrill,
Following the Husker Nation, it was great to see Joba and his dad through the years. And though a Yankee Hater, I’ll always hope he does well and pray for a trade. Much easier to root for Alex Gordon as the Royals are never a threat ! !
GO ORIOLES ! !
RIPKEN FOR PRESIDENT !
April 16th, 2008 at 7:17 am
Good morning.
Ok I am not going to get too excited to open up the sports page and find the Boston Red Sox in 1st place. The season is only 15 games old and the Sox are 9-6 and not playing great ball - yet they have a .600 winning percentage which is pretty nice.
What has been great and I am excited about is the last two games….. victories for the Sox have come in dramatic fashion with 9th inning home runs. The Red Sox have a four game winning streak going into Yankee Stadium for a two game series - yes that is a little weird to me…. only two games
The Yankees won their last two beating Tampa Bay in some pretty close games. I look for the two teams to split this series. If any team sweeps it just might be the Yanks because the home field is a big advantage in a short series and they start with their ace tonight.
Look forward to another exciting game tonight.
Merrill
April 18th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Good morning.
As I thought would happen the Sox/Yanks split the short series. The only thing that was accomplished was Manny being Manny and pounded out to more home runs. Attention Yankee fans mussina will get very few pro’s out tossing a 86 mph fastball down the middle of the plate. It was great that kyle Farnsworth threw at Manny later in the game as predicted by the Red Sox Announcers for 3 innings - what took you so long. By the way he missed and the pitchers and benches were warned - yes more fireworks for sure the next time they play.
The key is the Sox are in first and the yanks are not and 10% of the year is OVER!!!
Merrill
April 18th, 2008 at 9:19 am
It’s Friday and I have a couple of things for your reading/viewing pleasure:
First a link to an Avis commercial that is only running in the NY area:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hD4eGDmrb4w
Second an article from The Onion (don’t have a cow, Jenny, it’s satiric–although given the events of the past few days, I wish it was Travis Ford and not Bernie Williams):
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/yankees_bury_bernie_williams_under
Go SOX!
April 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
yeah, that split was a GIFT from mussina, and you guys still barely squeaked it out. it’s not news that he sucks most of the time. hopefully, he WON’T get many pros…or anyone else for that matter…out, and he’ll sit in favor of one of the younger guys. oh well, at least his name isn’t clay buchholz! not very “scary” huh? not surprised though to not see any mention of that.
the sox are in first TODAY and the yanks are not…TODAY, but they were yesterday! *yawn* see ya down the road!
April 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Jennie,
Comparing Mussina - the yanks number 3 starter vs Bucholz the sox number 5 starter doesn’t need to be discussed. If he continues to pitch poorly (regardless of him tossing a NO HITTER last year) he will be in the minors and replaced with Bartolo Colon. The Yanks by the way are stuck with Mussina and his $15,000,000 salary unless they have him serve a role in middle relief in mop up games. If that happens they still need another starter. Maybe it will be Igawa - the Japanese star that has been a bust so far.
I like our pitching so far - not sure Jennie you can say the same thing?
Have a great weekend.
Merrill
April 18th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Has anyone besides me noticed that Jennie made two successive posts in which she used the term “sucked” and referred to the Yankee team and a Yankee pitcher? Could she be seeing the light? Is she openly admitting that the Yankees Suck? (start the chant with me BoSox fans) Will she soon be applying for citizenship in RSN? Stay tuned…
April 18th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
ok dubes, we talked about this before you posted. wasn’t comparing mussina to bucholz. you always say our pitchers don’t “scare” anyone, and i’m just saying he didn’t even come close. doesn’t matter what he did last year. and for that matter, no one appeared to be “scared” of beckett last night either. he started out ok, but got tired pretty quick. he didn’t pitch a complete game, that’s for sure. are tavarez and timlin your saviours in relief? please! we don’t claim to have “the best pitching in baseball” as do you! how long will that last? there are plenty of other guys besides igawa to replace mussina, and i am confident in them. hmmmm, let me see “i - like - our - pitching - so - far” yup, i can say it!
April 21st, 2008 at 6:34 am
Hey Bob is 2008 just a repeat of 2007???
Checked out these similarities on April 21 2007 vs April 21 2008:
On April 21 2007 the Red Sox were 6 games over 500 the same as this year - last year they had a 4 game winning streak same as this year, they were 8-2 in their last 10 games same as this year, they were 3 games up on the Yankees same as this year and the Yankees were 5-5 in their last 10 games same as this year.
Sounds like we are headed for the same outcome in October!!
Merrill
April 21st, 2008 at 6:40 am
I wonder how Joe Girardi feels about these comments:
Apr. 21 - 12:43 am et
Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner made it clear Sunday that he’d like to see Joba Chamberlain in the rotation as soon as possible.
“I want him as a starter and so does everyone else, including him, and that is what we are working toward and we need him there now,” Steinbrenner told the New York Times. “There is no question about it, you don’t have a guy with a 100-mile-per-hour fastball and keep him as a setup guy.
You just don’t do that. You have to be an idiot to do that.” Steinbrenner didn’t get his way when it came to Johan Santana. It remains to be seen whether things will turn out any differently now. The supposed plan is for Chamberlain to go into the rotation around midseason, but many think he’ll simply be left in the pen all year.
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:08 am
This morning I was forwarded the Newberg Report (thanks TA) that I thought was very interesting. For those of you who have never heard of this report - Jamey Newberg is a fan of the Texas Rangers who has been assembling statistics and information over the years.
Here are his recent thoughts about the Red Sox and of course he mentions the NY Yankees.
Jamey Newberg
THE NEWBERG REPORT
It’s still my firm belief that, in terms of the big picture, it’s all about building a consistent contender, whose arrival may be a year or two away, and yet, while it’s not about this series or that one, or this homestand or that road trip, or this month or this season, it’s still about today’s ballgame.
Part of the process of building a winner is building winners, players who grow together into a culture of doing whatever it takes, having each other’s backs, depending on each other and internalizing that sort of accountability themselves. While it may not matter so much in the long haul how Texas fares over the next couple weeks, to me there’s still plenty riding on the next at-bat with runners in scoring position, the next opportunity for a shutdown inning, the next game.
These last two losses to the Red Sox have been killers to watch, but there’s something I’ve taken out of this series that losses to the Yankees or the Angels or the Mariners don’t provide.
They are the ultimate team.
Yes, the Red Sox can outspend their mistakes, maybe not like the Yankees can but more so than anyone else. Yet consider how that club was built.
Sure, their catcher makes more than $10 million a year. But they acquired Jason Varitek, a AAA player at the time, in what has to be baseball’s best trade of the last 20 years (Varitek and Derek Lowe from Seattle for Heathcliff Slocumb).
David Ortiz pulls in $13 million annually, granted, but Boston signed him to a one-year, $1.25 million contract in 2003 five weeks after Minnesota had released him.
Tim Wakefield? Released by Pittsburgh 37 games into what is now a 500-plus-game career, signed by Boston six days after that for about 1/20th of the $4 million he’s made each year, give or take, over the last 10 seasons.
Josh Beckett is in Boston because the Sox signed Hanley Ramirez out of the Dominican Republic — not because they outspent all other suitors, but because they saw a kid in 2000 they deemed worth a extraordinarily modest signing bonus of $20,000.
Mike Lowell is there only because Florida insisted that he be tacked onto any deal involving Beckett.
Kevin Youkilis: Eighth-round draft pick. Dustin Pedroia (Ian Kinsler’s successor at shortstop for Arizona State): Second-rounder.
Jonathan Papelbon, Manny Delcarmen: Fourth round, second round.
Jon Lester: Second round.
Hideki Okajima? Two-year, $2.5 million contract. At about the same age and for about the same price Texas landed Kazuo Fukumori.
Sean Casey’s one-year, $800,000 deal is a lot less than the one-year, $3.85 million Ben Broussard gets for his one year.
A lot of teams (including Texas) could have taken Jacoby Ellsbury well before Boston popped him with the 2005 draft’s 23rd pick, or Clay Buchholz with that same draft’s 42nd pick, or Jed Lowrie with that same draft’s 45th pick.
Yes, the Red Sox paid $21 million a year to sign Manny Ramirez days after Texas committed $25.2 million a year to Alex Rodriguez, but even they felt they overpaid, as evidenced by their decision to run Ramirez through irrevocable waivers three years later. Still, today, is Ramirez all that overpaid? Think the Red Sox exercise their $20 million option for 2009 (and again for 2010)? If not, how much will the Mets, for instance, pony up?
Boston stepped up with its silent bid on Daisuke Matsuzaka a year and a half ago, winning negotiation rights for a little more than $51 million, but then held the line in talks with Scott Boras, ultimately signing the 26-year-old to a six-year, $52 million deal.
Curt Schilling’s initial deal with Boston (three years at $37.5 million, plus a $13 million option for a fourth year) was roughly equivalent annually to Kevin Millwood’s deal with Texas.
J.D. Drew for $70 million over five years? Yeah, that’s probably a deal that Boston and only a few other clubs make.
This is a roster largely built on shrewd drafting and trading. The Yankees, on the other hand, have 11 players earning at least $11 million, and the only ones they can really take credit for from a player development standpoint are Derek Jeter (chosen sixth in the nation in 1992), Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada. Give them credit for Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, Robinson Cano, and Phil Hughes, but that club’s ability to build a team (as opposed to a roster) isn’t nearly as impressive as far as I’m concerned as Boston’s is.
The big thing that I think the Red Sox have over New York, and everyone else, is that tight-knit chemistry they exude, the character they play with, the tenacity and relentlessness and lunchpail swagger. It’s a team full of closers.
Full of hockey players.
Varitek (from Michigan), Youkilis (Ohio), Papelbon (Louisiana), Beckett (Spring, Texas), Pedroia (California), Wakefield (Florida), Mike Timlin (Midland, Texas), Drew (Georgia), Casey (New Jersey), Lowell (Puerto Rico).
All hockey players.
You know who would fit on this generation of the Boston Red Sox? Nolan Ryan. He had that swagger without the irritating New York Yankees sheen.
Ryan played by a code that the Red Sox seem to stand by collectively.
Mickey Tettleton had it. Rusty Greer. Mark DeRosa.
Michael Young and Millwood and Hank Blalock and Milton Bradley and Josh Hamilton, too. Kinsler is a developing Brenden Morrow.
I had plenty of sports hurt Sunday afternoon seeing Millwood denied his first road win since June 17 — he’s an impossible 0-9, 3.93 with eight quality starts in 12 efforts in that span — but my cap is tipped to the Red Sox. They find a way.
Texas will take the field in a couple hours with a 7-12 record, but it’s easy to imagine it being 12-7 if things had broken in different ways, which isn’t to suggest luck or randomness are to blame. The Rangers have led in eight of their 12 losses, and in several of those the lead seemed somewhat comfortable, the game well in hand. Some of those losses shouldn’t have happened, much like some of the victories the Red Sox tend to pull off shouldn’t have happened.
Some may suggest that chemistry, character, and confidence are by-products of winning, rather than ingredients. Maybe so. Either way, I look forward to seeing the winning, and the winning attitude, return to Texas. It’s a process, and I don’t think the payoff is all that far off.
Clearly Jamey is a very SMART man!
Merrill
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:08 am
I am not sure what is amazing if the Red Sox have the best record in the American League, most wins in the majors or all the NY Yankee fans are quiet!!!!
Maybe I would be quiet as well if I saw that the Red Sox had a come from behind victory every night and have been crushing teams.
Quick fact in case you missed it - The Red Sox have scored at least 5 runs 10 straight games!!!!
What a great start to the baseball season.
Merrill
April 23rd, 2008 at 6:49 am
Anyone who knows me…knows that I am a die hard NY sports fan.
Yes Merrill I love my Yankees this year. With all the injuries and all the road games and lack of clutch hitting we are still only 3 games out.
If you recall last year we were double digits (out) and had the best second half in all of baseball. So one can never put to much emphasise on games this early.
Just as a quick reminder there was a team from the Boston area that was unstoppable during the season (18-0) but it took only one game in the playoffs to end that run (18-1) so you see it all boils down to what happens in th end. This is a long season with 140= games to go….I’m not worry
This should be a fun season because I believe both teams match up well.
The key will be how the youngsters due through out the season
G-d bless the cathedral in the Bronx and GO BLUE
April 28th, 2008 at 6:54 am
Attention baseball fans.
Yes I had a great weekend with the family BUT the Red Sox CAN’T get swept but Tampa Bay! I am speechless and disappointed by Francona keeping Bucholz into face a lefty late in the game with great relievers available - what were you thinking…. two seconds later a 2 run home run - gave lost…. ugh…..
Yes I am still a Sox fan - just shocked this happened!
Merrill
April 28th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
The injuries keep coming for both the Yankees and RedSox - clearly the Yankees is much more serious.
Jorge Posada-C- Yankees Apr. 28 - 3:58 pm et
Yankees placed catcher Jorge Posada on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 27, with a strained right shoulder.
Posada is seeing Dr. James Andrews today, according to the New York Post. There should be more news on his injury later in the afternoon.
Sean Casey - 1B Apr. 26 - 6:19 pm et
Red Sox placed first baseman Sean Casey on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hip flexor.
Casey should be ready to go in 15 days. With Mike Lowell expected back next week, it’s not as big of a loss for Boston. Brandon Moss will take his roster spot for a couple of days, and Jed Lowrie will get some extra at-bats,
When will the injuries and flu bug end in Boston?
Merrill
April 30th, 2008 at 5:59 am
And the injuries continue……This one is big for the Yankees…..
A-Rod to go on DL with quad strain
Alex Rodriguez is being placed on the 15-day DL because of his Grade 2 quad strain, YES reports.
Losing Rodriguez and Jorge Posada in a two-day span really hurts, but at least it’s still early on. The Yankees will go with Morgan Ensberg and Alberto Gonzalez at third base for next couple of weeks. Ensberg is the better bet of the two in AL-only leagues. Apr. 29 - 11:07 pm et
April 30th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Hey do you think the injuries start and stop at the ballpark? I stubbed my big toe and it really, really, hurts. You don’t see me whining (much).
Without pitching help, the Yanks are in for a looong season. The bats will come alive as they always do, but I hope the pitching staff isn’t worn down by then. This concerns me. Jaba should not become a starter this season.
P.S. The Red Sox have 2 world series wins in the last 4 years and two in the last 90 years, it just depends on how you choose to look at it!
P.P.S. Jete has FOUR- count ‘em - FOUR world series rings - so Big Popeye can put his measley 2 back in the cracker jack box now.
May 1st, 2008 at 9:18 am
HI Jeff,
Sorry to hear about your toe. I bet if you knew the Yankee team dealer–oops I mean Dr– he could give you a “shot” that would fix you up.
You are right, it all depends on how you look at it: In the 21st century, the Red Sox have won 2 World Series Championships. The Yankees none. I think I remember my grandfather telling me that the Yankees used to win them regularly… What do the Yankees have after their AL East Championships this century. Don’t tell me, let me guess– a lousy T-Shirt.
Mr. Jeter has 4 rings. How many does Mr A-Rod, the highest paid player in baseball have? Even Kevin Millar has one. Papi won his playing on clean teams, therefore a bigger accomplishment.
May 1st, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Jeffrey/Jennie/AJ and Yankee fans - more injuries:
Yankees’ Hughes likely out until July
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said he doesn’t expect to see Phil Hughes back before July after he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his rib cage.
That sounds right. Hughes will probably go 4-6 weeks without pitching, and it’d be for the best if he spends a full month in the minors before coming off the disabled list. Darrell Rasner will start in his place on Sunday.
May. 1 - 6:41 pm et
May 4th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
And even more injuries - they just don’t stop:
Brian Bruney-R- Yankees May. 4 - 1:42 pm et
Yankees transferred RHP Brian Bruney from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.
Bruney has decided against surgery for the torn ligament in his right foot, but he’ll be sidelined through August at least. The move makes room for Darrell Rasner on the 40-man roster.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:18 am
Good morning. For some reason the grass looks much greener today - the birds are chirping a little louder and my smile might appear to be a bit bigger - why you ask?
Because last night was another GREAT night for the Red Sox and another BAD night for the NY Yankees.
Lets start with my Red Sox -
Tim Wakefield tosses a gem
Manny being Manny hits another home run
Ortiz (not to be out done) hits a home run as well
The backup catcher goes 3-4 - amazing!
Which all adds up to another Red Sox 5 game winning streak.
Now the Yankees:
The Yankees do out hit the Indians 8-6
The Yankees have the lead for most of the game
Joba Chamberlain - Mr Untouchable gives up two walks and a three run homer to lose another game!!!!
The Sox now have a 4 1/2 game lead over the Yankees and have the most wins in the MAJORS!
AJ, Jeffrey, Jim Q, Adam W and of course Jennie - how do you feel this morning?
Probably not as good as the Red Sox fans!
Go Sox!
Merrill
May 8th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Bob -Isn’t fun to see how we researchers can make data do what we want?
The Yankees have won 25.24% of all World Series games, The Red Sux 6.8%. That makes the Yanks 3.71 times better!
Let’s see, was Papi MVP last year? Ever?
A little on 3-time MVP A-Rod:
Since 1996, his first full season, through 2007 he leads the Major Leagues in home runs (HR), runs scored, runs batted in (RBI), total bases and extra-base hits. He is currently first in runs scored and total bases; second in extra base hits and RBI, and 4th in hits among all players in baseball history prior to their 31st birthday. In addition, to this point in his career Rodriguez has more HR, RBI, runs scored and more base hits than all-time leaders Hank Aaron (RBI), Barry Bonds (HR), Rickey Henderson (runs scored), and Pete Rose (hits) did prior to their 31st birthdays. He is the youngest player ever to hit 500 home runs, breaking the record Jimmie Foxx set in 1939.
Big Floppy doesn’t belong in the same sentence as A-Rod.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Jeffrey - I am 100% sure that Bob will respond I thought I would start. AROD is a GREAT player. I will say it again he is a GREAT player BUT he hasn’t won a ring and in my opinion NEVER will. Call it a curse call it he doesn’t make players around him better, call it he isn’t a good team mate -call it whatever you want but he isn’t a winner.
the legacy of the Yankees is very impressive just like the Celtics who won tons of championships years ago - the key words years ago. I don’t care that the Yankees won world series in the 20’s - 90 years ago. The bottom line is this the Red Sox are on a nice roll, they have a great management team, solid players both young and old and are poised for another strong year. The Yankees are a dysfunctional team that is an old, overpaid team and now with injuries are really having issues. Not isn’t going to change anytime soon.
The other nice thing is for the second year in a row the Red Sox are the number 1 team for road attendance.
Merrill
May 9th, 2008 at 10:17 am
“Big Floppi”? Jeff, is that the best you’ve got? What happened to the day when Yankee fans were witty and came up with great comeback?
Call him Floopi, if you want, but if it’s the end of the ninth and your team is trailing by one run with two men out and one man on first, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather batting for my team. For David Ortiz is the Patron Saint of Clutch players.
I’m aware of A-Rod’s MVPs, but they do not impress me. Hanna Montana sells more Cd’s than Nora Jones, but I’d rather listen to Nora any day. And besides, it is generally acknowledged that he is Clubhouse Poison. As far as being a great player, I would say that he is a gifted player but the truly great players, Williams, Ruth, DiMaggio (both of them) and Mantle to name a few, brought something other than skills to the game. All A-Rod brought to the game was a blond who was not his wife.
And Papi still has two rings. No way around that. The closest A-Rod ever got to a ring was when Varitek punched him.
As for market researchers who twist the data to make it come out like they want, I would never let a vendor get away with that, although some have tried.
I personally don’t think it’s valid to compare “old-timey” baseball to current teams as the game has definitely evolved over time. I wonder how many World Series the Yankees would have won if they had to go through a League Championship Play-Off Series way back then. Their current performance in League Championship Play-Off series has not exactly been stellar, and we know now that a team ending the regular season series with the best record is not a guarantee of a World Series title.
Yes, the Yankees are definitely yesterday’s, news. Or, to put it in the words of a NJ resident:
“Glory Days, yeah they’ll pass you by,
Glory Days, in the wink of a young girl’s eye,
Glory Days, Glory Days, Glory Days…”
I’ll call the oldies station in St Louis and have them play it for you!
May 14th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Which is more surprising the Yankees are two games under 500 or Tampa Bay is in 1st place! Amazing!
THIS IS WHY I LOVE BASEBALL! You never know what is going to happen!
Merrill
May 14th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
ANOTHER INJURY FOR THE REDSOX!
Broken fingernail sends Buchholz to DL
Red Sox placed RHP Clay Buchholz on the disabled list, retroactive to May 13, with a broken nail on his right middle finger.
Buchholz was knocked around by the Twins in his last outing, giving him a 5.53 ERA on the year. The Red Sox were considering him probable for his start Sunday, but since caution was always advised with the 23-year-old and an extra outfielder was needed, placing him on the DL makes sense. It’s probably too early to call up Bartolo Colon to replace him on Sunday. For that reason, Justin Masterson may get brought up to make a spot sart.
May. 14 - 11:42 am et
May 14th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
CLEARLY ANOTHER BRILLIANT STATEMENT FROM HANK STEINBRENNER!!!!!!!
Hank Steinbrenner has strong words for Yanks
Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner said Tuesday that “team is not playing the way it is capable of playing” and “these players are being paid a lot of money and they had better decide for themselves to earn that money.”
Surely being publicly scolded by George Steinbrenner’s media-loving son will have a huge effect on the Yankees’ performance. “We’ve got to forget about all the injuries and start playing our butts off,” Steinbrenner said. “We have good professional hitters and I have a lot of faith in them. I’m not saying they are not giving the effort, but they need to be playing harder.”
How does the commercial go - CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? Hank - nobody cares what you say - least of all the OVERPAID NY YANKEE PLAYERS.
Merrill
May 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Everyone wants to play for the BOSTON RED SOX!!!!!!
Kenshin Kawakami - S May. 14 - 2:44 am et
Japanese hurler Kenshin Kawakami, who is set to become a free agent after the season, reportedly wants to pitch for the Red Sox.
The Yankees and Mets are among the teams believed to have scouted Kawakami, a soon-to-be 33-year-old right-hander. Kawakami just missed qualifying for free agency last year. Had he made the jump then, he might have received a contract similar to Hiroki Kuroda’s. He has the weaker fastball of the two, but he has an outstanding track record.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
What? No Comments about Jason Giambi’s gold thong? Can wait to see what happens the next time he steps up to the plate at Fenway! (They’ve got to play “The Thong Song” over the PA system!
Maybe he could loan it out to his teammates. The Yanks could become the Brotherhood of the Traveling Thong.
May 19th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Bob,
The Yankees are 6 games out of first place - I don’t care what Giambi wears they aren’t going anywhere this year. The only thing they will be playing in October is Golf!
SoxTober is here to stay!
Merrill
May 20th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Even though I love offensive games everyone is a fan of a no-hitter. I have already heard from one Yankee fan (thanks MS) with congratulations on last nights game - very classy move, perhaps i will get calls from other Yankee fans as well.
Lester pitches no-hitter versus Royals
Jon Lester pitched a no-hitter Monday night as the Red Sox beat the Royals 7-0.
Lester was allowed to begin the ninth at 113 pitches and stay in after issuing his second walk of the night to begin the inning. He ended up throwing 130 pitches, which is about 20 more than the Red Sox would have liked. Still, there was no taking him out of this one.
Lester struck out nine. The only near hit came in the fourth, but Jacoby Ellsbury made an outstanding diving catch in center field. Lester improved to 3-2 with a 3.41 ERA. He was at 5.40 after six outings, but he’s allowed just six earned runs in five starts since.
May. 19 - 9:37 pm et
Merrill
May 22nd, 2008 at 7:06 am
Yankee fans - maybe there is hope after all this year!
At this point in 2007 - The Yankees were 4 games under .500 at 20-24 and 10.5 games behind the first place Red Sox!
This year the Yankees are still 4 games under .500 at 21-25 but only 7.5 games behind the 1st place Red Sox!
Merrill
May 28th, 2008 at 7:20 am
Good morning.
Both the Yankee and Red Sox bullpens blew games last night. Hawkins and Timlin both picking up losses. With the Yankees moving Chamberlain to the starting rotation it should be interesting in the 7th and 8th inning for the Yanks.
Stay tuned for more!
Merrill
May 28th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
More bad news for the Yankees….. or maybe that is good news since he has an ERA of over 7.0 so maybe that is GOOD news for the Yankees that he can’t pitch!
Ian Kennedy-S- Yankees May. 28 - 11:54 am et
The New York Daily News reports that Ian Kennedy will be placed on the disabled list Wednesday after leaving his Tuesday night start with a strained lat muscle.
The newspaper speculates that Joba Chamberlain’s move to the rotation could be pushed up in order for him to replace Kennedy on Tuesday versus the Blue Jays. “We’ll have to have discussions, make some decisions and talk about some moves,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I’m not saying it’s definitely an option because I don’t know what’s going to happen tonight.”
June 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
This is my first foray into the Red Sox-Yankee abyss.
As some of you know I am a Dodger fan, so I am genetically wired to dislike the San Francisco Jints and the Yankees. Dodger fans tend to support Red Sox Nation because they play the Yankees on a regular basis and over the last 22 years have punked our cross county rivals, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, like clockwork (especially in September).
Last Friday evening, I made my last visit to the “House that Ruth Built” and was sadden to see the mighty Pin Stripes lose 3-2 to the powerful and mighty Kansas City Royals. As has been mentioned above, the Wankees do suffer from a lack of timely hitting, so-so pitching, no bully and too many rushed minor league prospects. But that evening I noticed another problem that is threatening the franchise. Allow me go into detail:
In the bottom of the 8th, trailing the Royals, in order to inspire the crowd to cheer on the Bronx Bombers, team management played a clip from the Adam Sandler film “Happy Gilmore.” Then one inning later, in the bottom of the 9th, still trailing KC, in order to inspire the crowd to cheer on the A-Rod, Jeter & Co., team management played a montage of clips from the “Rocky” films, along with the original “Rocky” theme music from the 1st film.
Why are Hank and Hal playing these clips? Excuse me, but the film “Happy Gilmore” is based on the exploits of former BOSTON Bruin enforcer, Terry O’Reily (H & H get partial credit because Adam Sandler is a Yankee fan, though he grew up in New Hampshire) and the Rocky character was from PHILADELPHIA. Seems to me like the Yankee brass have some identity issues that they are not dealing with correctly. If you want to inspire the Yankees and their following to rally from a one run deficit in the late innings play clips of Boone’s HR in 2003, Reggie’s 3 in 1977 (ouch! that still hurts), Chambliss’ blast against KC, Larsen’s no-no, Ruth’s called shot, Gehrig’s farewell, Mickey, Yogi, Whitey. Joltin Joe, B. Dent, etc… anyone who is associated with the Yankees or New York sports (geez throw in Willis Reed, Mark Messier, E. Manning and Broadway Joe).
In a way is it a good thing that George is kind of “out to lunch” at the moment. I image if he was slightly lucid, Hal & Hank would either be back doing whatever they were doing 5 years ago or walking through the stands every game selling hot dogs.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Ed,
Nice comments about Yankee stadium. I was there the day before and they didn’t do either of those things. I do like the groundskeepers doing YMCA - I assumed Hank and Hal would do away with that but I am glad I am wrong.
The other thing that was a surprise to me was they had no Yankee history moment. With this being the last year it does beg for some of the highlights that you mentioned. I have no idea why they didn’t do that or also show some pictures of new Yankee stadium. Foolish on their part.
By the way a year ago the Yankees were 31-31 as opposed to 33-33 now. So when you think about does a year make a difference. NO IT Doesn’t. Except this time they don’t make the playoffs…..
Merrill
June 13th, 2008 at 6:30 am
THE TEAM THAT HAS ALL THE MONEY NEEDS MORE MONEY!!!!
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!
June 11, 2008
Officials: Yanks need another $400M in public financing for stadium
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York City officials confirmed Wednesday that the New York Yankees are seeking more public financing to build their new stadium
State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky of Westchester, whose committee investigates publicly funded projects, said that the Yankees now say that if they don’t get another $400 million in public financing the club might not be able to finish the stadium.
Janel Patterson of the New York City Economic Development Corp. that is working with the Yankees said the project isn’t threatened. But she said the city is working to relieve an Internal Revenue Service regulation that prohibits more public debt to be incurred for the stadium. Brodsky said that IRS change also is being sought to help stadium and arena projects for the Mets and Nets
The new $1.3 billion stadium is scheduled to open next year across from the historic Yankee Stadium, which is still being used this year.
“The Yankees have expressed an interest in receiving additional financing for their project,” Patterson said Wednesday. “Currently, they are not permitted to do so on a tax-exempt basis pursuant to IRS regulation.”
She said the city IDA would be willing to allow the increased funding, but no decision has yet been made.
“The city is working with the state in Washington to seek relief from the applicable IRS regulation, as this regulation has taken away a tool that would be useful for a number of important New York economic development projects, not just Yankee Stadium,” she said.
Brodsky said Seth Pinsky, president of the city’s Economic Development Corp., “told me that the Yankees have said they may not complete the stadium if this issue not resolved.”
Brodsky, chairman of the state Assembly’s committee governing public authorities and their borrowing, criticized the closed-door dealing for millions of dollars to benefit the Yankees in the face of public transit and other needs that aren’t being funded fully.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
June 13th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
In response to the above story about the Wankies falling short on “The House That Hank & Hal Are Trying To Build”, see my last paragraph from my June 12th posting. In a very short period of time, the H Boys are floating near the “Ted Stepein/Leonard Tose” level of professional sports club management.
I admit I have my qualms with Frank McCourt (parking lot attendant & Dodgers team owner), but they are peanuts to the frustration Yankee fans must be going through.
Such a tragedy!
June 16th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
More injuries - this one i
Wang out at least ten weeks, possibly season
Chien-Ming Wang could miss the rest of the season after suffering a mid-foot sprain of the Lisfranc ligament of the right foot and a partial tear of the peroneal longus tendon of the right foot.
He won’t need surgery, but he’ll be on crutches and wearing a protective boot for at least six weeks. The Journal News speculates that even if he’s fully healthy at that point, it would take four weeks for him to return to pitching shape, making a late August return the best case scenario. Get ready for even more C.C. Sabathia to New York rumors.
Jun. 16 - 3:09 pm et
June 18th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
This guy is a laugh a minute. Instead of slashing out at his coaches and manager for not properly preparing his pitchers for the rigors of National League baseball, he attacks the National League. Keep them coming Henry, these are rich.
“Irate Hank Steinbrenner blames Chien-Ming Wang’s injury on NL rules.”
BY ANTHONY McCARRON
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Monday, June 16th 2008, 8:30 PM
Cataffo/News
Hank Steinbrenner has spoken - again. This time he thinks the National League should change its rules.
Hank Steinbrenner has a message for Major League Baseball - make the National League “join the modern age.”
After the Yankees lost their ace, Chien-Ming Wang, for perhaps as much as three months, Steinbrenner said baseball should implement the designated hitter in the NL to keep pitchers from running the bases. Wang was hurt Sunday scoring from second on a single by Derek Jeter in an interleague game in Houston.
“I just think it’s time the NL joined the 21st century,” Steinbrenner said in a telephone interview. “The AL, the minors, colleges, high schools, they all have DHs.
“Truthfully, the NL owners should be concerned with it, even with the practice their pitchers get doing it. You don’t need to lose your best pitcher. The pitcher has enough work to do. It’s something Bud (Selig) needs to address and he needs to address it soon. Don’t give me that traditionalist crap.
“We go to these NL cities, draw great crowds and we end up losing one of our best pitchers. I’m not happy.”
Yankee pitchers took several rounds of batting practice before this spate of interleague games, but Mike Mussina said they did not practice baserunning.
“AL pitchers are at the most risk because we don’t run the bases,” Mussina said Sunday. “When you get four or five at-bats, at most, and get on base a couple times, you never know. We run in a straight line most of the time.”
June 18th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Ed,
Thanks for sharing - hank is an idiot and continues to put his foot in his mouth. Don’t laugh but I miss George - no i really miss him.
Hank here are a few thoughts practice base running, don’t have your pitchers run hard. Get them in shape. When was the last time another AL pitcher got hurt running the bases? What about NL pitchers? Have they recently got hurt. If you are winning big have them strike out on purpose.
Hank - I hope the Yankees start to lose a few games so we can here more great stuff from you.
By the way since the yanks are hot its about time we hear from those Yankee fans.
87 games to go!
Enjoy the summer.
Merrill
June 25th, 2008 at 8:46 am
I was reading USA Today last night on the plane back from the east coast and saw the most recent MLB attendance figures. Amazing that the NY Yankees draw LESS on the road than Detroit, Seattle, Cleveland, Tamp Bay and Kansas City and of course my Boston Red Sox who are the number one draw in the American league and outdraw the Yankees by 20% every road game….. Amazing how times have changed.
In addition every national league team with the exception of the Florida marlins out draws the Yankees on the road as well. I guess no one wants to see the Yankees play anymore.
Merrill
June 25th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
IMAGINE HOW FAR AHEAD E WOULD BE IF ORTIZ DIDN’T GET HURT!
Jun 25, 4:46 PM (ET)
BOSTON (AP) -Red Sox slugger David Ortiz says he is still weeks away from playing after testing his wrist by taking 25 soft swings off a batting tee.
Ortiz has been on the 15-day disabled list with a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist, an injury he sustained May 31 in Baltimore.
The designated hitter said Tuesday’s batting tee session at Fenway Park was positive and “not a setback.” Ortiz said he could not even hold a bat when he first got hurt, and is now at least able to swing slowly.
But Ortiz said he was still weeks away from taking full swings with a bat. He anticipates going on a rehab stint before rejoining the Red Sox.
July 10th, 2008 at 6:59 am
HAL STEINBRENNER IS UPSET
Updated: July 9, 2008, 8:28 PM ET
NEW YORK — Hal Steinbrenner emerged from a closed-door meeting in manager Joe Girardi’s office Wednesday to say he was disappointed in the New York Yankees’ performance this year yet reluctant to trade prospects for veterans in hopes of a spark.
He cited injuries, plus inconsistent hitting and pitching. He specifically mentioned the performances of young pitchers Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy, counted on to be regulars in the rotation. Both are on the disabled list after combining to go 0-7 in 15 appearances.
“The young pitchers at the beginning of year,” he said, “it was upsetting at times. It wasn’t what we thought. It didn’t go exactly the way we thought it would go. But, you know, that’s the way it is. We’re highly confident in Kennedy and Hughes and that they’re going to come back strong when they do come back.”
Dressed casually in a polo shirt, the Yankees co-chairman caused his usually punctual manager to be a half-hour late for his pregame media briefing. Steinbrenner and general manager Brian Cashman, who also attended, said it was just a regular update session that Hal gets whenever he makes the trip to New York from Tampa, Fla.
Hal and Hank Steinbrenner, the brothers who took over supervision of the team last fall from owner George Steinbrenner, agreed during the offseason with Cashman’s recommendation that they keep prospects and not trade for two-time Cy Young winner Johan Santana. Just this week, Cleveland dealt CC Sabathia to Milwaukee and Oakland sent Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees’ involvement in those trade talks appeared to be minimal.
Hal, who speaks publicly less often than Hank, said the Yankees were far more cautious when it comes to trading prospects than they were in the past. He called it a “a balancing act.”
“We try to get an idea of what it is they’d want and try to get an idea of just what our chances would be to sign any one of those players for a long-term deal,” he said. “We just felt it wasn’t best for the organization to do anything with those two at this point.”
With a major league-high payroll that was $209 million on opening day, the Yankees are 49-42, 6½ games back of AL East-leading Tampa Bay and 4½ games behind Boston in the AL wild-card race.
“This is New York, and the fans deserve a team with marquee players,” Steinbrenner said. “Where we want to end up is a tremendous mix of young talent and veterans. And the veterans, the free agents, they cost money. And we realize that. We are going to have a lot of money come off the payroll, and that’s going to give us some options. But believe me, we’re going to use a good portion of it to get this city the team it deserves.”
July 16th, 2008 at 9:49 am
It’s July 16th and the Final All-Star Game in Yankee Stadium was played last night. The American League won and the Game MVP was a RED SOX! I love it!
But the real losers last night were the classless Yankee fans who booed every single Red Sox player. Didn’t they understand that the Yankees are an American League team and that therefore they should want the American League team with 7, count ‘em s-e-v-e-n, Red Sox players to win?
July 16th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Bob,
It was disappointing to see. Clearly some of it had to do with Papelbon’s comments which I am sure were taken out of context. The Yankee fans should be happy the way that Francona managed the team. All he did was show the Yankee players and fans RESPECT!
How you ask:
He batted AROD clean up over Manny Ramirez!
He batted Jeter at the top of the order instead of Pedroia - check out the stats. Jeter can’t even come close to Pedroia this year.
He had Rivera on in the 9th instead of Papelbon
All of that gets lost… And the fans boo the Sox…. Its too bad…..and very disrespectful.
The Yanks come to Fenway next week and I am sure we will have fireworks again since last week Chamberlain hit Youk again….. and yes he meant too.
Merrill
August 19th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Where have all the Yankee fans gone? They are mighty quiet lately…
August 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
As predicted from Jeffrey Lorber - MONTHS ago! Lets see how he does.
Carl Pavano - S Aug. 21 - 4:13 pm et
Carl Pavano will start for the Yankees on Saturday.
Pavano spoke to GM Brian Cashman on Thursday, who confirmed that he’d pitch the second game of a series in Baltimore. Pavano is entering the final month of his four-year, $39.95 million deal with the Yankees, but this will be just his 20th appearance for the team. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since last April.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
he comes back - gets a win and than gets waived!
Carl Pavano-S- Yankees Aug. 28 - 10:31 am et
The New York Post reports that the Yankees have placed Carl Pavano on waivers.
Pavano joins hundreds of other players who’ve been placed on waivers this month, but of course his name draws some headlines. He’s scheduled to start Friday against the Blue Jays, but the newspaper speculates that “the Mets might be interested in Pavano if the Yankees agree to pick up some of the $3.78 million left on the contract.”
September 1st, 2008 at 11:47 am
WITH THE YANKEE SEASON OVER I HOPE THEY ARE VERY CAREFUL WITH THIS PLAYER!
Joba Chamberlain slated to return Tuesday
According to manager Joe Girardi, Joba Chamberlain (shoulder) is expected to come off the disabled list Tuesday.
Out since August 6, he’ll work out of the bullpen with an eye toward potentially making a few starts later this month. “Whatever they need me to do, I’m up for it,” Chamberlain said. “I feel good and ready to help in any way possible.”
Sep. 1 - 11:40 am et