Posted on 08/18/2006 8:27:35 AM PDT by Airborne1986
It's now or never for the New York Yankees.
The Yankees open a five-game series at Fenway Park on Friday with their alter egos in the American League East, the Boston Red Sox. Just 1 1/2 games will separate the two teams when that series begins.
Since the All-Star break, the Sox have slipped considerably, going 16-17 with problems surfacing with their starting pitching, relief corps and hitting (with the exception of David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez). The Yankees, meanwhile, seem to have righted themselves after a long year of struggles with injuries and under-producing pitchers such as Randy Johnson. New York has gone 20-12 since the break to move past Boston into first place, a five-game reversal in 31 games.
Yet even with the additions of Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle and the improved pitching of Johnson, the Yankees won't separate themselves from the Red Sox if they don't make a move during this series, because Boston may be the most resilient team in the American League, if not in all of baseball. ...
For all the Red Sox difficulties of late, especially with their pitching, they could be tied for the division lead by Saturday morning if everything goes right and if they continue to play at home the way they have thus far.
That would give the Red Sox the advantage in the series and for the rest of the season. They would have their top three pitchers — Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling and David Wells — going in the final three games against the Yankees, with a chance to turn the tables on them just when much of the world felt New York was ready to assert itself and pull away.
....
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Sox knot it at 1 when Hinske (2ble) scores on an AGone ground-out.
Tie Game Yanks 1 - BoSox -1
Mike Lowell swings at low pitches. The Sox have 3 guys in the line up today with no pitch selection or plate discipline.
I'm telling ya, Nixon's career in Boston is over....
Not any more
All things considered, though, Lowell was the better pick-up (than Beckett).
Effin' Johnny Judas just pegged one---3-1 Cranks.
Maybe the Blue Jays will have something to say in all this after all. Hey the minute you stole Hazel Mae from us you won the World Serious and the curse was lifted so you should be thankful for the Blue Jays being the Red Sox farm system. :) Actually when he got the chance to play this year Hinske hasn't been too bad.
He's a good team guy, but too often hurt. Wily Mo will be our RF next year.
I can't stand it when hitters will not learn from their mistakes. Lowell has had a good year but the crappy at bats, lack of clutch hitting and GDPs is a problem.
Lack of clutch hitting has plagued everyone this year . . . except for Ortiz---and Loretta.
He He He...
Men on the corners one out - Giambi Up
And Johnson gets the hook for Snyder. All things considered, this wasn't a total disaster for Jason Johnson. 6 hits, 3 runs . . . but only 5.1 IP.
Let's see what Balco Jr. can do . . .
Giambi - single to right...Jeter Scores...Yanks 4 - BoSox 1
Johnson once again showed why he does not belong in the bog leagues.
He is our Ponson
Manny takes it out.
Yanks 4 - BoSox 2
Giambi is a good story, actually. He manned up, admitted his mistake, and came back to have a pretty good year last year.
The Kid can catch as well.
Wily Mo? Off his coconut?
It is a good story but Giambi really didn't apologize fully. It was more of a non-apology apology.
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