AL Wild Card

[Optimist]

Good luck with the 'Big Bust" and his 4.646346394 ERA.

 

...what is Schilling's ERA? We're not the only club with a struggling future HOFer.

 

 

leiter is going for you today....automatic loss.

 

See it's funny, the day you proclaimed Leiter as an 'automatic loss' he gave us his best start since well...when he faced you guys.

[Optimist]

Oakland, I don't think the Yankees or Cleveland has the pitching.

 

Our pitching is finally starting to come together, and not a day too soon.

 

Rotation:

 

Moose: Barring his implosion earlier this week, he's done very well lately.

Chacon: A gift from God.

Leiter: I still like this guy for the same reason Joe Torre likes him, he's a fighter and he's shown that to NY Fans.

Wright: Two strong starts after coming off the DL, has shown a lot of potential...but I'll need to see more from him before making a final judgement.

Big Unit: He had 7 good inning on Sunday, unfortunatley, he also had 1 horrible one. He has something to prove to NY fans, so far he's prospered in those types of situations.

 

Bullpen:

 

Mariano: Going through his regular August slump, not worried about him.

Sturtze, Gordon: Have gotten a lot of rest lately, this can only help us.

Proctor: A guy with a lot of potential.

 

I'll end on a pessimistic note...

 

Small: This experiment has come to an end.

 

Who knows? It's baseball...anything could happen.... :dunno:

[Jon_Papelboner]

Am I the only one that was moderately unhappy we've been gaining games on Boston? Look at it this way, if we win the wild card, we face the white sox first round. Thats a hell of a lot easier than facing the angels who have always given us fits. It was fun of course to see Schilling get knocked around like a rag doll today.

[Sox Fan on Cape]

Am I the only one that was moderately unhappy we've been gaining games on Boston? Look at it this way, if we win the wild card, we face the white sox first round. Thats a hell of a lot easier than facing the angels who have always given us fits. It was fun of course to see Schilling get knocked around like a rag doll today.

How'd the "Big Unit" do his last time out ?

[Optimist]

How'd the "Big Unit" do his last time out ?

 

Good point.

 

However, and I don't want to sound like a Unit Apologist (though I am one ), he did pitch 7 shut out innings, striking out 8. Of course, that doesn't excuse that one inning.

[Jon_Papelboner]

How'd the "Big Unit" do his last time out ?

Just as badly as curt except against a better team.

[Jon_Papelboner]

Good point.

 

However, and I don't want to sound like a Unit Apologist (though I am one ), he did pitch 7 shut out innings, striking out 8. Of course, that doesn't excuse that one inning.

I'm convinced they stole the signs that inning. They knew what was coming, it was obvious.

[Optimist]

I'm convinced they stole the signs that inning. They knew what was coming, it was obvious.

 

That's what I think happened, too. That or he was tipping his pitches; there is no way any team gets 4 home runs off of Randy Johnson in one inning then just gets shut down for the rest of the game.

[Jon_Papelboner]

That's what I think happened, too. That or he was tipping his pitches; there is no way any team gets 4 home runs off of Randy Johnson in one inning then just gets shut down for the rest of the game.

I'd like to see where that 3rd base coach was standing.

[Sox fan in Tex]

That's what I think happened, too. That or he was tipping his pitches; there is no way any team gets 4 home runs off of Randy Johnson in one inning then just gets shut down for the rest of the game.

 

News flash, this just in: Randy Johnson is old and isn't what he used to be.

[Yanksfantoo]

I have to say -- I don't think the Yankees are going to take the wild card.

I think the Yankees will enter the playoffs in first place in the American

League East.

[riverside sluggers]

its funny how yankee fans are starting to come back all of a sudden, hmm... just how yankee fans were thinking theyd take the East when had a 10 game streak in May, then retook the lead in July with 1/2 game lead, but lost it the very next day

[Yanksfantoo]

Maybe because we are 2 1/2 out and have

the whole month of September to go. I don't know

stranger things have happened, haven't they?

[riverside sluggers]

but yea you see the yanks had the lead in july for a day with a 1/2 game lead, and lost it the very next day--and besides that the sox play 25 out of their last 37 games at home where they play their very best

[Yanksfantoo]

Come on -- Do you really think there is no way that the Yankees can

finish in first. Big deal if we didn't stay ahead in July - we have rearranged

a few things since then.

 

Be realistic -- Anything can happen at this point. You're only 2 games

ahead -- it's not like you have a 10 game lead.

[soxie thefangirl]

Yankees won't win the East and Yankees won't win the wild card. I'm sorry, it's over get over it. It doesn't matter that we are only 2.5 games ahead.

[Yanksfantoo]

Okay we'll see -- we certainly have had the last laugh in the past. Many times for

that matter. All I'm saying is nothing is impossible at this point. It is really too

close to call.

 

Always remember what Yogi said -

"It ain't over til it's over" -- And if any of you remember, that was proven to

us last year -- so be careful about being so arrogant as to think things can't

take a turn.

[riverside sluggers]

if we were to be cocky and arrogant, we'd be going on yankee forum websites bashing on their team.

[Yanksfantoo]

Just speaking the truth Riverside. Not bashing your team.

 

I have respect for your team -- always have, every year they

gave us a rough time. I was at the 7th game last year. I was

surrounded by Sox fans. I congratulated everyone around me (and believe me

I was in shock). But you don't have a huge lead -- the Yankees are playing

good ball right now. Anything can happen -- I think you all know that there

is a possibility that we could take the lead. It's happened before.

 

So we will see.

[Optimist]

Yankees won't win the East and Yankees won't win the wild card. I'm sorry, it's over get over it. It doesn't matter that we are only 2.5 games ahead.

 

When you're done with that crystal ball, can I use it?

[YankeeDoodle]

When you're done with that crystal ball, can I use it?

I'll grab you Cashman's turban.

 

Is it possible that a team is built for the postseason? Because yes, they're old, they're injury-prone, that's all been well-established, but maybe the hardest part is getting in. They're experienced (all too well), and yeah...have all that stuff. Of course this would be all-for-naught if they didn't make the postseason, but I'm not going there today.

 

Cleveland's still got a ways to go, Oakland's coming down to earth, I don't see Minnesota getting in this year (unless somehow...they overtake Chicago), and it's too far of a stretch for Toronto and Detroit to contend.

[snb988]

Damn Yankees Just Won't Die

 

Call it the Curse of the Hackbino.

 

Ever since June 26, when Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy — coiner of and profiteer on the "Curse of the Bambino" phrase — proclaimed the Red Sox would win the American League East by 10 games, the Yankees have been playing .635 ball (33-19) and serving notice that they are in this race to stay.

 

On that fateful June day, Shaughnessy wrote, "It's OK to say it. Don't worry about jinxing them. The 2005 Red Sox are going to win the American League East — by a landslide. Come late September, this is going to look like Secretariat at the Belmont in 1973."

 

Right now, it's looking more like Charismatic at the 1999 Belmont. After winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the great grandson of Secretariat fractured his foreleg during his third-place Belmont finish, ending his racing career.

 

AL Wild Card Race — 6/26/05

Team W-L Pct. GB

Orioles 42-33 .560 --

Twins 40-33 .548 1.0

Guardians 39-34 .534 2.0

Rangers 38-35 .521 3.0

Yankees 38-37 .507 4.0

AL Wild Card Race - 8/25/05

Team W-L Pct. GB

Yankees 70-56 .556 --

Athletics 70-56 .556 --

Guardians 71-57 .555 --

Twins 67-60 .528 3.5

Blue Jays 64-63 .504 6.5

 

Now the Red Sox are trying to hold off the charging Yankees on the balky ankle of their own horse, Curt Schilling, who got slapped around by the Royals in his first start after his ugly stint as closer.

 

I wonder if Shaughnessy is as confident today as he was on June 26 when he wrote: "After looking up at the Orioles for two frustrating months, the Sox moved into first place Friday night, and they are there to stay. Stop worrying about the Yankees, Orioles and Jays. It's not even going to be close."

 

Despite Shaughnessy's assurances, this Red Sox fan is worried. Not only were the Sox not in first to stay — briefly falling into second after the proclamation — but it now seems certain that it's going to be close down the stretch.

 

With Schilling moving back into the rotation, Boston's new closer, Mike Timlin, allowed seven baserunners in two innings against the Royals after assuming his new role. That's right, facing a squad that had lost 19 of 21 games and had a team on-base percentage of .316, Timlin allowed seven of the 13 batters he faced to reach, a .538 OBP.

 

Don't get me wrong, I desperately wish Shaughnessy had been right. The Yankees missing the playoffs would have been the perfect follow-up to the Greatest Comeback in Sports History.

 

But it now appears sadly inevitable that the Evil Empire will take its usual place in the American League playoffs. Oakland has leveled off a bit (though Sox castoff Jay Payton — 11 home runs in 137 at-bats with the A's — hasn't), and the Guardians and Twins have six games against each other and two series each against the White Sox down the stretch.

 

Not too long ago, the Yankees were at the bottom of the wild-card leaderboard. Now they're on top, and it's hard to imagine a scenario where the $200 million payroll doesn't stave off the small-market competition.

 

Just two months ago — in fairness to Mr. Shaughnessy — it was hard to imagine a scenario where the Yanks made the playoffs.

 

Starters Carl Pavano, Kevin Brown, Jaret Wright and Chien-Ming Wang all went on the disabled list. Randy Johnson missed a start with a tight back. Only Mike Mussina was taking his regular turn.

 

Al Leiter, Shawn Chacon and Aaron Small were brought in to bail water from the rapidly sinking ship. Leiter and Chacon were a combined 4-14 in Florida and Colorado, respectively, this season, and the 33-year-old Small had never made a start in the big leagues.

 

The Yankees were dead, right? Well, maybe, if a certain someone hadn't had the audacity to point it out. Shaughnessy should have known better.

 

Like a bad tag line for an unnecessary movie sequel — "Nothing this evil can ever die," all the Boss' money and all the Boss' men were able to put the Empire back together again.

 

Leiter arrived just in time to beat the Red Sox at Fenway Park on July 17, striking out eight and allowing one run over six and a third. Since then, he has been merely adequate, but adequate is a big improvement over his wretched three months in Florida.

 

Chacon has been a revelation. He's made six starts. Four of them have been lights out, and he's 3-1 with a 1.80 ERA.

 

Small, too, has been huge, going 4-0 with a 3.10 ERA.

 

Now Jaret Wright has returned with two impressive starts. The Yankees are suddenly getting fairly consistent pitching. And remember, the Yankees' pitching just doesn't have to be all that good. Not with that lineup.

 

Gary Sheffield is hitting .384 and slugging .736 with runners in scoring position.

 

Shawn Chacon's surprising renaissance has helped the Yankees get back in the postseason hunt. (Bill Kostroun / Associated Press)

 

Alex Rodriguez is going to shatter the club record for home runs by a right-handed batter.

 

Hideki Matsui is going to blow past 100 RBIs for the third straight season with the Yanks.

 

Derek Jeter is on pace to score 123 runs.

 

The return of Jason Giambi has been more dramatic and much less predictable than the resurrection of Jason Voorhees. The Giambino's .435 on-base percentage leads the league. His July — 14 home runs and 1.498 OPS — was one of the greatest in Yankees history.

 

The Empire is pitching. The Empire is mashing. The Empire is coming.

 

Reports of its demise were very much premature.

 

 

Just thought I'd throw that out there for all of you Yankee gravediggers.

[Manny Goes Boom]

Well reading all this, whatever you wish to call it, provokes a few thoughts...

 

1) As Snb988's article said "...the Yankees' pitching just doesn't have to be all that good. Not with that lineup." What about Boston? When our staff has its troubles its well documented...our offense is better lest you forget.

 

2) Like Optimist said about the Yankees fixing things, uhhh, last I checked Foulke is on the way back, Schillings has made ONE count it ONE (albeit against the Royals, but last I checked they swept the Yankees earlier this year) start after being a closer for awhile. Thats not a small task to do, its a huge adjustment.

 

3) And most of all, We're still in first folks! Of course anything can happen to the Yankees but were not driving on a one-way street, it goes for everyone. The Red Sox could rattle off 10 straight just as fast as the Yankees can (which all these new Yankee fans seem to think will happen).

[riverside sluggers]

Home is cooking

By Eric Wilbur, Boston.com Staff | August 26, 2005

 

Well, that could have worked out better. Oh, relax, will ya? Yeah, Curt Schilling looked more like Kurtis Blow last night in Mizzou, giving up a six-pack of runs to the worst team in the American League in his much ballyhooed return to the rotation. And yes, the Red Sox limped home after a 4-6 trip, allowing their lead on the New York Yankees to shrink to a mere 2 1/2 games. Big deal. David Ortiz is struggling, Manny Ramirez is loafing (again), and there's an impending bullpen by committee aura, making everyone squirm but Grady Little, who is probably smirking about all of this somewhere.

 

Shrug it off. No fooling. Things are going to be fine.

 

The Red Sox are coming home, but what they see when they arrive at the Fens might surprise them, parents returning to find their kids threw a bender during their absence. The Rolling Stones and their ridiculous monstrosity of a stage tore up the Fenway outfield, forcing a one-hour delay of today's game. Dave Mellor's ground crews literally worked around the clock to rectify the situation. This was overboard, pushing the limits of the old girl, who proved valiant in hosting smaller events like Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffet. Did anyone on Yawkey Way even think to approve of such staging? And if they did, can we ask what in the world they were thinking? Besides the ubiquitous Pink Floyd intro. How do you think Mellor is going to react when the U2 rumors start to percolate again?

 

Still, it's home, a place these Red Sox love to play. They're 38-18 at the corner of Yawkey and Brookline, and that only begins the level of good news. Of their remaining can-you-believe-it 37 games this season (including Labor Day's re-do against the White Sox), the Sox play 25 at the confines. It is here that they win at a .679 clip, which translates in theory to about 17 more wins at Fenway. As bumpy as the just-completed road trip through Detroit, Anaheim, and Kansas City was for the Boston nine, this is the stretch that both players and fans have had circled on their schedule since March. Only the Oakland A's have a better home mark over the last three seasons than the Red Sox. And with just 12 games remaining on the road (New York, Toronto, Tampa Bay, and Baltimore), that 2 1/2 games looks a little more husky than it actually is.

 

The Tigers worked the Sox rather well last week, but don't stand a chance at Fenway. Tampa Bay, they say, has been hot since the All-Star break. So hot in fact, that they are only 23 games behind Boston in the loss column. Baltimore comes to town next Friday, allowing the Fenway fans their first chance to deliver Rafael Palmeiro their best wishes. Then there's a mid-week matchup with the Angels, a team the Red Sox split four with last weekend, and one that could very well be their first-round opponent in the ALDS.

 

That's 13 straight games at home to kick off this stretch, the longest homestand of the season coming off the longest road trip of the season. Worried about that Lily Tomlin-like lead over the Bombers? How's 13 straight at a place where the Red Sox not just win, but beat up on teams temper you? Pretty good, no? OK, so yes, it's a little scary how the Yankees keep winning. Even more scary that they're winning with dominant -- not good -- outings from the likes of Jaret Wright and Shawn Chacon (two earned runs over seven innings yesterday in beating the Blue Jays). The Big Unit goes tonight against the Royals, and he has all of sudden become the question mark, a 6.16 ERA in his last three starts. But you just know they're saying in Yankee-land, "Forget the wild-card, we're coming to get ya." That's a scary proposition considering how the A's and Guardians are neck-in-neck for the rights for that final playoff spot as well.

 

Of course, there's also the issue brewing now that the Red Sox won't get a day off until Sept. 22, thanks to the re-scheduling of that rainout against Chicago to Sept. 5, a common off day for both clubs. That breaks the CBA clause that teams can't play more than 20 days in a row unless voted upon by the players. Since there was no other option here though, it was kind of a T.S. situation for the Sox and Sox. On the bright side, it's one more home game for Boston, which is always a welcome sight on the schedule.

 

Pivotal games remain of course, including six more against the Yankees, which they are licking their chops at in anticipation, particularly at that season finale three-game set that might make or break either team's season. There are three against the Angels, who many are tabbing to represent the AL in the World Series. And as terrible as Baltimore has become, the Orioles always manage to play the Sox tough. Mix that in with Schilling's rough start, the wishy-washy state of the bullpen, Kevin Millar's mammoth foul ball swings, Ortiz's recent road drought and ensuing hand bruise, Manny being Manny, Matt Clement's one second-half win, the prospect of Edgar Renteria handling a game-saving play at shortstop, Mike Remlinger being allowed access to the park, and well, yeah there is some reason for concern I suppose.

 

But the Red Sox mask their inefficiencies like you couldn't dream at Fenway Park, where they transform into world-beaters. Tonight, they look to make it 14 wins in a row at home, a streak that if continued, is going to eventually assure them they'll be opening the postseason with a pair at Fenway, where all bets are off for the opposition.

[MC Hammer]

I'm really falling in love with the Guardians. Naturally as a yinzer(someone from Pittsburgh) I'm taught to hate everything about Ohio, but I just can't hate the Guardians. Everyone was speculating that next year would be their break out year, but they've really come through this year. Around the diamond they are young and talented, and are only going to get better. I'm going to jump on their bandwagon somewhat here and take them to win the wild card this year.

[element1151]

How'd the "Big Unit" do his last time out ?

And this Wednesday the Big Unit will have to face the pride of the Mariners, Felix Hernandez. This guy will put the Yanks bats to sleep. King Felix is amazing.

[ARod2212]

And this Wednesday the Big Unit will have to face the pride of the Mariners, Felix Hernandez. This guy will put the Yanks bats to sleep. King Felix is amazing.

I'm looking forward to that game, big time. I think I'll take the over on Strikeouts for this game.

[yankeessuck013]

We probably should add the angels to this list now, the a's have a 1/2 game lead over the angels in the AL West

[Soxfan1]

Richie sexsons is heating up in seattle

[Jon_Papelboner]

Richie sexsons is heating up in seattle

So? They have a 0% chance of winning it.