June 2nd vs. New York

[riverside sluggers]

Yanks today will have to face a team out for some retaliation of their own. Youk & Schill... lets even the score!

 

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070602/capt.17e4222e75a14b13a3feda06f710e3a6.yankees_red_sox_baseball_maea111.jpg

Game Info:

Date: Saturday, June 2, 2007

Teams: New York Yankees (23-29) @ Boston Red Sox (36-17)

First Pitch: 3:55pm EDT

Venue: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts

TV: FOX

Starting Pitchers:

http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_119608.jpghttp://bellsouthpwp.net/c/h/chinigor/TALKSOX/VS.GIFhttp://boston.redsox.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_121811.jpg

 

Sox look to even series

New York (23-29) at Boston (36-17), 3:55 p.m. ET

 

The weekend's Red Sox-Yankees series lost an iota of fanfare, if that's even possible, when the Yankees pushed back the debut start of Roger Clemens two days. Now New York's $28-million acquisition will face the White Sox on Monday instead of the Red Sox on Saturday. Instead of a dream duel between Clemens and Curt Schilling, who admired the former as a Boston farmhand in the late '80s, the Fenway faithful will endure a matchup between Schilling and fellow 200-game winner Mike Mussina, another potential Hall of Famer.

 

"I know the media would love to have it," quipped Yankees manager Joe Torre about Schilling-Clemens. "You'll have to be stuck with Schilling and Moose." No shame, really -- especially if Mussina is as effective with his new personal catcher, Wil Nieves, as Torre thinks he is. Especially if Schilling's rediscovered split-finger fastball is as much of a revelation as he knows it is.

 

In his postgame interview on Monday, Schilling credited extra work with Red Sox pitching coach John Farrell for his seven-inning, one-run, 10-strikeout gem against the Cleveland Guardians. The return of the splitter prompted him to pen a 2,444-word ode to the pitch and its return on his blog, 38 Pitches. "First inning starts," Schilling wrote of that start against the Guardians, "and it's clear that the 1997 version of my split has decided to show up.

 

"We end up striking out the side, all on splits," he continued, adding that the pitch had "not been splitting for a very long time. The bottom line was that the pitch was acting like it's supposed to."

 

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Schilling's last consistently dominant splitter predated even his star pitcher's World Series-winning days in Boston and Arizona. Francona saw the pitch regularly -- it was "devastating," he said -- when he managed Schilling for the Philadelphia Phillies. "For him to get that split back, if it comes and stays on a consistent basis, that would be terrific for us," Francona said. And just as nice for the fans.

 

Pitching matchup

NYY: RHP Mike Mussina (2-3, 5.86 ERA)

Mussina has thrown 344 career innings against the Red Sox, far more than he has thrown against any other team, with a 3.58 ERA. But he has struggled in recent years, posting a 5.25 ERA since Boston's World Series season, spanning 11 starts. This year, he owns a 2.60 ERA in 17 1/3 innings with backup catcher Nieves starting and a 9.00 ERA in 18 innings with Jorge Posada behind the plate. Nieves will start on Saturday.

 

BOS: RHP Curt Schilling (5-2, 3.68 ERA)

His famed 2004 ALCS performance notwithstanding, Schilling has actually struggled against the Yankees' deep lineups of recent years, posting a 4.73 career ERA against the Bombers. If Schilling pitches as he did in his last start, that fact could prove irrelevant. The 20-year Major League veteran struck out 10 Guardians in seven innings on Monday and had Francona reminiscing about the split-fingered fastball of Schilling's Philadelphia years.

 

Player to watch

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano had 14 hits in his last 40 at-bats entering Friday, when he slugged a second-inning home run off Boston starter Tim Wakefield. He owns a .391 career average against Schilling in 22 at-bats.

[riverside sluggers]

Lowell might be ok to play, Drew is pretty much out of this series. Nieves is all but said to be Mussina's personal catcher. Schilling breathes a sigh of relief as he wont have to face Posada's bat and sick numbers.

 

Mike Mussina (52 games vs Boston, 19-15 with a 3.66 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 25 games, 10-7 with a 3.73 ERA)

Julio Lugo, 8 for 30 (.267 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 5 RBIs, 4 Ks

Dustin Pedroia, 3 for 8 (.375 avg) K

David Ortiz, 14 for 54 (.259 avg) 3 HRs, 7 RBIs, 6 Walks, 19 Ks

Manny Ramirez, 24 for 95 (.253 avg) 5 Doubles, Triple, 6 HRs, 18 RBIs, 8 Walks, 20 Ks

Kevin Youkilis, 4 for 15 (.267 avg) Double, 2 RBIs, Walk, 2 Ks

Mike Lowell, 11 for 19 (.579 avg) 2 Doubles, 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, Walk, K

Jason Varitek, 8 for 60 (.133 avg) HR, 2 RBIs, 4 Walks, 25 Ks

Wily Mo Pena, 1 for 4 (.250 avg) Double, K

Coco Crisp, 8 for 24 (.333 avg) 3 Doubles, RBI, 6 Ks, 4 SBs

///

Alex Cora, 0 for 2

J.D. Drew, 0 for 7, K

Eric Hinske, 4 for 29 (.138 avg) RBI, 5 Walks, 12 Ks, 2 SBs

Doug Mirabelli, 6 for 14 (.429 avg) Double, 2 HRs, 4 RBIs, Walk, 3 Ks

 

Curt Schilling (22 games vs New York, 7-6 with a 4.85 ERA---Career at Fenway Park in 64 games, 27-8 & 6 saves with a 3.94 ERA)

Bobby Abreu, 14 for 37 (.379 avg) 4 Doubles, 5 RBIs, Walk, 10 Ks

Derek Jeter, 13 for 50 (.260 avg) Double, HR, 5 RBIs, 2 Walks, 12 Ks

Hideki Matsui, 9 for 27 (.333 avg) 2 Doubles, HR, 2 RBIs, 3 Walks, 4 Ks

Alex Rodriguez, 9 for 39 (.231 avg) Double, 4 HRs, 7 RBIs, 2 Walks, 10 Ks

Jorge Posada, 14 for 37 (.379 avg) 4 Doubles, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 4 Walks, 7 Ks

Robinson Cano, 9 for 25 (.360 avg) HR, RBI, Walk, 3 Ks

Melky Cabrera, 4 for 15 (.267 avg) Double, HR, RBI, Walk

Doug Mientkiewicz, 3 for 10 (.300 avg) HR, RBI, 2 Ks

Wil Nieves, 0 for 3

///

Miguel Cairo, 3 for 16 (.188 avg) 2 Ks

Johnny Damon, 7 for 26 (.269 avg) 3 Doubles, HR, 3 RBIs, Walk, 4 Ks

Josh Phelps, 4 for 14 (.286 avg) 2 Doubles, RBI, 3 Ks

 

Mussina this season vs Boston in 2 games, 0-1 with a 9.64 ERA. On the road in 4 games, 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA

 

Schilling this season vs New York in 3 games, 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA. At home in 7 games, 2-0 with a 3.59 ERA

[Cocos Disciples]

We'll kill em.

[Rdsxmbnt]

Just win.

[schillingouttheks]

I would rather not see any drama today and just win the damn game. Youk's going to come back strong and I just want Schill to pitch to win.

 

Beckett and his heat can take care of the drama tomorrow.

[Youk Of The Nation]

Schilling is the one with ridiculous numbers following a Sox loss, right? Like, 20-1 or something?

[mtbykr]

I would rather not see any drama today and just win the damn game. Youk's going to come back strong and I just want Schill to pitch to win.

 

Beckett and his heat can take care of the drama tomorrow.

 

i think that's was posada was trying to avoid last night...cause he knows he has the attitude to do it, and if he does he could kill someone

[MANNYHOF24]

I Just have a feeling there is going to be some fireworks today. We can not let Proctor off the hook for what he almost did last night. By the end of the series a Yankee is going to get drilled, perferably AROD or Jeter so Varitek can kick one of their asses again.

[yankees228]

I just figured I would propose this idea considering a lot of the discussion is about the Scott Proctor - Kevin Youkilis incident. Maybe it really wasn't intentional, and I say this for a couple of reasons. With Ortiz on deck, it would have probably made more sense to try to get Youkilis out and then throw at Ortiz. For one, he would be doing it with two outs and no one on base, and second it would make more of a statement if it were Ortiz.

 

On top of that, why wait to get two strikes on the batter? It would have made more sense to either do it on the first pitch, or after the count reached 2-1. But on 2-1, why try to throw a strike and get back into the count, if you plan on throwing at him?

 

Lastly, although Proctor has shown a tendancy for throwing at players/retaliating, he has never shown a tendancy for throwing at player's head.

 

Is it impossible that Proctor was trying to throw inside, and he missed up and in? Its happens all the time. I realize that everyone is going to say that it is not impossible, but it would be too much of a coincidence. I have no way of knowing what Proctor's true intention was, and I expect I'll never know, but for the reasons I stated above I do not believe there was true intent.

[mtbykr]

I just figured I would propose this idea considering a lot of the discussion is about the Scott Proctor - Kevin Youkilis incident. Maybe it really wasn't intentional, and I say this for a couple of reasons. With Ortiz on deck, it would have probably made more sense to try to get Youkilis out and then throw at Ortiz. For one, he would be doing it with two outs and no one on base, and second it would make more of a statement if it were Ortiz.

 

On top of that, why wait to get two strikes on the batter? It would have made more sense to either do it on the first pitch, or after the count reached 2-1. But on 2-1, why try to throw a strike and get back into the count, if you plan on throwing at him?

 

Lastly, although Proctor has shown a tendancy for throwing at players/retaliating, he has never shown a tendancy for throwing at player's head.

 

Is it impossible that Proctor was trying to throw inside, and he missed up and in? Its happens all the time. I realize that everyone is going to say that it is not impossible, but it would be too much of a coincidence. I have no way of knowing what Proctor's true intention was, and I expect I'll never know, but for the reasons I stated above I do not believe there was true intent.

 

Wow, more yank apologist....it's obvious he meant to do it. He might be a tard, but even he wouldn't throw at tizzle's head....because if he did he wouldn't make it out of Boston alive had he succeeded. Everyone loves youk, but hitting tizzle in the head would get out of hand and the yanks know it

[yankees228]

Wow' date=' more yank apologist....it's obvious he meant to do it. He might be a tard, but even he wouldn't throw at tizzle's head....because if he did he wouldn't make it out of Boston alive had he succeeded. Everyone loves youk, but hitting tizzle in the head would get out of hand and the yanks know it[/quote']

 

Whether I'm right or wrong, you missed the point entirely.

[mtbykr]

Whether I'm right or wrong' date=' you missed the point entirely.[/quote']

 

No i didn't...you are here trying to put forth a reason as to why it could have been unintentional. (hence the yank apologist...you wouldn't do it if the roles were reversed)

 

Lastly, although Proctor has shown a tendancy for throwing at players/retaliating, he has never shown a tendancy for throwing at player's head

 

actually i think he was tossed earlier this year for doing that (i know he was tossed, can't remember if it was at the head or not)

 

 

We will never know proctor's true intention (only he knows that) however with this attitude then i expect the same kind of post if shill drills jeter in the head today

[riverside sluggers]

I would rather not see any drama today and just win the damn game. Youk's going to come back strong and I just want Schill to pitch to win.

 

Beckett and his heat can take care of the drama tomorrow.

 

no doubt, i was referring to retaliation of their own (in their own way). Schilling pitching like an ace, Youk having BP against Yankees pitching, etc.

[yankees228]

No i didn't...you are here trying to put forth a reason as to why it could have been unintentional. (hence the yank apologist...you wouldn't do it if the roles were reversed)

 

 

 

actually i think he was tossed earlier this year for doing that (i know he was tossed, can't remember if it was at the head or not)

 

 

We will never know proctor's true intention (only he knows that) however with this attitude then i expect the same kind of post if shill drills jeter in the head today

 

For one, you're making an assumption that I wouldn't feel the same way if the roles were reveresed. You can choose to believe me or not believe me, but your assumption is incorrect.

 

Second, he was tossed for throwing behind Rafeal Betancourt after Josh Phelps was hit (because of an incident involving Phelps running over the catcher), not for throwing at his head.

 

Third, if Schilling hits someone today, you shouldn't simply expect the same response, because the situation might be different. I am simply speaking about last nights situation.

[schillingouttheks]

I just figured I would propose this idea considering a lot of the discussion is about the Scott Proctor - Kevin Youkilis incident. Maybe it really wasn't intentional, and I say this for a couple of reasons. With Ortiz on deck, it would have probably made more sense to try to get Youkilis out and then throw at Ortiz. For one, he would be doing it with two outs and no one on base, and second it would make more of a statement if it were Ortiz.

 

On top of that, why wait to get two strikes on the batter? It would have made more sense to either do it on the first pitch, or after the count reached 2-1. But on 2-1, why try to throw a strike and get back into the count, if you plan on throwing at him?

 

Lastly, although Proctor has shown a tendancy for throwing at players/retaliating, he has never shown a tendancy for throwing at player's head.

 

Is it impossible that Proctor was trying to throw inside, and he missed up and in? Its happens all the time. I realize that everyone is going to say that it is not impossible, but it would be too much of a coincidence. I have no way of knowing what Proctor's true intention was, and I expect I'll never know, but for the reasons I stated above I do not believe there was true intent.

 

I think Proctor did it on his own accord. I really don't think Posada thought it was intentional mainly because of his body language right after the pitch was thrown.

 

It is of course quite possible that he missed up and in, but MLB pitchers are too good to miss up and in like THAT. Sure, people get hid in the head from time to time, but the situation in which the incident occurred leads me to believe that it wasn't so unintentional. You can't cool Ortiz off with a brush back pitch. He's never been phased by those. Besides, if you were to throw inside at Ortiz, what message are you trying to send exactly? Stop raping us or we'll hit you?

 

It made sense to throw inside to Youkilis because other than Pedroia, he's been the hottest hitter on the team. 6 run lead in the 9th with the opposing teams' batter coming to the plate? Seems like a perfect opportunity. Proctor may have thrown some strikes so that it didn't look intentional. Like I said, I think Proctor decided to do that by himself.

[mtbykr]

For one, you're making an assumption that I wouldn't feel the same way if the roles were reveresed. You can choose to believe me or not believe me, but your assumption is incorrect.

 

Second, he was tossed for throwing behind Rafeal Betancourt after Josh Phelps was hit (because of an incident involving Phelps running over the catcher), not for throwing at his head.

 

Third, if Schilling hits someone today, you shouldn't simply expect the same response, because the situation might be different. I am simply speaking about last nights situation.

 

you're cherry picking...addressing last nights situation only. Yes i am assuming you wouldn't feel the same way if the roles were reversed because i don't believe you would make that post had paps drilled jeter last night

 

the bottom line is i believe you made that post because you are a yanks fan and had the roles been reversed you wouldn't take the same stand. mabey i'm wrong but you (a yank fan) coming here making a case as to why youk getting drilled "could have been an accident" just smells funny and i call them as i see them.

 

 

 

----------------------------------------

 

as for today i hope for a clean game and a sox blowout. i think this mess last night will have the umps tossing the first person to hit someone today, so i dont' see shill doing it. (he didn't do anything after the pedroia/arod incident)

[yankees228]

I think Proctor did it on his own accord. I really don't think Posada thought it was intentional mainly because of his body language right after the pitch was thrown.

 

It is of course quite possible that he missed up and in, but MLB pitchers are too good to miss up and in like THAT. Sure, people get hid in the head from time to time, but the situation in which the incident occured leads me to believe that it wasn't so unintentional. You can't cool Ortiz off with a brush back pitch. He's never been phased by those. Besides, if you were to throw inside at Ortiz, what message are you trying to send exactly? Stop raping us or we'll hit you?

 

It made sense to throw inside to Youkilis because other than Pedroia, he's been the hottest hitter on the team. 6 run lead in the 9th with the opposing teams' batter coming to the plate? Seems like a perfect opportunity. Proctor may have thrown some strikes so that it didn't look intentional. Like I said, I think Proctor decided to do that by himself.

 

I see your point, but I disagree with the fact that Proctor is going to try to cover his tracks by throwing a couple of strikes. He knows what it is going to look like if he comes up and in to a Red Sox after Cano got hit.

 

On top of that, with the amount of innings Proctor has thrown so far this year, I wouldn't be shocked by the fact that he is simply missing his spots.

 

As for being a Yankee apologist, which mtbykr accused me of, I'm simply trying to look at it from the other end of the spectrum. I'm not saying Proctor was right or wrong, or that it was intentional or unintentional. All I'm saying is that it's certainly possible that there was no intent, just like it is certainly possible that there was intent.

[schillingouttheks]

The first person to hit someone won't get thrown out, but warnings will be handed out to both sides for sure after the first bean ball.

 

He's addressing last night's situation because that's when it happened...what's wrong with that? He's also right in that Proctor isn't known for head hunting.

[schillingouttheks]

All I'm saying is that it's certainly possible that there was no intent' date=' just like it is certainly possible that there was intent.[/quote']

 

Agreed.

[riverside sluggers]

you're cherry picking...addressing last nights situation only. Yes i am assuming you wouldn't feel the same way if the roles were reversed because i don't believe you would make that post had paps drilled jeter last night

 

the bottom line is i believe you made that post because you are a yanks fan and had the roles been reversed you wouldn't take the same stand. mabey i'm wrong but you (a yank fan) coming here making a case as to why youk getting drilled "could have been an accident" just smells funny and i call them as i see them.

 

 

 

----------------------------------------

 

as for today i hope for a clean game and a sox blowout. i think this mess last night will have the umps tossing the first person to hit someone today, so i dont' see shill doing it. (he didn't do anything after the pedroia/arod incident)

 

Youkilis is also a player thats been drilled a lot this season (nine times last year, already up to 6 this year). Maybe Proctor figured "he gets hit a lot anyway and i have him at a 2-2 count... no reason for them to think im doing this intentionally"

[schillingouttheks]

I see your point' date=' but I disagree with the fact that Proctor is going to try to cover his tracks by throwing a couple of strikes. He knows what it is going to look like if he comes up and in to a Red Sox after Cano got hit.[/quote']

 

Fair enough. Maybe Proctor just got pissed mid-way through the at bat Then he just decided to throw at Youk's head...

[riverside sluggers]

Damn I was getting ahead of myself, Yankees would be stupid not to have Posada's bat in the lineup. Forgot about the DH situation they have right now, Posada will be the DH today.

[Beckett95]

He's also right in that Proctor isn't known for head hunting.

 

theres always a first time for doing something

 

 

wouldnt surprise me if he was throwing at him last night, but i agree that Schill needs to focus on the game and let Beckett get the retaliation tomorow night. Beckett pitches better when he's fired up anyway and if he hits Arod in the 1st or 2nd inning tomorow and benches clear, he'll be more than fired up.

 

or maybe something happens later in the game if it a blow out or someone in the bullpen (Donnelly?) throws at someone.

[yankees228]

Fair enough. Maybe Proctor just got pissed mid-way through the at bat Then he just decided to throw at Youk's head...

 

Lol, I guess anything is possible.

 

As for the actual baseball that is going to be played, I'm not expecting or looking for a sweep, as a Yankee fan. The Yanks have only won one road series all year (the first one they played), so all I'm looking for is two of three, although that will be a tall task facing Schilling and Beckett. Obviously today will all depend on the starting pitchers. Both are coming off good starts, so we'll see how it goes.

 

However, Mussina was roughed up in his only start against the Red Sox this year, and Schilling was hit hard in both of his. Today could either be a pitcher's duel or a slugfest, hard to tell.

[yankees228]

Damn I was getting ahead of myself' date=' Yankees would be stupid not to have Posada's bat in the lineup. Forgot about the DH situation they have right now, Posada will be the DH today.[/quote']

 

Knowing the Yankee's current desperation for wins, I would be shocked Posada wasn't in the lineup.

[schillingouttheks]

Lol, I guess anything is possible.

 

As for the actual baseball that is going to be played, I'm not expecting or looking for a sweep, as a Yankee fan. The Yanks have only won one road series all year (the first one they played), so all I'm looking for is two of three, although that will be a tall task facing Schilling and Beckett. Obviously today will all depend on the starting pitchers. Both are coming off good starts, so we'll see how it goes.

 

However, Mussina was roughed up in his only start against the Red Sox this year, and Schilling was hit hard in both of his. Today could either be a pitcher's duel or a slugfest, hard to tell.

 

If the Sox win the next two, you guys are in serious trouble.

[yankees228]

If the Sox win the next two' date=' you guys are in serious trouble.[/quote']

 

Agreed, but at this point it's just about winning games, no matter who they're playing.

[riverside sluggers]

Ive edited the lineups on the first page. Lowell is in the lineup, theres a welcome surprise with Pedroia batting 2nd The Yanks are giving Damon a day off

[schillingouttheks]

Ive edited the lineups on the first page. Lowell is in the lineup' date=' theres a welcome surprise with Pedroia batting 2nd The Yanks are giving Damon a day off[/quote']

 

Thank God. I had a heart-attack when I saw Lugo and Crisp as 1-2.

[riverside sluggers]

Yea Schil I was just putting Lugo-Crisp, because thats been Tito's usual lineup when Youk has to hit 5th.