Posted on 04/20/2007 8:07:32 AM PDT by misterrob
The Sox and Yankees are resuming their long standing rivalry with and a mix of old and new faces. The Sox have upgraded their team with additions of JD Drew, Julio Lugo and Dice-K. The Yankees return with changes to the starting rotation and the subtraction of Gary Sheffield. Both teams figure to compete deep into the season.
For two states without much to brag about with respect to their elected officials,
Chucky and Hidabeast vs the Flip Flopping Gigalo and the Swimmer
or
The Spitter vs Coupe Deval
Here's to another season of Yankees vs Red Sox on FR!
Props to the Tribe, they are getting it done, and we threw out Rogers and Verlander, and still they found a way.
I would never have bet Byrd and Westbrook (spit) would have beaten Rogers and Verlander. Never.
I swear if I were the Red Sox owner, I'd fire Francona after tonight's debacle. What the heck is wrong with Francona? He just sits there in the dugout, rocking back and forth. Mike Scioscia or Jim Leyland wouldn't put up with Gagne's crap pitching with the game (and Division lead) on the line like we witnessed tonight. They would've yanked Gagne immediately.
Grrr!!! I'm gonna be angry over this one for a long time...
Aw, the Tigers aren’t dead yet, are they? What happened to Verlander tonight? (We watched part of the game, between Red SUX innings)
Nice win for the Indians last night (walk-off HR!) and tonight. I think my Red Sox are aiming to play golf in the post-season...
I guess I am a bit more philisophical on this one. Francona left him in too long but since Gag Me was the front office’s deadline deal it’s really Theo’s fault. Theo also has not done as good of a job having young arms available to throw into the pen. Tito could have left Delcarmen in to pitch but he gives it up too.
The Sox have been living off of what they did in April and May. Ffrom June until now they have been a slightly better than .500 team. They had a chance to do something special this year and in spite of the bad free agent signings they have led the league for most of the year. What a waste.
You're right, of course. I'm just all emotional tonight after Gag Me's latest choke. Hubby and I traveled down to Baltimore (both in August and September), spent all that $$$ just to watch Gagne give up two easy wins to the basement-dwelling Orioles. He's been shaky in other outings, and now this game. These losses loom large now, obviously.
NESN reminding me that Manny has missed the last 20 games (see BostonDirtDogs). We've seen him take BP at Fenway recently. He looked fine to us... laughing and joking around as usual, and hitting the ball (off BP pitchers) really well.
What a waste indeed. Wonder who I'll be rooting for in the post-season once the Red Sox choke. I'd love to see the Cubs win a WS in my lifetime... ;-)
Tonight the Tribe dinged FOUR, and there was much rejoicing (yay!).
Gagne has cost us four games. Even Lopez for a groundball out would have taken care of our problem in the 8th. The Yanks are firing on all cylinders and we’re sputtering.
I like the Indians. Unless, of course, they're playing our Red Sox (aka Red Sux right now)... LOL. Red Sox Nation really misses Trot Nixon... he was a beloved Red Sox "Dirt Dog".
So it was FOUR games F'in Gagne cost us. I remember the two in Baltimore, tonight's game, but can't remember the other one. I'm still incredulous that Francona kept him in... I just don't get it. All Francona could say in a post-game interview on NESN was: "We NEED Eric Gagne..." (and some other incoherent mumblings) WHY do we need him, Terry?
We can also wonder how many more games we would've won this season if Drew would have performed up to his $70+ million contract, Lugo hadn't had that long hitting drought, and Dice-K didn't melt down during so many starts. It's all so disgusting. My husband has already conceded the Division to his Yankee fan co-workers. I fear the Yanks will win the World Series this year...
I enjoy rooting for the Sox and got quite a thrill by the end of The Curse.
I became a Tribe fan in 1990 when I lived in Cleveland. At that time, I loved the contrast: very cool logo, haplessly pathetic team. Then came “Major League.” And then the Sin Tax brought the Jake. Then the great Octobers in 95 and 97.
The Tribe has possibilities every year. Sometimes it comes enough to tease me, like in ought-five. Sometimes they grab the ring.
I live in the Pittsburgh media market, but I could never be a Pirates fan. The way the MLB is set up, a third tier market like that can never contend. The rules almost prohibit it. I know a lot of Buccos fans who cringe just to see a Junior Circuit logo on my cap.
But then I tell them “Hey, no matter how bad things get, Chief Wahoo just keeps smiling! Maybe someday that smile is gonna pay off.”
And a little logo shall lead them.
Eric the Dread
Going, Going, Gagne! Win Blown in the 8th
Oh, Canadoh! Eric Gagne Comes Completely Undone
Poor. Jon. Lester.
Was Manny Delcarmen Wiped Out After One Out?
And, Where in the World Was Jon Papelbon with Two Gone?
Tom Caron, NESN Extra Innings: "Panic in the streets of Red Sox Nation, Jim. This is as bad as it gets."
...
"Would you have gone to Papelbon earlier or is this a case where you have to see what Eric Gagne can do for you before you can decide where he's gonna pitch?"
Jim Rice: "Well, I've always felt this way, if Papelbon is my horse, I'm going to use Papelbon every day, I'm going to go out there and say 'hey, how many can you give me,' Right now, these are the dog days. If you're my horse, I gotta have you. I gotta have you in the race.
"This is not a buddy-buddy situation, this is life or death. We're gonna make the playoffs or we're gonna clinch the division. As long as you're healthy, you come to the ballpark to play every day. I want you out there."
The Incredible Shrinking Lead ...
... Is Down to 2 1/2 Games. Oh My, Tito.
I agree about the Pirates. We have the MLB Extra Innings package... we've rarely tuned in to watch Pirates games, and they are the team I know the least about. Heard they have a really nice ballpark, though...
The Baseball Tonight guys said Gagne has blown more saves with the Sox than in the big season he had with the Dodgers. Ouch.
Also, Verlander gave up four home runs in his previous twelve starts...the same number of dingers he pitched to the Tribe tonight.
Ouch ouch ouch.
Wow, ouch is right. I don’t know about Verlander and Detroit (he’s usually “lights out”, right?), but I’m starting to wonder if there’s some kind of Curse on the Red Sox again... I still can’t believe what I saw from Gagne tonight. Just unreal.
Can’t wait to hear the telephone calls that Scott Boros is going to be making in the offseason and trying to justify why is client should be paid like a top closer. His client has imploded during a major pennant race. Who will pay big $$$ for that?
Top 9th: LA Angels
- J. Ellsbury in left field
- C. Crisp in center field
- A. Cora at second
- K. Youkilis at first
- E. Gagne relieved M. Delcarmen
- R. Willits hit for R. Budde
- R. Willits flied out to center
- C. Kotchman hit for N. Haynes
- C. Kotchman walked
- E. Aybar ran for C. Kotchman
- C. Figgins singled to right, E. Aybar to third
- O. Cabrera singled to left, E. Aybar scored, C. Figgins to second
- V. Guerrero doubled to deep center, C. Figgins and O. Cabrera scored
- G. Anderson lined into double play first to shortstop, V. Guerrero out at second
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors
Final Score: LA Angels 7, Boston 5
Stick a fork in Detroit. They just got swept by the Indians. Their season is over. We now know that the four participants in the AL playoffs will be the Red Sox, Indians, Angels, and Yankees. All that’s left to determine is who will play who in the division series. But the participants in the AL playoffs are set. The NL is another story though.
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