The Yankees have been holding that slowly breaking rope for most of this 2008 season. Over time, the rope has chipped away and it appeared as if it might break at any moment.
However, the Yankees have still been able to hang on, though the strength of that rope is tenuous at best.
Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, the team will attempt (once again) to salvage what has been a lost season against the Red Sox, whom they trail in the Wild Card standings (along with the Minnesota Twins) by five games.
With the 32 games remaining, the math is very simple and time is dwindling. A loss in this series severely decreases their chances for a making a September push for the postseason. Winning the series would put them four games back with slightly over a month to play. A sweep of Boston would put the Yankees only two games back and put them within striking distance giving the team the boost of confidence they desperately need despite sweeping the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards this past weekend.
With Andy Pettitte, Sidney Ponson and Mike Mussina lined up against the Red Sox trio of Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester and Paul Byrd, winning two out of three should be expected.
However, when it comes to The Rivalry, anything can happen and usually does.
For the Yankees, they have received surprisingly good pitching, but have had myriads of problems scoring runs. Playing in Camden Yards allowed the bats to break out, but we have to see a sustainable period of consistent offense from the team. How this can be is anyone guess, and it has gone on for too long this season to be looked at as an aberration.
Think of what most teams are putting out there on a nightly basis and compare that to this lineup:
CF –Damon
SS – Jeter
RF – Abreu
3B – A. Rodriguez
1B – Giambi
LF – Nady
DH – Matsui
2B – Cano
C – I. Rodriguez
No team in baseball can put out a lineup like that, which is why it was amazing that on Tuesday, the lineup allowed AJ Burnett to spin an eight inning, one run, five hit performance with 13 strikeouts.
Added to the problems on offense, there have been too many “that play symbolizes the season” moments. It has been enough to create a highlight reel DVD with extras.
One can only hope the final 32 games can end this charade. If it does not, then the final few games at Yankee Stadium will seem like a funeral procession.
For the next three games though, the Stadium will be jumping. It will be the final time the Red Sox and Yankees will be meeting at Yankee Stadium in the regular season.
Faces, situations and stadiums may change but The Rivalry remains in tact.
Manny Ramirez, one of the main characters in this never-ending novel, is now bashing baseballs out in Los Angeles. Josh Beckett would have started this week, but pushed back because of a hand injury. Jon Papelbon, who became Yankee fans “numero uno” on the hate list, makes his return to the place that booed him mercifully at the All Star Game last month.
Newcomers Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Bay gets to experience The Rivalry for the first time as a Yankees and Red Sox. Jon Lester has emerged as a new face. Both Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte got a small taste of it at Fenway Park last month and may have been overwhelmed. Now they know what to expect.
There are six games left between these two teams. It is time for the Yankees to make a stand. No more slipping and sliding.
Let’s get it on.
Random Yankee Thoughts
I liked the move of getting Pudge Rodriguez a few weeks ago for Kyle Farnsworth. Right now, Pudge is doing no worse than Jose Molina.
In 46 AB’s, he his hitting .217 with one RBI.
Hell, Molina could have done that. Add to it that Andy Pettitte has requested that Pudge not catch him during his starts.
Not a good way to start.
Xavier Nady Update: Through Sunday since joining the Yankees
.320, 8 HR, 23 RBI, .993 OPS
I take back all the negative things I said about him prior to his arrival. Maybe he will not hit .260 as I predicted.
Johnny Damon in centerfield scares me.
Welcome back Hideki Matsui. You presence in the lineup was missed.
That does not mean I want you on the team next year.
I thought Jason Giambi was going without the ‘stache.
Apparently not.
Within one week, it grew back.
Joba Chamberlain is in rehab right now and is expecting to return in September.
Why risk his health for this season? Shut him down and let him prepare for next year completely.
I get a chuckle every time I see left-handed hitters frozen when Mariano Rivera’s cutter touches the outside corner for a called strike three.
In his first game back in AAA, Melky Cabrera went 1 for 1 with four walks. Apparently, they had not been watching the video of him in the majors.
The Babe Ruth of AAA ball.
Cody Ransom in his first Yankees at bat, hit a homerun last Sunday against Kansas City.
In his second at bat on Friday against the Orioles, he hit a three-run homer.
Two at bats and two home runs.
What a great way to start as a Yankee.
However, the Yankees have still been able to hang on, though the strength of that rope is tenuous at best.
Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, the team will attempt (once again) to salvage what has been a lost season against the Red Sox, whom they trail in the Wild Card standings (along with the Minnesota Twins) by five games.
With the 32 games remaining, the math is very simple and time is dwindling. A loss in this series severely decreases their chances for a making a September push for the postseason. Winning the series would put them four games back with slightly over a month to play. A sweep of Boston would put the Yankees only two games back and put them within striking distance giving the team the boost of confidence they desperately need despite sweeping the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards this past weekend.
With Andy Pettitte, Sidney Ponson and Mike Mussina lined up against the Red Sox trio of Tim Wakefield, Jon Lester and Paul Byrd, winning two out of three should be expected.
However, when it comes to The Rivalry, anything can happen and usually does.
For the Yankees, they have received surprisingly good pitching, but have had myriads of problems scoring runs. Playing in Camden Yards allowed the bats to break out, but we have to see a sustainable period of consistent offense from the team. How this can be is anyone guess, and it has gone on for too long this season to be looked at as an aberration.
Think of what most teams are putting out there on a nightly basis and compare that to this lineup:
CF –Damon
SS – Jeter
RF – Abreu
3B – A. Rodriguez
1B – Giambi
LF – Nady
DH – Matsui
2B – Cano
C – I. Rodriguez
No team in baseball can put out a lineup like that, which is why it was amazing that on Tuesday, the lineup allowed AJ Burnett to spin an eight inning, one run, five hit performance with 13 strikeouts.
Added to the problems on offense, there have been too many “that play symbolizes the season” moments. It has been enough to create a highlight reel DVD with extras.
One can only hope the final 32 games can end this charade. If it does not, then the final few games at Yankee Stadium will seem like a funeral procession.
For the next three games though, the Stadium will be jumping. It will be the final time the Red Sox and Yankees will be meeting at Yankee Stadium in the regular season.
Faces, situations and stadiums may change but The Rivalry remains in tact.
Manny Ramirez, one of the main characters in this never-ending novel, is now bashing baseballs out in Los Angeles. Josh Beckett would have started this week, but pushed back because of a hand injury. Jon Papelbon, who became Yankee fans “numero uno” on the hate list, makes his return to the place that booed him mercifully at the All Star Game last month.
Newcomers Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Bay gets to experience The Rivalry for the first time as a Yankees and Red Sox. Jon Lester has emerged as a new face. Both Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte got a small taste of it at Fenway Park last month and may have been overwhelmed. Now they know what to expect.
There are six games left between these two teams. It is time for the Yankees to make a stand. No more slipping and sliding.
Let’s get it on.
Random Yankee Thoughts
I liked the move of getting Pudge Rodriguez a few weeks ago for Kyle Farnsworth. Right now, Pudge is doing no worse than Jose Molina.
In 46 AB’s, he his hitting .217 with one RBI.
Hell, Molina could have done that. Add to it that Andy Pettitte has requested that Pudge not catch him during his starts.
Not a good way to start.
Xavier Nady Update: Through Sunday since joining the Yankees
.320, 8 HR, 23 RBI, .993 OPS
I take back all the negative things I said about him prior to his arrival. Maybe he will not hit .260 as I predicted.
Johnny Damon in centerfield scares me.
Welcome back Hideki Matsui. You presence in the lineup was missed.
That does not mean I want you on the team next year.
I thought Jason Giambi was going without the ‘stache.
Apparently not.
Within one week, it grew back.
Joba Chamberlain is in rehab right now and is expecting to return in September.
Why risk his health for this season? Shut him down and let him prepare for next year completely.
I get a chuckle every time I see left-handed hitters frozen when Mariano Rivera’s cutter touches the outside corner for a called strike three.
In his first game back in AAA, Melky Cabrera went 1 for 1 with four walks. Apparently, they had not been watching the video of him in the majors.
The Babe Ruth of AAA ball.
Cody Ransom in his first Yankees at bat, hit a homerun last Sunday against Kansas City.
In his second at bat on Friday against the Orioles, he hit a three-run homer.
Two at bats and two home runs.
What a great way to start as a Yankee.
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