Red Sox vs. Yankees: I apologize Baseball Gods

[Dirty Water]

Please sticky this.

Friday, June 1st, 2007, 7:05 PM
vs.

The last time the New York Yankees visited Boston, they blew leads in three straight games en route to being swept at Fenway Park for the first time in nearly 17 years.

That was the beginning of a tough stretch for the Yankees, who hope to reverse their fortunes in the opener of a three-game set against the Red Sox on Friday night.

New York (22-29) was 8-6 when it made its first trip to Boston April 20-22, but hasn't been over .500 since. The sweep at Fenway started a seven-game skid -- the Yankees' longest since dropping seven straight to close to the 2000 season.

Unlike that year when the Yankees went on to win their third straight World Series championship, this year's club faces an uphill climb to get back in contention. New York starts play tied with Tampa Bay for last in the AL East, 13 1/2 games behind Boston.

Ghost of Garden prediction: The bats wake up tonight and we outslug the Yanks 9-7. Papi and Manny hit homers and Youk extends his hitting streak to 22.





Saturday, June 2nd, 2007, 3:55 PM start

vs.

I'm going to this game and I'm really excited about these pitching match-ups Saturday and Sunday. I wish Roger could have pitched but that's what you get I guess when Joe Torre lacks the testicular fortitude.

Ghost of Garden prediction: Dustin Pedroia gets a key RBI single in the 8th as Red Sox edge the Yanks in a pitching duel 2-1. Papelbon gets back on track with a perfect save.





Sunday, June 3rd, 2007, 8:05 PM start

vs.

Beckett
W/L: 8-0
ERA: 2.65
K: 54
BB: 13
WHIP: 0.97

Pettite
W/L: 3-4
ERA: 2.51
K: 38
BB: 23
WHIP: 1.31

Pettite has the better ERA, but Beckett is pretty much owning the whoel league in every other category. That K/BB ratio is much improved, and a WHIP below 1 is god-like. I really wanted to see Beckett pitch to try to get to 9-0, but I guess I'm happy with getting to see Schilling instead of Tavarez. I'm glad Francona has somewhat of a brain unlike Torre and slated the most of his best starters for the Yankees.

Ghost of Garden prediction: Beckett gets roughed up a little bit but settles down to pitch 7 strong innings, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 H. It's 4-1 Yanks after 7. Red Sox end up coming back for 3 runs after Pettite has a very strong outting. Scott Prctor gives up 3 runs in the 8th. Mariano gives up a walk-off solo homer to Youkilis in the 9th, extending his hitting streak to 24 games.

Hey I can dream, right?

16.5 up on the Yanks by 11:30 PM Sunday. I'm calling it.

Sorry Ghost, it's for your own good. mahalo

[Basketball Jesus]

Just like the last series, I'm expecting the Yankees to take two of three.

[Dirty Water]

You think? I think The Yanks are pretty much done if they don't win the series. They just need some sort of motivator. Losing 2 of 3 doesn't help.

[Basketball Jesus]

If the Sox can get some runs up on the board early for Wakefield, they can win tonight

[Bleeding Green]

Just win one.

[Chach]

The Sox have a few things in their favor: Giambi going on the DL, the A-Rod distractions, and being at Fenway. If the Sox get a few runs early, I can see the Yanks losing a bit of their patience and trying to make things work (especially if Wake is on). But like BBJ said, Wake has struggled against the Yankees lately because they are so patient and they just let the knuckle drop out of the zone, take their walks, and crush mistake pitches. Watch very closely to the first trip through the line-up. If the Yankees are being patient or Wake is missing his spots, this will be a long game and a loss for the Sox. If they are getting antsy up there, Wake should cruise.

If Schilling pitches like he did in his last start, we will win game 2. If he pitches like he did last time we faced the Yanks, it will be ugly.

Game 3 is super close, I can't call it.

Honestly, I think the chances of us sweeping the series and the Yanks sweeping the series is about even. mahalo
~Chach~

[wetsthebed]

If the game even gets played tonight. It's a mess outside where I am. Anyone know what the weather's like in Boston right now?

[Bleeding Green]

They're playing so it's not that bad.

I live a few miles south and the rain was ridiculous about 2 hours ago. Luckily for me I was out jogging in the midst of it.

[wetsthebed]

High five BG, Pedroia supporters unite!

[Bleeding Green]

Pedroia for AL All-Star.

Actually, screw it--he's so good make him the NL All-Star too.

.862 OPS.

[The Rondo Show]

Could Wakefield have been any worse? What a pathetic outing. Sox battle back to get some runs and he walks 1000, hits 500 and gives up 100 homers and 2000 wall balls.

Yeah, I exaggerated...but he sucked dick.

[Chach]

The Sox have a few things in their favor: Giambi going on the DL, the A-Rod distractions, and being at Fenway. If the Sox get a few runs early, I can see the Yanks losing a bit of their patience and trying to make things work (especially if Wake is on). But like BBJ said, Wake has struggled against the Yankees lately because they are so patient and they just let the knuckle drop out of the zone, take their walks, and crush mistake pitches. Watch very closely to the first trip through the line-up. If the Yankees are being patient or Wake is missing his spots, this will be a long game and a loss for the Sox. If they are getting antsy up there, Wake should cruise.

If Schilling pitches like he did in his last start, we will win game 2. If he pitches like he did last time we faced the Yanks, it will be ugly.

Game 3 is super close, I can't call it.

Honestly, I think the chances of us sweeping the series and the Yanks sweeping the series is about even. mahalo
~Chach~

He shoots he scores. mahalo
~Chach~

[Bleeding Green]

DUSTIN PEDROIA.

[sunshinekids99]

Alright can we stop using Wake against the Yankees?

[BS007]

Wakefield should sit, therefore, he will end his usual slump early

[canman1971]

I was thinking the same thing. Why did they keep Wakefield out there so long? You could tell quite early they were going to get smoked.

[cmaff051]

What a bush league play by Lowell. Arod does something like this and he gets killed in the media.

[The Rondo Show]

What a bush league play by Lowell. Arod does something like this and he gets killed in the media.

While I agree A-Rod gets killed for that (the media and especially NY media sucks); it was far from bush league. Cano ran right into the baseline and basically stopped Lowell from being able to run if he didn't want to be tagged out (and by dropping to the ground, Cano throws to 1st and Mientkiewicz throws to 2nd to get Lowell in a run down). Cano was in the baseline and it was a perfectly legal and smart play.

Go cry about it elsewhere.

[cmaff051]

-= original quote snipped =-

While I agree A-Rod gets killed for that (the media and especially NY media sucks); it was far from bush league. Cano ran right into the baseline and basically stopped Lowell from being able to run if he didn't want to be tagged out (and by dropping to the ground, Cano throws to 1st and Mientkiewicz throws to 2nd to get Lowell in a run down). Cano was in the baseline and it was a perfectly legal and smart play.

Go cry about it elsewhere.

This is the same **** thing you guys complain about 24/7 about Arod. Boston fans are a bunch of hypocrites.

[The Rondo Show]

-= original quote snipped =-



This is the same **** thing you guys complain about 24/7 about Arod. Boston fans are a bunch of hypocrites.

Who is "you guys"? Callers on WEEI and other ignorant fans? Sure; but it is pretty **** stupid to just group together all Boston fans and act like they share the same opinion as the idiots in that fan base.

I'd guess you are the hypocritical type as well. You say it is the same type of thing A-Rod does and that people complain (I don't but I've seen many...including Yankee fans) about yet I'm sure you have stood up for A-Rod (as you should have) while ripping Lowell.

I personally think what they've done is good, smart baseball and if it helps you win- go for it. I think the Jays were ridiculous to act the way they did and I think Lowell's play was the right play to make.