Don, I like you, but you're totally wrong on the Torre issue. I don't want to get into an argument, but the fact is, junc is right. Had Igawa pitched longer and blew it, you'd have complained about that (and so would I). You can't blame him for every single thing that goes wrong and never give him any credit for anything he does right. -------------------- Anyway, we're in the playoffs. Right now, that's all that matters. Hopefully over the next few games we'll see rest for the starters. (But not too much. I don't want to see rust.) I also want to see all the pitching take turns. One last audition for the pen, so Joe can make the most informed decision on the staff for October. Have we seen Ohlendorf more than once yet? I can't recall seeing him besides warming up in the pen.
I wish the old posts were still here so I could get on junc about the way the Yankees celebrated last night after he called the Sox classless for celebrating a wildcard.
I remember that celebration. If I recall (and I'm just going by my recollection of my own feelings here), the clubhouse celebration by the Sox wasn't bothersome... it was the on the field "We Just Won The World Series!!!11!" pig pile that was overdoing it. That said, this was a pretty ridiculous year for the Yanks. After the way the season started, celebrating making the playoffs is understandable.
Brilliant performance by Phil Hughes, and Scott Kazmir, Major League Leader in Strikeouts, as well. Bronson Sardinha, a guy I watched here in Tampa, briefly, collected his 1st Major League Hit tonight, as did Alberto Gonzalez. Hughes put on a clinic. 7 innings 4 hits 1 Earned and 5 K's...Excellent game, look forward to seeing you next season Phil... 3-1 Yanks.
I think Phil just pitched his way onto the post-season roster if there was any doubt. He'll probably be put in the 'pen, but if Clemens isn't ready to go Phil seems like he would be a good option to fill in. He has pitched excellent down the stretch. His season stats: 5-3 4.46 ERA 70.2 IP 64 H 36 ER 8 HR 29 BB 58 SO
Well nyjunc certainly can, and will, defend himself, but my $ .o2 is that the difference is that year the Sox were in first place up until the day before the season ended, so they were celebrating blowing the division and finishing second. The Yanks were dead and buried in June this season and they fought back to make the playoffs. Big difference. But the sox celebration didn't bother me, though. You play that many games, enjoy whatever success you can.
I want to get down to Florida during Spring Training to see all these young guys, but that's a different topic for a different thread. Yankees win tonight Hughes pitched great, Molina got the job done offensively and behind the plate. Life is good in Yankee land.
Nathan is going to gag it in Fenway... 6-5 Twinkies...1st and 2nd nobody out for Lowell. Now 2nd and 3rd 1 out
I'm talking about '04. They played half a season of .500 baseball and ended on a great run to take the wildcard.
Boston loses as Beckett got SMACKED around tonight. 6 innings 10 hits, 5 Earned. 2 games back with 3 to go...
Great win tonight folks :beer: If we can gain another game against Boston tommorrow then we have a shot :beer:
The Yankees celebration wasn't anything like the old Sox WC celebrations. Was the other night morethan I'd like? In a normal year but the way we came back this year PLUS we have alot of young players who have never been through it before so it was different than most years where we knew the Yanks were making it. They still didn't celebrate for hours, go on the field after the LR, etc... The year of the biggest fluke in history.
Well, I'm over my rant and have calmed down but it will be a true shame if we lose the division by one game because that will be the game I point to. With Boston losing last night we are two back with 3 to play. Minnesota can be tough and I don't expect Baltimore to put up much fight. Of course if we rest 6 starters again at once we will be sure not to win these last 3. As it stands now we will be playing Cleveland and probably in a 8 day series allowing them to pitch their top two guns twice on normal rest. LA sucks lately and that's who we would have had if we won the division. So losing it is going to kill us. I just hope Torre using our top two the same way and doesn't use his usual 4 pitcher rotation like he has every other playoffs we have been in. If he does it will be another one series and out yet again.
As for celebrations, the only one that's ever bothered me was Detroit's last year, and that was only because Kenny Rogers was firing champaign (sp?) at the crowd with kids in it and at security. Otherwise, I see no reason not to celebrate. It's not easy winning a wild card, or a playoff series. You should celebrate. You've shown yourself to be elite. The Sox one hurt, but it's not like it was inappropriate.
