das11209

Makes sense guys? Brad (St. Paul, NE): Who will win the AL ROY this year? Pedroia or Bannister? Keith Law: (1:50 PM ET ) I think the Red Sox players split the votes - by VORP, Matsuzaka is actually ahead of Pedroia, and Okajima has a lot of media support - and Bannister wins. Jeremy Guthrie also deserves votes.

I just realized I might be helping out GOM - hmmm.

Jeff, Westport CT: Keith, Would you really characterize Hughes' performance last night as "poor?" In a virtual must win game for the Yankees he held the team chasing them to 2 runs over 6 innings -- a "quality" major league start. He may have "popped" some curves, but he also wasn't getting the inside corner call on the back-door curves. He got alot of ground balls, and seemed to make pitches when he needed to. It's not like this was an exhibition game -- the results have to speak substantially for the performance, don't they? How can this be considered "poor?" And by the way, I agree about Melky. Keith Law: (1:41 PM ET ) Hughes got an exceptionally generous strike zone, especially outside, and he couldn't locate his curve at all. He also looked like he was aiming his fastball all night, which is not a good sign. Since the real question here is what the Yankees can expect from Hughes in September and whether they can use him at all in October, I'd say that last night was, at best, inconclusive, and really was a negative sign.

This gets more and more interesting: Chris (NYC): Klaw, I'll give you that Boston and NYY are equal, and the Angels are better then NYY, but the Guardians are better then NYY? I don't see it. Even when the Yankees were struggling early in the year they still swept cleveland. Maybe you could Explain? Keith Law: (1:19 PM ET ) Right now, what would the pitching on the Yanks' playoff roster be? The rotation would be Wang, Pettitte, and ... Hughes? Kennedy? Mussina? And think about the pen - other than Rivera and Chamberlain (damn, hoped we could skate through without mentioning him), is there anyone there you trust, even with a four-run lead? That's why I ranked them fourth. They're going to reach the playoffs because they have the best offense in baseball, but their pitching staff is very shallow.

Keith Law chat : I guess almost all here would agree to that. Mike (Newton Centre): Worst hindsight move for the Red Sox? Planting Youkilis at 1B and allowing Carlos Pena to leave via minor league free agency, or Arroyo for Pena for Carter? Keith Law: (1:10 PM ET ) I think the Drew signing looks like the worst hindsight move at the moment. I don't see Arroyo doing anything like what he's done in the NL if he was still in the AL East.

I understand that it is hard for you to have a civilized discussion without name calling - so I will ignore that comment. Did I See Pena have a season like that? No - but that is not my job. It was Theo's job to see it and that's why he get paid in millions. I think it is quite fair to bash him. I do not think Youk generates enough power and OBP for a first baseman irrespective of cost. Remind me again what he has done after the all star break? Do we not have the second best payroll in baseball and did we not pay Drew Mega millon money? Feel free to have different opinion. Curt - I am not sure what to do. If he is willing to pitch for $8-$9 million - I will keep him because as crazy as it sounds - he is the best starting pitcher free agent available next year.

In addition to the Drew bashing - these are my thoughts. Carlos Pena hommered twice yesterday - it would have been nice if he was playing for us yesterday instead of Youk who striked out bases loaded following Drew's noble path. Wait a minute - he was actually playing for us last year. Why we let him go again Theo? Youk is nothing but a good defensive late innings replacement - like Monkeybitch was for us at first base when we won the title. RSN will always love tough guys like Youk and Nixon even if it has zero rationality. Alex Cora should get the worst bench player of the week - if there is any such award. And Schilling is welcome to go to Tampa - I will pay for his ticket now. OK - I got it out of my system - back to work.

Drew should be banned from entering the ballpark. Why was not Kielty in the line-up?

Why not - three lines - last line is short and it does not rhyme. You are saying I have no future writing poems?

Could not resist to put a little Haiku: Rises a new AL east king Yankees look in disbelief it's over.

Are you sure they will be playing in October? I have serious doubts if Manny is out till playoffs.

The explanation is white sox no longer qualifies as AL team.

I think they have the best pitching in a while and last year they had the best infield defense. But without no offence it is hard to win games.

After watching the offence from 2003- 2005 - you really have to wonder how much they have declined last 2 years - just a freefall.

I believe they have 6 left with Balitimore including last 3 at Camden yards - will that help?

So far - offence of today is shaping out just like yesterday - how beautiful.

Fortunately for him - we have 3 automatic outs in lineup( Drew/Cora/Hinske) - so he needs to get only 6 outs.

I am not worried about the division. I just don't see this team going to the world series with this offence. It was the most pathetic offensive performance I have ever seen in the Yankee stadium. Too bad white sox will not make the play-offs otherwise we could have scored 10 runs in each game.

Just came home from the game. Becket got hit pretty hard and he was lucky the game was close. Papi's home run landed on our left side tier. I pretty much followed the path of the ball - it was the only cool thing that happened to me in the stadium. Lots of ejections ( mostly Sox fans).

I have to watch Hinske and Drew? Anyone wanna take my ticket?

We need to counter the squirrel mojo.

Last time I was in Yankee stadium - Manny hit a homerun to get 3 runs in the first innings and Sox never looked back. I could not be happier if it is deja vu all over again. By the way - my Yankee stadium record is 2-0 so far. Hopefully it becomes 3-0 for me and 17-0 for Becket TONIGHT.

Yes message board - sorry no link.