The War Of 2008: Battle at Fenway I

[UNHWildCats]

One of the best rivalries in sports begins tonight. Some would call it the greatest rivalry, however I know that other teams have some great rivalries as well, so I wont go declaring this the best.

Tonight the Red Sox send rookie Clay Buchholz against Chien-Ming Wang at Fenway Park.

The Yankees will be without team captain Derek Jeter while the Red Sox are a man down after placing Mike Lowell on the DL. Sean Casey filled in just fine last night collecting a couple hits while leading Boston to a 12-6 win over the Tiggers.

The Yankees may have finally found their bats in the ninth last night as Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada went back-to-back, they will need the bats awake if they want to escape some games their pitching staff will fail them in.

[AZGrizFan]

Bucholz better get his ***** together. He's my 5th pitcher on my fantasy team...


GOD I had saying that I have a Red Sux on my team.... xcoolx xcoolx xcoolx xcoolx xsmhx xsmhx xsmhx xsmhx xcoffeex

[UNHWildCats]

his outing in Toronto wasnt bad. He struck out 7 in 5 innings allowing 3 ER's.

I wouldn't write him off based on a start tonight, as even the best pitchers can look bad against the Yankees, though if he shines, it could signal that hes put his spring issues behind him.

[Reed Rothchild]

I'm not expecting much from the Yankees tonight. They haven't hit for squat and Jeter probably won't play. Plus, the RedSox seem to hit Wang pretty well.

This series could get ugly.

[UNHWildCats]

you might not want to expect much from there for awhile... like a half century or so, more on that after I pick up the bf's little brother from school and get my blog entry written :p

Dont anyone go stealing my thunder either if you know what I meant either!!!! -_- :p

[bluehenbillk]

Posada couldn't throw out my grnadmother right now, Francona better have the green light on all night if he's behind the plate.

[UNHWildCats]

I would say give Drew the nite off and have Lugo,. Crisp and Ellsbury all in there, but umm oddly enough Drew is batting like .440 and is the hottest hitter on the team right now, maybe they can give Ortiz the nite off with his .087 avg and DH Manny and put Ellsbury in left.

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

I'm not expecting much from the Yankees tonight. They haven't hit for squat and Jeter probably won't play. Plus, the RedSox seem to hit Wang pretty well.

This series could get ugly.

Am I the only one who hears Rodney Dangerfield say "and set my friend Wang up here with everything" when he reads or hears that name?

[UNHWildCats]

This is still one of the funnier pictures I have seen.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4759/smallwangqf5.png

[TheValleyRaider]

Sox likely to take 2 of 3, both teams have question marks early in the season. Very little to be decided in the next 3 days. Way too much hype for this xcoffeex

Oh yeah,

LET'S GO YANKEES!

[jstate83]

neutral Party.xwhistlex

I read in the NY Paper's that a BOSTON RED SOX JERSEY was mixed into the concrete flooring near the visitor's locker room at the NEW Yankee Stadium.

Some of the construction worker's there said a SOX fan that was working on the site did this back in August.
Is that the new REVERSE CURSE on the YANKEE's now?xlolx


The new Yankee Stadium may be cursed!
NY POST
A devilish Boston fan working on a concrete crew at the $1.3 billion stadium covertly buried a Red Sox T-shirt under what will become the visiting team's locker room to jinx the Yanks, two construction workers told The Post yesterday.


"In August, a Red Sox T-shirt was poured in a slab in the visitor's clubhouse. It's the curse of the Yankees," one worker said. "Nobody knows about it. It's in the floors, it's buried."

The workers say they now fear that they unwittingly helped hex their beloved Bronx Bombers.

"I don't want to be responsible for sinking the franchise," said a second worker, who witnessed the sabotage. "I respect the stadium."

The Post has withheld their identities because they are not authorized to speak to media.

This latest hex is above and beyond any typical ritual - like wearing a lucky shirt or hat - that fans typically do to boost their luck.

"It sounds a little unprecedented to me," said Tim Wiles, director of research at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown.

[UNHWildCats]

It's raining in Boston and showers are expected thorugh the nite. gates are open and fans are encouraged to arrive at Fenway as the Red Sox will do all they can to get the game in...

in other words, come pay for parking and food and drinks for 2 hours before we postpone the game :p

[UNHWildCats]

neutral Party.xwhistlex

I read in the NY Paper's that a BOSTON RED SOX JERSEY was mixed into the concrete flooring near the visitor's locker room at the NEW Yankee Stadium.

Some of the construction worker's there said a SOX fan that was working on the site did this back in August.
Is that the new REVERSE CURSE on the YANKEE's now?xlolx


The new Yankee Stadium may be cursed!
NY POST
A devilish Boston fan working on a concrete crew at the $1.3 billion stadium covertly buried a Red Sox T-shirt under what will become the visiting team's locker room to jinx the Yanks, two construction workers told The Post yesterday.


"In August, a Red Sox T-shirt was poured in a slab in the visitor's clubhouse. It's the curse of the Yankees," one worker said. "Nobody knows about it. It's in the floors, it's buried."

The workers say they now fear that they unwittingly helped hex their beloved Bronx Bombers.

"I don't want to be responsible for sinking the franchise," said a second worker, who witnessed the sabotage. "I respect the stadium."

The Post has withheld their identities because they are not authorized to speak to media.

This latest hex is above and beyond any typical ritual - like wearing a lucky shirt or hat - that fans typically do to boost their luck.

"It sounds a little unprecedented to me," said Tim Wiles, director of research at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown.
covered this in the other thread :p

[TheValleyRaider]

Lineups for Game 1
(because they drive up my post count :D)

YANKEES
Cabrera CF
Cano 2B
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Posada DH
Giambi 1B
Molina C
Gonzalez SS
Wang RHP (2-0, 1.38)

RED SOX
Crisp CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Ramirez LF
Youkilis 3B
Drew RF
Varitek C
Casey 1B
Lugo SS
Buchholz RHP (0-1, 5.40)

[UNHWildCats]

im going to SCREAM

[UNHWildCats]

******ING PLAY ELLSBURY -_-

[UNHWildCats]

CMW vs. BOS
5-5, 4.56 ERA, 134 OPS+ against (relative to self)

CMW at Fenway
2-3, 6.17 ERA, 148 OPS+ against

David Ortiz vs. CMW
.500/.533/.833 in 36 PA

Manny Ramirez vs. CMW
.591/.654/.864 in 26 PA

[UNHWildCats]

Happy Birthday to Jason Varitek, 36 today.

[UNHWildCats]

both teams down in order in the first inning.

[YaleFootballFan]

Home Run J.D. Drew!

Game tied 1-1 in the 5th.

[TheValleyRaider]

Red Sox can't handle Yankees' Wang :D
NY takes Game 1, 4-1

Wang goes the distance. Struck out 3 (Ortiz, then Manny twice). Gave up 1 run on a HR to Drew (possibily a misplayed flyball by Abreu) and Pedroia reached on a fielding error. Add in a 9th inning bunt single by Crisp, and that was all she wrote for the Sawks

Yankees Win! THEEEEEEE Yankees Win!

[Reed Rothchild]

Red Sox can't handle Yankees' Wang :D
NY takes Game 1, 4-1

Wang goes the distance. Struck out 3 (Ortiz, then Manny twice). Gave up 1 run on a HR to Drew (possibily a misplayed flyball by Abreu) and Pedroia reached on a fielding error. Add in a 9th inning bunt single by Crisp, and that was all she wrote for the Sawks

Yankees Win! THEEEEEEE Yankees Win!

xbowx xbowx xbowx xhurrayx xhurrayx xhurrayx xhurrayx

[Reed Rothchild]

*sigh* Mussina v Beckett today on Fox. Although Moose pitched well in his last outing vs the Rays, and the Sox bats are a bit quiet, this could be the day they break out.

[JoltinJoe]

This is still one of the funnier pictures I have seen.

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4759/smallwangqf5.png

That guy with the Aaron Small pre-game practice shirt must actually be Aaron Small. Who else would have had "SMALL" on the back of their jersey?

[UNHWildCats]

*sigh* Mussina v Beckett today on Fox. Although Moose pitched well in his last outing vs the Rays, and the Sox bats are a bit quiet, this could be the day they break out.
Sox bats are a bit quiet? ummm we scored 12 runs two night ago, look at last nite as a good nite for Wang but not a sign that Sox bats are quiet.

[TheValleyRaider]

Sox bats are a bit quiet? ummm we scored 12 runs two night ago, look at last nite as a good nite for Wang but not a sign that Sox bats are quiet.

So they've already had their breakout game?

Excellent. Another strong outing for Moose, and let the bullpen get some work in too xthumbsupx :D

[Grizzaholic]

Good job to the Yankees. Hope you sweep every game you play against the Sox.

[TheValleyRaider]

Lineups for Game 2 (courtesy of Peter Abraham)

YANKEES
Damon LF
Cabrera CF
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Giambi 1B
Posada DH
Cano 2B
Molina C
Gonzalez SS
Mussina RHP (1-1, 3.09)

RED SOX
Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Ramirez LF
Youkilis 3B
Drew RF
Varitek C
Casey 1B
Lugo SS
Beckett RHP (0-1, 9.64)

[Reed Rothchild]

Sox bats are a bit quiet? ummm we scored 12 runs two night ago, look at last nite as a good nite for Wang but not a sign that Sox bats are quiet.

More quiet than the meager Yankees bats.

Lets see here:
Ortiz at .077
Lowell OUT but still at .200
ManRam .256
Ellsbury .176
Pedroia .250



.259 BA and 1 good game is hardly lighting it up. Especially when your best hitters include Just Disabled Drew and Coco Crisp.

[UNHWildCats]

Manny with a solo shot 1-0 Sox after 4. Beckett probably should have a no hitter, but the ruled a bobble by Pedroia a hit

[UNHWildCats]

More quiet than the meager Yankees bats.

Lets see here:
Ortiz at .077
Lowell OUT but still at .200
ManRam .256
Ellsbury .176
Pedroia .250



.259 BA and 1 good game is hardly lighting it up. Especially when your best hitters include Just Disabled Drew and Coco Crisp.
so far a combined 6-9 with 4 runs and 3 RBI

[YaleFootballFan]

Game resumes after a 2 hour 11 minute rain delay.

Papelbon strikes out A-Rod on just three pitches with runners at first and second.

[UNHWildCats]

the game is finally over Sox win 4-3

[patssle]

No mention of the fact that Fox cut off a 3-2 2 out 9th inning pitch to go to Nascar?

One of the most idiotic things I've ever seen.

[UNHWildCats]

in one sense I can understand if it was in markets outside NY or Boston, but it should have been left on in those two markets, not everyone has cable -_- i was doing the 50 refreshes per min on yahoo

[YaleFootballFan]

The ninth inning was also being shown on FX, but by the time I found out what channel FX was, the game was already over.

[Reed Rothchild]

so far a combined 6-9 with 4 runs and 3 RBI

Yes. Like I said:


...Although Moose pitched well in his last outing vs the Rays, and the Sox bats are a bit quiet, this could be the day they break out.

[Reed Rothchild]

Papelbon strikes out A-Rod on just three pitches with runners at first and second.

What a surprise...xrotatehx

[TheValleyRaider]

So, big play of the game really seems to have been the decision to let Moose pitch to Manny with 1st base open in the 6th. Pitch gets left over the plate, Manny doubles, Boston turns a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. Manny then scores on a Youkilis double, 4-2

So what exactly happened there? Was Moose really trying to challenge Manny? Or was he going to throw junk, and see if Ramirez took a swing at a bad pitch for a cheap grounder, then simply missed?

[Cleets]

Two very good teams... xnodx
this is going to be a fun season


xpeacex

[Reed Rothchild]

So what exactly happened there? Was Moose really trying to challenge Manny? Or was he going to throw junk, and see if Ramirez took a swing at a bad pitch for a cheap grounder, then simply missed?

That was probably the thought going into it. Hopefully, Giardi won't make that mistake again. Trusting Mussina at this point in his career is not wise.

[TheValleyRaider]

That was probably the thought going into it. Hopefully, Giardi won't make that mistake again. Trusting Mussina at this point in his career is not wise.

Well, hopefully it was a lesson for both of them. Should the situation arise again, Girardi and Mussina will both know what to do, which is especially important for the prickly Mussina. Better to work on these things early in the season, when the stakes aren't as high xtwocentsx

[TheValleyRaider]

Lineups for Game 3
(courtesy of Peter Abraham)

YANKEES
Damon CF
Cano 2B
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui LF
Posada DH
Giambi 1B
Molina C
Gonzalez SS
Hughes RHP (0-1. 5.00)

RED SOX
Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Drew RF
Ramirez DH
Youkilis 3B
Casey 1B
Varitek C
Crisp CF
Lugo SS
Matsuzaka RHP (2-0, 1.47)

[UNHWildCats]

Phil Franchise throws 39 pitches allowing 3 runs in the 1st inning.... 3-0 Sox after 1

[UNHWildCats]

The Franchise cant get an out in the third. 5-1 Sox runners on 1st and 3rd, Tek coming up

[UNHWildCats]

The Franchise goes 2+ innings, allowing 7 runs, 6 earned.

[UNHWildCats]

7-1 after 3

[Cleets]

The Yankee's will make this a good game... xnodx


(Go Sox)

[UNHWildCats]

Sox take 2 out of 3.

[Cleets]

Sox take 2 out of 3.

You gotta give props to the Yankee's they battle xnodx

[TheValleyRaider]

And so it goes

Stranding 19 runners tonight certainly didn't help, though Boston did their fair share of the same. Back at it in the Bronx on Wednesday. The Yanks get 2 in Tampa, hopefully the bats will heat up indoors

[UNHWildCats]

im not understanding while Delcarmen isnt being credited with a save

The score was 8-5...

The official scorer shall credit a pitcher with a save when such pitcher meets all four of the following conditions:

(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;
(2) He is not the winning pitcher;
(3) He is credited with at least a third of an inning pitched; and
(4) He satisfies one of the following conditions:

(a) He enters the game with his team leading by no more than three runs;
(b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat or on deck; or
(c) He pitches for at least three innings.

[Reed Rothchild]

-Giambi needs to apologize (again) to Yankees fans for wasting our time.
-Kyle Farnsworth has to be laughing on the inside and all the way to the bank
-LaTroy Hawkins could never hold Paul O'Neil's jock let alone wear his number
-Mike Timlin needs to pitch more
-Dead Arm Jorge would have caught those balls that went by Molina
-Johnny Damon is about as valuable as Kyle Farnsworth
-Robinson Cano is as disciplined at the plate as Homer Simpson at an All-U-Can Eat Buffett. Cashman needs to trade for Larry Bowa.

[Reed Rothchild]

Dice-k looked average.

[UNHWildCats]

Dice-k looked average.
The Franchise looked below average xcoolx

[Reed Rothchild]

The Franchise looked below average xcoolx

Well, he's still pretty much a rookie.

[JoltinJoe]

I think the most interesting story coming from this series, and perhaps the most telling, is how well Clay Buccholz pitched, and how badly Phil Hughes pitched.

Buccholz looked major league ready. Hughes did not.

If Hughes is not at least "major league ready," the Yankees have a serious problem.

[chantster]

Nice lineup for the BoSox last night! xthumbsupx

Always liked Sean Casey, like him even more in a Red Sox uni.

Even with Lowell on DL and Ortiz in a serious slump, Sox looked great and Manny looked very comfortable at DH.

[UNHWildCats]

I think the most interesting story coming from this series, and perhaps the most telling, is how well Clay Buccholz pitched, and how badly Phil Hughes pitched.

Buccholz looked major league ready. Hughes did not.

If Hughes is not at least "major league ready," the Yankees have a serious problem.
yes Buchholz pitched very very well. Hughes not so much, I think Hughes will be a very fine pitcher, but i certainly will enjoy all the slaughterings he takes at the hand of the Red Sox :p