Are the yankees out of the race?

[riverside sluggers]

all i have to say is, Hes baaaack:

 

Red Sox ace activated off DL

 

Curt Schilling was activated Wednesday after spending 2 1/2 months on the disabled list, and will be in the bullpen when the Boston Red Sox begin the second half of the season Thursday night against the New York Yankees. Schilling is expected to work in relief until he's ready to pitch long enough to reclaim his spot in the rotation after going on the disabled list April 29 with a bone bruise in his right ankle. "I'm excited, I'm nervous,'' Schilling said backstage Wednesday night at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. "We come out of the gate with the New York Yankees and it's going to get hot fast. It's a World Series atmosphere in July. I feel good, I'm as ready as I can be.''

 

The Red Sox on Thursday were also expected to activate reliever Chad Bradford, acquired Wednesday from Oakland for outfielder Jay Payton after Bradford spent the entire season on the disabled list. To make room on the roster, they optioned third baseman Kevin Youkilis to Triple-A Pawtucket and outrighted pitcher Scott Cassidy to Pawtucket. Schilling made five rehabilitation appearances with Pawtucket, the last three as a reliever after he struggled in his second outing as a starter. Boston needs help in its bullpen where Keith Foulke, Alan Embree, Matt Mantei and John Halama all have ERAs over 6.00. Foulke and Mantei are on the disabled list. Schilling pitched on consecutive nights last Saturday and Sunday for Pawtucket at Syracuse. He worked one scoreless inning in each game -- throwing seven pitches in a perfect inning then 16 when he faced four batters, allowing one hit.

 

"I want to be in the big leagues pitching, and I'm anxious to get back,'' Schilling said after Sunday's appearance. "I felt good today. I felt stronger than I did yesterday, which is good.'' He had surgery during the offseason to repair a tendon in his right ankle and started this season on the disabled list. He went 1-2 with an 8.15 ERA before bruising that ankle on April 23 and going on the disabled list April 29, retroactive to April 24. In his relief appearances with Pawtucket, he had a 3.00 ERA with four strikeouts and no walks in three innings. In his two starts for Pawtucket, he was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA. Youkilis hit .286 with one homer and nine RBI in 31 games. Cassidy, called up from Pawtucket last week, gave up three runs on four hits in one relief outing.

 

tell me now what would your boys be able to do in game 3?

first 7 innings: Matt Clement

8th inning: Curt Schilling

9th inning: Mike Timlin/Chad Bradford

 

"In case I dont see you again. Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Goodnight."

[JeterWifey213]

Not trying to start anything, just posting what the papers say. Let's not get too cocky, and this goes out to both fans.

 

Yankees ready

to bake beans

 

Schill on hand as Bombers eye broom

 

BY SAM BORDEN

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

Hideki Matsui is hitting .375 (36-96) with 10 home runs since June 14.

 

Manny Ramirez is also on a hot streak - blasting 9 homers and driving in 31 over the same span.

 

Two nights ago, Alex Rodriguez fit snugly between Johnny Damon and David Ortiz in the American League's All-Star lineup. Gary Sheffield was at a locker near Manny Ramirez in the AL clubhouse. And Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth inning to save a victory for Terry Francona, then embraced the Boston skipper after summarily completing his work.

 

For a few days, there was peace in the baseball world.

 

 

"I don't really look at what we do during the season and bring it here," Sheffield said of the Yanks-Sox All-Star camaraderie. "This is different. This is supposed to be fun and easy."

 

 

That's over now. After three days off for everyone except A-Rod, Sheffield and Rivera, the Bombers regroup tonight in Boston and resume the business of trying to improve on a season that, to this point, has been nothing like what was expected.

 

 

A year ago, the Yanks were seven games up in the AL East and held off Boston to win the division by three games. This year, however, most players seem to believe there will be a race until the very end, which means this weekend's series at Fenway Park will be nothing compared to the three-game set slated for Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

 

 

"That, I think, is going to be a good time," Sox catcher Jason Varitek said.

 

 

Still, these games carry much weight and the Red Sox might have underlined that when they activated Curt Schilling yesterday after 2-1/2 months on the DL with an ankle bone bruise. When the Yankees went 11-19 early in the year, it was the Orioles - and not the Red Sox - who jumped out to an early lead. Despite being nine games out on May 6 and seven on June 10, the Yankees have had several surges, including a seven-wins-in-eight-games stretch that has them just 21/2 games behind Boston for first place.

 

 

"I'm looking forward to the Red Sox series," George Steinbrenner said through his spokesman, Howard Rubenstein. "It's a tough team and I hope the Yankees do our very best."

 

 

The numbers are simple: Sweep all four games and the Yankees will be right where everyone expects a $200 million team to be.

 

 

"We've been through a lot," A-Rod said. "We've been through a lot that most people don't even know about. To be where we are right now is fortunate. Everyone on this team has been attacked from every angle. But I think (right now) is the tightest we have been, one-through-25."

 

 

The Yankees have been criticized by their owner and blistered in the media; they have shaken up their roster with rookie position players (Robinson Cano and now Melky Cabrera) and turned to a young pitcher for salvation (Chien-Ming Wang); they have battled injuries (Carl Pavano, Kevin Brown, Jaret Wright), age (Bernie Williams and, perhaps, Jorge Posada) and unexpected inconsistency (Randy Johnson).

 

 

Yet here they are. If the Bombers played in the AL Central, they would be 12 games behind the White Sox. They are not. Instead, they are 46-40 and challenging for the lead in a race many thought they had already lost.

 

 

An informal poll of Red Sox and Yankee players at the All-Star break resulted in nearly identical responses when asked if it was possible for one team - be it the Bombers, Bosox or Baltimore - to run away with the division.

 

 

"No," Rivera said. "It's going to be interesting all the way. It's going to be close."

 

 

Johnny Damon said, "I'm sure we'll both get into the playoffs and somehow meet in a Game 7 again. It just seems to work out that way."

 

 

There are slightly more than two weeks remaining before the July 31 trade deadline and GM Brian Cashman is on the phones daily, trying to find the one deal - if there is one - that could push the Yankees over the top. He is interested in center fielders, to be sure, since it is hard to imagine Cabrera manning that spot through the end of the season, but is more focused on pitching. Other than Rivera, Tom Gordon and Tanyon Sturtze, the bullpen is unproven and most of the starting rotation is brittle.

 

 

In all likelihood, however, the Yankees will have to make do with what they already have and overcome their own flaws to reach their lofty goals. The true push begins tonight.

[JeterWifey213]

Another one:

 

July 14, 2005 -- THE second half begins at the end. The Rivalry renews tonight at Fenway Park with last things first. Can Mariano Rivera solve the Red Sox? Can a bunch of folks, notably Curt Schilling, replace Keith Foulke?

There are many intriguing storylines as baseball resumes at 4 Yawkey Way - aren't there always when it is Yankees vs. Red Sox? Will the Yankees ever devise a way to get David Ortiz out? Will the regenerated Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez turn to mush again vs. Boston? Will the real Yankees and Red Sox please stand up? Or are these the real Yankees and Red Sox we saw all first half, both beautiful and blemished?

 

Still the most intriguing matters will start at the close, when the ball is in Rivera's hands and finding out in whose hand Boston manager Terry Francona trusts.

 

Foulke, who was brilliant last year as the Red Sox won their first title in 86 seasons, was never right in 2005. He gave up a walk-off homer to Derek Jeter in his first appearance, April 5 at Yankee Stadium. He allowed eight first-half homers, pitched to a 6.23 ERA and finally accepted that he needed left knee surgery that will keep him out until around Sept. 1. Between now and then, the Red Sox must figure out how to close games.

 

Which brings us to Schilling. The Red Sox ace has not pitched in a major league game since April 23 due to a deep bone bruise in his right ankle. During his rehab, it was determined Schilling was not yet ready for the rigors of landing on the injured foot as often as a starter must. So in a marriage of two needs, the Red Sox activated Schilling and will likely have him close. That decision, at least initially, angered some Red Sox, most vocally Johnny Damon. Mike Timlin has been among the majors' best relievers this year, and Damon felt Timlin should be rewarded with the closer job and Schilling should be built up to start. Was this just an Idiot moment or a sign of lurking dissension?

 

For now, Schilling and Timlin will be asked to tag-team the final nine outs in some order. The Red Sox attempted to address the overall poor shape of their bullpen by acquiring Chad Bradford from Oakland. Hard throwers Manny Delcarmen and Jon Papelbon are waiting at Triple-A for a call, and Boston officials hope to sign first-round pick Craig Hansen out of St. John's in time to be a September option, as well.

 

The Yanks have no questions about who gets the ball in the ninth inning, though there are plenty about how Rivera will do against the Red Sox. Rivera blew his first two save opportunities of the year against Boston, and has run off 20 straight successes since then, including two against the Red Sox. But the two successes came when he had three-run leads. The last four times Rivera has faced the Red Sox with a one-run lead, including last year's ALCS, he has blown the save.

 

 

Since the beginning of the 2002 season (playoffs included), Rivera has blown nine saves in 24 chances against Boston and 10 in 144 chances against everyone else. His ERA vs. the Red Sox in that timeframe is a respectable 2.93, but it is 1.48 against everyone else.

 

Rivera's work against the Red Sox is similar to Pedro Martinez's work against the Yanks.

 

There are exceptional outings interspersed, but the reality that one team has more success than any other against him. Like with Martinez, it probably has much to do with an elite lineup seeing Rivera often. The unbalanced schedule and 14 ALCS games between the Rivals the past two seasons has meant 31 appearances for Rivera against Boston since the 2003 season began. That has removed some of the mystery from Rivera's cutter and some of the aura he carries to the mound.

 

The Red Sox feel they can beat the Yanks' closer.

 

Will they again? Will Boston win having turned its rotation topsy-turvy with its ace pitching at the end? In the middle innings of this season, the end games fascinate.

[yeszir]

Why is it that everyone where I look, people out of New York are expecting a sweep? It's laughable.

[yankeessuck013]

yup I know, but new yorkers will always be who they are, arrogant biatchesssss

 

i know what you're thinking..."yeah that guys a new yorker", 1.) i dont live in nyc 2.) im in thailand for the next 3 1/2 weeks

[elsrbueno]

wow. The Yankees expect a sweep. Seems like no amount of struggles can remove that typical Yankee arrogance.

[riverside sluggers]

true, but you have been posting as well expect yankees to sweep our boys or 3 out of 4

[elsrbueno]

true, but you have been posting as well expect yankees to sweep our boys or 3 out of 4

 

But my expectation stems from the way these two teams have been playing of late. The Red Sox are struggling, the Yankees are red hot. Of course, the last time these two teams met when that was the case we took 2 of 3 in the Bronx.

 

The Yankee arrogance just stems from being the Yankees.....

 

Instead of critisizing me for my opinion, why don't you try to prove me wrong?

[riverside sluggers]

we will see how it goes starting 9 hours away

[Mr.Clutch2]

*cough* halfgame* cough

[Yanksin2010]

Why is it that everyone where I look, people out of New York are expecting a sweep? It's laughable.

Scary thing is, if we have wang, it happens.

[Yanksin2010]

*cough* halfgame* cough

Man, you need to change the name. Jeter has been awful with risp.

[TalkYank]

No, the Yankees are not out of the race. They're only a half a game out... It should be an interesting rest of the season for the Yanks especially with the question of who will be their regular starters.

 

And this talk about Yankee fans thinking a sweep this past weekend; I never thought either would sweep since both teams are too good.

[riverside sluggers]

Scary thing is, if we have wang, it happens.

 

lmao, sorry just the way you worded that got me to fall of my chair laughing

[Yanksin2010]

lmao, sorry just the way you worded that got me to fall of my chair laughing

Then I've accomplished what I meant to do.

[YANKEESRULE]

That does sound pretty funny

[Sox fan in Tex]

So Yanks2010, let me get this straight: If the Yankees had a wang, if would have had a sweep? Please explain, I'm not sure what you mean by this.

[ARod2212]

Anyone want a mulligan on this thread?

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Why ? Have the Yanks won anything yet ( this year, this century for that matter ) ? I think not.

[BSGardenState572]

So Yanks2010, let me get this straight: If the Yankees had a wang, if would have had a sweep? Please explain, I'm not sure what you mean by this.

 

Have you heard of the rookie sensation Chien-Ming Wang? He has been one of New York's more reliable starters, but he got injured, and that is why the Yankees made the deal for Leiter. He might be back later in the year IF he doesn't need surgery

[soxie thefangirl]

Yankees managed to hold onto first for a whole day. Heh.

[YankeeDoodle]

Have you heard of the rookie sensation Chien-Ming Wang? He has been one of New York's more reliable starters, but he got injured, and that is why the Yankees made the deal for Leiter. He might be back later in the year IF he doesn't need surgery

 

 

*ahem* I thought it was a good thing that he couldn't listen to Mel's "pitching tips". Three weeks and we'll know. I don't care if he has to sit the rest of the season; I just hope the kid will get better - this sounded like a career-threatening injury, given that he had shoulder surgery before.

 

None of the Yankees starters are under 35 (well, Johnson, Mussina, and Leiter - I'm not counting the other guys who're plugging holes right now). This is disconcerting. <_ pavano be back sometime in the next two weeks. wright is but a distant memory...>

 

Fortunately, baseball actually plays out the rest of the season, instead of going by the Dan Shaughnessy assumption of a Secretarist pull-away. I'll reserve comments until that last stretch.

[ORS]

^^It's nice to have a Yankee fan in here with a grip on reality. Welcome to the site. Should be an interesting second half.

[CrespoBlows]

Have you heard of the rookie sensation Chien-Ming Wang? He has been one of New York's more reliable starters, but he got injured, and that is why the Yankees made the deal for Leiter. He might be back later in the year IF he doesn't need surgery

 

He isn't a sensation, he doesn't strike out enough batters. If you only strike out 29 batters in 78 innings, that's a lot of balls put into play for the porous Yankee defense to field.

[YankeeDoodle]

He isn't a sensation, he doesn't strike out enough batters. If you only strike out 29 batters in 78 innings, that's a lot of balls put into play for the porous Yankee defense to field.

 

 

Crash Davis: Relax, all right? Don't try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring! Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

 

Strike-outs are overrated, IMO. Yes the occasional grounder will get through; however SO's eat up pitches, not to mention that when a strike-out pitcher does give up a ball into play, the defense sometimes gets caught sleeping.

 

Thanks for the welcome!

[BSGardenState572]

anyone who says the Yankees are done, is truely a dipshit. They will be in the running until the last week of the season.

[BSGardenState572]

He isn't a sensation, he doesn't strike out enough batters. If you only strike out 29 batters in 78 innings, that's a lot of balls put into play for the porous Yankee defense to field.

 

a sensation does not have to K everybody, he got outs for them.

[YankeeDoodle]

Yankee fans: Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

[schillingouttheks]

Yankee...I hope you're kidding but I think you are with that winky smiley. But that winky smiley is so off I can't tell anymore

[YankeeDoodle]

I know, that winky-smilie doesn't exactly capture MY cute wink...

 

Are you giving me a history lesson? Because I know you saw my math blunder - but I REFUSE to be corrected on this one. I'm not coming out of my fall-out shelter, either.

 

What can I say, I learned my world history in the Animal House.

 

Get it?!