jacksonianmarch

Of course not. The sox will have some easy wins. But not like some of the stretches they had in the past. In 04, I remember weeks at a time where the sox would have 3 or 4 blowouts per week. Last yr, the sox offense started out gangbusters and made tons of games no doubters by the 3rd inning. I dont think your offense has that type of sustained explosion in it. It is fairly obvious that your lineup is severely centered on 2 men producing, and that wasnt the case in 04 or 05. They were a big part, but the lineup around them was self-sufficient. And with the lineup, comes easy wins. When you hang a 9 spot on a team by the 5th, chances are you can shut off the TV, crack a book or whatever and be pretty certain that the game is over. I dont see the sox having those kinds of days on a regular basis anymore.

after being in enemy territory for the weekend, it seems apparent that the home fan base doesnt really like Coco right now. Once the fan base turns on you, it takes something miraculous to get them off your back. Like a walkoff grand slam

the same guy who held the sox bats in check for 5 innings, only to get painted by an A ball rule 5 scrub in inning #6. The sox are gonna have to work for it this yr. The easy wins left the building about last August. Every game will be a struggle, but I still think they win 90 and take the wild card crown. Back to the game. Seattle must be salivating after watching Tito's (mis)management of the pen. If they work Beckett like KC did (seriously, Kansas City?) then the bridge will be at work early on. Becks needs to remember that a K and a popout count for the same thing, but the popout keeps his pitch count down. If that prick ever learned how to pitch to contact yet retain the ability to go for the K when needed, he'd be dominant.

news to me. YES only had the gun readings up on Pavano from the 3rd inning on. Their guns had Pavano at 91 almost the entire night, with one in the 93 range and a few around 90. In the 7th, the YES gun had him at 88-89.

he didnt look like he was about to get torched after about the 3rd inning. But early on, he left some pitches in areas that you typically dont get good results from. You can chalk it up to him knowing the opponent, but I am a bit more cautious. I thought he skated early, leaving pitches to guys like Redmond and Kubel down the middle and getting solid results. If that is in Toronto, he is getting another ball. I thought it was a gutsy, bally performance and his 0 walk total was a very nice thing to see. If he stays this accurate and leaves the occasional pitch over the plate to get either slapped out of the park or hit into the out, he will be a find at the back of our rotation. If he gets bat shy (or playing shy or teammate shy or healthy shy) he will revert to Carla again.

Now this should be interesting. Dont forget, the Mariners have an offense that could give people trouble when they are on and with Guillen added to their lineup, they are stronger. Beckett's gonna have to work for his this afternoon. And if the lineup doesnt get going at the home opener in a hitter friendly park to a raucous fanbase, I dont know what will wake them up. I have a feeling Manny gets rid of the 0 next to his homer column today, dead center, off the scaffolding.

It is one hell of a difference from watching Boston's pen, I'll tell you that much. Boston has one guy in that pen who can locate mid 90s power stuff, and he just so happens to be their closer. The yankees have Vizcaino, Proctor, Bruney, Henn, Farns and Rivera who can all get the heat into the mid 90s. When you have that kind of power out there and 2 guys with power stuff waiting in the wings, it can only help. I really do like our pen.

It is Carla Pavano, no doubt, but it was a very strong performance. As for why he was pulled, could be the fact that he can get injured drinking a glass of water and they wanted to limit his water consumption? Actually, it was obvious he needed to come out. The velocity in the 7th was down to the high 80s and he got hit hard twice in that inning. And if Pavano can keep this up to some degree, we will be in a quandry and a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. We may have every intention to trade Carla, but we may also lean on him. Do we deal him while the market is hot?

My favorite line of the night from rotoworld.

I was too, lol. Then I saw Thabeet and wished for the days of Boone again.

wow, um, no. Helton is at least good for a near full season of baseball.

PLEASE DO!!

AAA SWB wins 8-5. Matt DeSalvo had a tough start, 3IP 2ER 5H 2BB 3K Duncan 1 for 4 with 3K's. Gonzalez 1 for 4 as well AA Trenton tied 4-4 in the 9th. Smith went 5IP with 3ER, nothing great. Gardner 1 for 3 with a double, 2 runs and 2 walks. A+ Tampa wins 10-4 Tabata 1 for 3 with a BB and an RBI dropping his average to .583. Vecchionacci 2 for 5. Miranda broke out with a 2 for 4 day. Curtis, drafted last season, went 3 for 5. Phil Coke with a s***** start, but Claggett got the save, working 1.2IP 2K and 1H, 0ER. A Angel Reyes with an interesting line today. 3.1IP 9K 2ER 1H 3BB. He is the most promising lefty in our system, but most likely in relief. I think Chase Wright is the most rotation ready lefty in our system.

uh oh. Why is Ells at AA?

BTW, doing the gameday was fun. I started it and when the yankees jumped out to the big lead, the superstition in me couldnt get me to stop.

not stressing, I just hate it when a reliever has a big lead in a s*** spot and cannot locate. It is a pet peeve of mine. I have funny pet peeves. Not advancing runners and not pitching to contact when you have a lead are 2 of them.

2 hours and 37 minute game. WOW. My thoughts... Carl Pavano was very good, although he wasnt perfect. He did make some early mistakes that the twins did not take advantage of, but seemed to get stronger as the game went along. He pitched to contact, had good location, and had both the curve and splitty working well. And he had a David Wells type day. Had an early 3-0 and 5-0 lead, and went right after the hitters. Great game for our starter, it was needed. Once again, the pen was filthy. Bruney must be sneaky as well as throw gas, cause they didnt have much of a chance even though he was throwing a little slower than he usually does (he was around 93-95 today). Farns is working on a 2 seamer and boy does it move. 92-95 with a nice bite, but he hasnt perfected it yet. Had to go to the 4 seamer when he got in trouble. Once again, 1 baserunner in 2 innings and no runs for the pen. I'll take it. The top of the order was great. Damon leads off the game with a double, Bobby with 4RBI, Jeter with 3 hits and ARod with the kill shot over the baggy. Everything clicked today. The bottom of the order was poor, going 0 for 13, but Cano is a quality hitter who will be fine. The same may not be said for Minky and Melky has looked very poor thus far this season. The defense was great on the carpet, Jeter, Cano and Minky making some really nice plays. Overall, everything worked well and they come away with a win that was never really in doubt. Hopefully they can carry the pitching over into tomorrow with Pettitte taking the hill against Bonser.

Bottom 9th PITCHING CHANGE Kyle Farnsworth replaces Brian Bruney Bruney's line: 1IP 0ER 0H 0BB 1K Farns to close this one out against Punto, Mauer and Cuddyer. Punto leads it off. Farns hasnt worked much to this point. 2IP 1H 1BB 1K 0ER. First pitch fastball misses away. 1-0. Second pitch misses away 2-0. Farns may not like this small zone. Fastball misses 3-0. This guy sucks. Farns misses wildly, ball 4. Fanf***ingtastic. Punto on 1st, 0 outs. Mauer to the dish. Can Farnsy blow it? We shall see. Farns hits the outside corner with 92 mph heat, slow for him. What gives? 0-1 count. Farns misses low and away with the heat, 1-1. Farns misses in, 2-1. CMON GODDAMNIT! Fastball chopped to Cano slowly, only play is to 1st. 1 down, Punto to 2nd. Punto on 2nd, 1 away, Cuddyer to the dish. Cuddyer is 1 for 3 with a double. 94 mph heat down the middle, 0-1. 95 mph 2 seamer (wow, btw) misses in. 1-1. 94mph 2 seamer misses down and in, 2-1. 97 mph 4 seamer fouled back. 2-2. 98 mph fastball fouled away. On a side note, Farns is trying a 2 seamer right now, and it is sitting at 92-95. 92 mph 2 seamer fouled away. 98 mph heater scalded to Minky who knocks it down with his chest and flips to Farns. Punto to 3rd. Punto at 3rd, 2 down, Morneau to the dish. 94 mph 2 seamer misses away. 1-0. 95 mph fastball fisted out to Minky, takes it to the bag by himself and the yankees win. YANKEES WIN 8-2

Top 9th ARod, Giambi, and Posada to hit in the 9th. Cano bats 4th and is 0 for 4 thus far. Right now he is sitting on an 18 game hitting streak. PITCHING CHANGE Pat Neshek replaces Dennys Reyes Reyes final line: 1IP 0ER 1H 0BB 1K ARod to the dish to lead off the 9th. First pitch misses, 1-0. Slider misses up and away. 2-0. Sidearmer Neshek slinging frisbees. He misses away with the heat. 3-0. Sidenote, ARod has set a new record with 5HR in his first 6 games, no yankee has ever done that. Neshek hits his spot with the heat 3-1. Neshek misses away with the slider, Ball 4. ARod on 1st, nobody out, Giambi to the dish. Giambi is 1 for 3 with a walk. Giambi fouls it off down the 1st base line. 0-1. Giambi late on the heat, fouls it away into the LF stands. 0-2 count on Giambi. Giambi takes a pitch that should have been strike 3 on the corner, but the ump missed it. 1-2. Neshek misses high with the heat, 2-2. Giambi fouls off the high heat, stays at 2-2. Giambi pops one up, Punto makes the catch in foul territory. 1 down ARod on 1st, Posada at the dish. 1 down. Nice pitch on the inside corner. 0-1. Frisbee misses away. 1-1. Posada just got under it, Hunter catches is short of the track, 2 away. 2 down, ARod on 1st, Cano at the dish. Can he extend the hitting streak? First pitch fouled away. 0-1. Cano fouls another fastball away. He is late on Neshek. 0-2. Cano takes high and away with the heat, 1-2. Cano fouls one off down the left field line. 1-2 again. Cano fouls another away, the frisbee this time. Cano fouls another frisbee away. Nice AB from Robby. Cano fists one to 2b, his streak is likely over. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 man left. Last licks for the twins, Yankees lead 8-2.