Red Sox Nation, Yankee Land In State Of Panic?

[UNHWildCats]

Both teams had issues arise Monday night that could play leading roles in both teams chances of making the playoffs.

For Boston it's reports that David Ortiz felt a "click" in his wrist last night.

Ortiz told the Boston Herald last night that, in his ninth-inning at bat, he felt a "click" in his left wrist (http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/2008_08_05_David_Ortiz_feels_%E2%80%98click__in_ba d_wrist/), which was surgically repaired earlier this season (partially torn sheath).

"My last at-bat, it kind of pulled back a little bit," Ortiz said. "You feel that click and you get a little concerned about it."

For the Yankees it's Joba Chamberlin being removed from his start last night with a shoulder injury.

Joba said, “It was something where it grabbed and popped and got stiff,”

One would expect the Yankees to be very cautious with Chamberlin and a DL trip could be very likely, he is on his way back to New York for an MRI.

Should either team be without each player for long Boston would seem to be in better position. They have Chris Carter at AAA who has been hitting very well batting over .300 with 24 homers last I checked, he is suited best for DH with not very good defense, with Manny no longer here taking DH ABs in Ortiz' absense Carter could find himself playing everyday if Ortiz has to head back to the DL.

For New York the answer is much bleaker, they have been hammered by injuries to pitchers. Ian Kennedy started Sunday at AAA and could be held back a day and move in for Joba's next start but he has been wildly inconsistent in New York. They could give Kei Igawa extra rest (he started on the 31st) and call him up, he has been great at AAA this year but struggled in one major league game.

[dbackjon]

It would be GREAT for baseball if neither team made the playoffs, although ESPN would implode, with the last screams from Bristol being "what we will taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalk abooooooooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttt tt"

[UNHWildCats]

it might be great for baseball fans who dont root for either team but it would be bad for baseball overall.

If you take both fan bases out of the playoffs theres a lot less money to be made for baseball which in the long run hurts small market teams more than anyone.

[slycat]

i could care less if it hurts baseball overall. i mean god forbid my team doesnt make the playoffs so the yanks and sox can get in to save baseball. no thanks. it makes me sick enough to read espn about how the only reason the rangers beat the yanks is because chamberlain went out hurt. the score was 3-2 yanks at that point, anyones game. then they say rangers barely win on a grand slam in the 9th. well seeing the rangers were winning 5-4 most the game before the yanks tied it int he 8th, i wouldnt say the yanks blew it as much as the rangers almost did.

its biased reporting like this that make other teams seem inferior to the yanks or sox when they really arent.

[slycat]

it might be great for baseball fans who dont root for either team but it would be bad for baseball overall.

If you take both fan bases out of the playoffs theres a lot less money to be made for baseball which in the long run hurts small market teams more than anyone.

lack of a salary cap does that more then anything.

[Gil Dobie]

it might be great for baseball fans who dont root for either team but it would be bad for baseball overall.

If you take both fan bases out of the playoffs theres a lot less money to be made for baseball which in the long run hurts small market teams more than anyone.

Yankees missing the playoffs hurts baseball, Red Sox missing hurts Boston baseball. Everybody but Yankee fans love to hate the Yankees, while Boston is a mixed bird, except on AGS where they are hated as much as the Yankees. ;) Everyone want to watch a playoff where a David battles a Goliath (Yankees).

[UNHWildCats]

i could care less if it hurts baseball overall. i mean god forbid my team doesnt make the playoffs so the yanks and sox can get in to save baseball. no thanks. it makes me sick enough to read espn about how the only reason the rangers beat the yanks is because chamberlain went out hurt. the score was 3-2 yanks at that point, anyones game. then they say rangers barely win on a grand slam in the 9th. well seeing the rangers were winning 5-4 most the game before the yanks tied it int he 8th, i wouldnt say the yanks blew it as much as the rangers almost did.

its biased reporting like this that make other teams seem inferior to the yanks or sox when they really arent.
hey dont blame New York and Boston cause Texas sucks so much they cant win their division. New York and Boston can't win the NL West so don't blame them for Texas not being able to make the playoffs.

[slycat]

hey dont blame New York and Boston cause Texas sucks so much they cant win their division. New York and Boston can't win the NL West so don't blame them for Texas not being able to make the playoffs.

Well I have to hope for what I can get. 11.5 games behind LA or 5 behind for Wild Card. I hoping for the easier route and being a Texas fan its nice enough to have an outside shot.:D

[Marcus Garvey]

it might be great for baseball fans who dont root for either team but it would be bad for baseball overall.

If you take both fan bases out of the playoffs theres a lot less money to be made for baseball which in the long run hurts small market teams more than anyone.

It's not that cut and dried. From a TV revenue standpoint, yeah, it would be bad, short term. But that's for the MLB negotiated TV deals. But, when 1 or 2 teams begin to dominate a league, as the Red Sox and Yankees have been, to an extent, it's far worse for baseball. Fan interest dwindles, because what's the point if you're not fan of either team?

But, more than anything, your response was typical of an arrogant Red Sox/Yankee fan...
Go drown in your fackin' chowdah yah peckah-head! :D

[UNHWildCats]

It's not that cut and dried. From a TV revenue standpoint, yeah, it would be bad, short term. But that's for the MLB negotiated TV deals. But, when 1 or 2 teams begin to dominate a league, as the Red Sox and Yankees have been, to an extent, it's far worse for baseball. Fan interest dwindles, because what's the point if you're not fan of either team?

But, more than anything, your response was typical of an arrogant Red Sox/Yankee fan...
Go drown in your fackin' chowdah yah peckah-head! :D
They have been dominating the AL East not MLB. Since 2000 there have been 8 World Series Champions, they have won three combined and each division in MLB has had a champion in that stretch.

[dbackjon]

Typical arrogant Boston/NY fan response. It wouldn't be a financial hit if ESPN didn't sniff the two teams jocks all the time...

[dbackjon]

Both teams had issues arise Monday night that could play leading roles in both teams chances of making the playoffs.

For Boston it's reports that David Ortiz felt a "click" in his wrist last night.

Ortiz told the Boston Herald last night that, in his ninth-inning at bat, he felt a "click" in his left wrist (http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/2008_08_05_David_Ortiz_feels_%E2%80%98click__in_ba d_wrist/), which was surgically repaired earlier this season (partially torn sheath).

"My last at-bat, it kind of pulled back a little bit," Ortiz said. "You feel that click and you get a little concerned about it."

.

BTW - that is what happens when you roid up, like Ortiz did after coming to Boston...

[UNHWildCats]

BTW - that is what happens when you roid up, like Ortiz did after coming to Boston...
the effects of steroids are much worse then partially tearing a sheath in your wrist.

Shame on you Jon for accusing Ortiz of cheating without a single piece of evidence. xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x

[dbackjon]

the effects of steroids are much worse then partially tearing a sheath in your wrist.

Shame on you Jon for accusing Ortiz of cheating without a single piece of evidence. xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x


Just look at his HR progression... And now he is breaking down, right on target for 'roid users.

[UNHWildCats]

his HR totals went up in Boston as he got more playing time and thus more regular playing time.

His arrival also coincides with the widely recognized "prime" of a players career which is generall considered to be from 27-31 or 32 which means Ortiz is on the back end of his prime.

[JoltinJoe]

his HR totals went up in Boston as he got more playing time and thus more regular playing time.

His arrival also coincides with the widely recognized "prime" of a players career which is generall considered to be from 27-31 or 32 which means Ortiz is on the back end of his prime.

And his dehydration issues?

And his irregular heartbeat issues?

And his fatigue issues?

[Ivytalk]

Typical arrogant Boston/NY fan response. It wouldn't be a financial hit if ESPN didn't sniff the two teams jocks all the time...

Agree 100%. GO DEVIL RAYS!

[dbackjon]

Agree 100%. GO DEVIL RAYS!


Rays - Dbacks World Series, 2008!!

Catch the fever!! :D

[Reed Rothchild]

It's not that cut and dried. From a TV revenue standpoint, yeah, it would be bad, short term. But that's for the MLB negotiated TV deals. But, when 1 or 2 teams begin to dominate a league, as the Red Sox and Yankees have been, to an extent, it's far worse for baseball. Fan interest dwindles, because what's the point if you're not fan of either team?



Wrong. Everytime the Yankees are bad, baseball has had its worse years. In the early 90s, the Yanks were in dead last, baseball was in the back of everyones mind. In the late 60s and early 70s when baseball made rules to specifically hurt the Yanks, baseball went down.

After the strike baseball was down again, but since the Yanks went back on top and Boston broke the curse, its never been more popular.

[YaleFootballFan]

Rays - Dbacks World Series, 2008!!

Catch the fever!! :D

Yeah, that sounds exciting. I bet FOX will like that matchup. xrolleyesx

[dbackjon]

Yeah, that sounds exciting. I bet FOX will like that matchup. xrolleyesx

It would be just as exciting to the FANS of the teams as any other matchups.

If ESPN/MLB spent as much timing pimping all the teams as they do the chosen few, everyone would be just as excited.

AZ-TB would be a great series between the two youngest teams, with up and coming talent, not a collection of over-the-hill, past the prime players that the Yanks trot out.

[bonarae]

Rays - Dbacks World Series, 2008!!

Catch the fever!! :D

Rays - Cubs much better! 10 vs. 100, would ya say?

[brownbear]

Rays - Cubs much better! 10 vs. 100, would ya say?

No, I don't really want the Cubs in the World Series either. It was bad enough that the Red Sox had to break their curse. I don't want another team thinking they are suddenly the greatest team in history just because they win a world series.

I'm ok with any of these teams in the World Series (of contenders only):

Rays
White Sox
Twins
Angels
Marlins
Brewers
Cardinals
D'backs

[dbackjon]

No, I don't really want the Cubs in the World Series either. It was bad enough that the Red Sox had to break their curse. I don't want another team thinking they are suddenly the greatest team in history just because they win a world series.

I'm ok with any of these teams in the World Series (of contenders only):

Rays
White Sox
Twins
Angels
Marlins
Brewers
Cardinals
D'backs

Good list, if you drop the Cardinals...

[slycat]

Good list, if you drop the Cardinals...

And drop the White Sox for the Rangers.:D

[YaleFootballFan]

Rays - Cubs much better! 10 vs. 100, would ya say?

Red Sox - Cubs is still the dream World Series matchup, even without the supposed Curse of the Bambino. Fenway vs. Wrigley. The Ivy Walls vs. The Green Monster. 1908 vs. the defending champs. Tons of history in this series, even though the Sox and Cubs have faced each other only a handful of times in the last 100+ years.

[brownbear]

Red Sox - Cubs is still the dream World Series matchup, even without the supposed Curse of the Bambino. Fenway vs. Wrigley. The Ivy Walls vs. The Green Monster. 1908 vs. the defending champs. Tons of history in this series, even though the Sox and Cubs have faced each other only a handful of times in the last 100+ years.

It could also be Yankees-Cubs. With the whole Yankee Stadium era ending crap, Fox and ESPN would eat it up.

[brownbear]

And drop the White Sox for the Rangers.:D

You could add the Rangers to the list. I haven't been following MLB this year that much (with the Braves in their worst season since I was 1 year old), but I guess the Rangers are still contenders (only 5 games back in the Wild Card).

With the White Sox, they didn't seem to get nearly as much press when they won the World Series in '05, which was odd considering their streak was longer than the Red Sox' streak.

[Reed Rothchild]

If ESPN/MLB spent as much timing pimping all the teams as they do the chosen few, everyone would be just as excited.



They cover the teams and matchups that draw the best ratings and make them the most money, plain and simple.

[slycat]

You could add the Rangers to the list. I haven't been following MLB this year that much (with the Braves in their worst season since I was 1 year old), but I guess the Rangers are still contenders (only 5 games back in the Wild Card).

With the White Sox, they didn't seem to get nearly as much press when they won the World Series in '05, which was odd considering their streak was longer than the Red Sox' streak.

I just don't like their manager.

[GannonFan]

The Yanks didn't draw great TV numbers in the late 90's when they won a few WS titles. Heck, the Subway series was a disaster for TV as most of the nation just tuned out. The Cubs draw, and draw much better than the Yanks do. People like loveable losers much more so than arrogant winners (hence the Red Sox decline in popularity outside of New England since 2004).

[bonarae]

Red Sox - Cubs is still the dream World Series matchup, even without the supposed Curse of the Bambino. Fenway vs. Wrigley. The Ivy Walls vs. The Green Monster. 1908 vs. the defending champs. Tons of history in this series, even though the Sox and Cubs have faced each other only a handful of times in the last 100+ years.

I would like to see this matchup even once in my lifetime :D

The last time the Red Sox and Cubs faced each other was in 2005 (I believe).

[dbackjon]

They cover the teams and matchups that draw the best ratings and make them the most money, plain and simple.

Well, of course they draw the best ratings, because that is all they promote...duh.

[bluehenbillk]

it might be great for baseball fans who dont root for either team but it would be bad for baseball overall.

If you take both fan bases out of the playoffs theres a lot less money to be made for baseball which in the long run hurts small market teams more than anyone.


I'm sorry I could really rip into this nonsense but I'm in a good mood this morning. Put the Cubs in the Series, or the Mets, or the Phillies, or the Dodgers, most of the country would be quite happy actually not to see either the Yanks or Red Sox there.

Besides, if those teams fail to make the playoffs they'll be likely to spend even more money & fund the luxury tax, somthing the Yankees have grown accustomed to.

[TheValleyRaider]

Besides, if those teams fail to make the playoffs they'll be likely to spend even more money & fund the luxury tax, somthing the Yankees have grown accustomed to.

If there isn't a bigger crock of nonsense in the game... xnonono2x xnonono2x xnonono2x

Thanks for giving a crap about your team Steinbrenners, now pay up xoopsx xnonox xnonono2x xrolleyesx

[UNHWildCats]

I'm sorry I could really rip into this nonsense but I'm in a good mood this morning. Put the Cubs in the Series, or the Mets, or the Phillies, or the Dodgers, most of the country would be quite happy actually not to see either the Yanks or Red Sox there.

Besides, if those teams fail to make the playoffs they'll be likely to spend even more money & fund the luxury tax, somthing the Yankees have grown accustomed to.
im not saying its bad for baseball for them to not be in the world series, just bad if they dont even make the playoffs

[bluehenbillk]

im not saying its bad for baseball for them to not be in the world series, just bad if they dont even make the playoffs


I'd disagree again, all you're saying is you think it's bad if Tampa wins the East & the Twins or Rangers or someone gets the WC. I think the new blood storyline carries more than the traditional teams limping in & exiting in the 1st round. (Looking more & more every day the Yankees won't even make it that far.)

[UNHWildCats]

Boston and the Yankees have the two largest fan bases in baseball. For neither to make the playoffs would be a bad thing, argue it all you want but it's true.

[brownbear]

Boston and the Yankees have the two largest fan bases in baseball. For neither to make the playoffs would be a bad thing, argue it all you want but it's true.

Are you sure Boston is the second largest fan base in baseball? Do you have anything to back that up?

[UNHWildCats]

Are you sure Boston is the second largest fan base in baseball? Do you have anything to back that up?
I didn't say they had the second largest fan base. :p

[DaveK]

The best thing for baseball would be for Tampa Bay to win the East and the wild card to come out of the Central. It would not be the best thing for the networks, but it would be the best thing for Major League Baseball. The NFL is more successful than MLB because it doesn't have just two or three teams that the networks openly promote. As long as the Yankees and Red Sox continue to make the playoffs every year they will be the only teams that get any national media attention with the possible exception of the Cubs. It wasn't that way prior to the past 5 to 10 years. Baseball was more popular during the 80's when the Yankees only made the playoffs once and the Red Sox twice.

[Ivytalk]

Boston and the Yankees have the two largest fan bases in baseball. For neither to make the playoffs would be a bad thing, argue it all you want but it's true.

Here's what Boston has:


xbandwagonx xbandwagonx xbandwagonx xbandwagonx xbandwagonx xbandwagonx

[JoltinJoe]

Are you sure Boston is the second largest fan base in baseball? Do you have anything to back that up?

According to MLB properties, the second most popular team in terms of sale of merchandise is the Atlanta Braves. The Boston Red Sox are third, having experienced a significant upswing over the past five years. The New York Yankees are first by a substantial margin.

As for the playoffs, the Yankees have made the playoffs for 12 straight seasons. That is a remarkable run, but it is going to come to an end one year.

If this is the season that the streak ends, then so be it. I hope the fans of the teams that make it enjoy their post-season runs (offer not extended to Boston Red Sox fans;) ).

[furman94]

Boston has it's Bandwagoners, but it also has its old faithfulls who suffered through the ends of THE CURSE! I hated every bit of the curse, but I was taught a long time ago to hate the Yankees and love the Sox of Beantown, and good things come in time, so look what happened... IT CAME!

[Reed Rothchild]

Joba's on the DL for a week with rotator cuff tendinitis. PHEW!!!!

We might see the return of Ian Kennedy this weekend...

[GannonFan]

Boston and the Yankees have the two largest fan bases in baseball. For neither to make the playoffs would be a bad thing, argue it all you want but it's true.

First of all, the Cubs have a bigger following, especially TV-wise, than either of those two teams. Even the Yanks get bumped to afternoon games to allow the Cubbies to be shown prime-time.

Second, the size of the Red Sox and Yankees fan bases are certainly big, but not anywhere as big as the combined fanbases of the other 28 teams that play baseball. The Yankees have been ratings duds on plenty of occassions over the past 15 years and after the Red Sox broke the curse they've lost that air of "loveable losers" that made them amenable to the rest of the nation - to most people outside of the Northeast, there's little difference between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Baseball won't miss a beat should both those teams be home watching the playoffs this year.

[NDSUFREAK]

The best thing for baseball would be for Tampa Bay to win the East and the wild card to come out of the Central. It would not be the best thing for the networks, but it would be the best thing for Major League Baseball. The NFL is more successful than MLB because it doesn't have just two or three teams that the networks openly promote. As long as the Yankees and Red Sox continue to make the playoffs every year they will be the only teams that get any national media attention with the possible exception of the Cubs. It wasn't that way prior to the past 5 to 10 years. Baseball was more popular during the 80's when the Yankees only made the playoffs once and the Red Sox twice.

i...agree....with...you?xconfusedx

xlolx spot on

[JoltinJoe]

First of all, the Cubs have a bigger following, especially TV-wise, than either of those two teams. Even the Yanks get bumped to afternoon games to allow the Cubbies to be shown prime-time.

Second, the size of the Red Sox and Yankees fan bases are certainly big, but not anywhere as big as the combined fanbases of the other 28 teams that play baseball. The Yankees have been ratings duds on plenty of occassions over the past 15 years and after the Red Sox broke the curse they've lost that air of "loveable losers" that made them amenable to the rest of the nation - to most people outside of the Northeast, there's little difference between the Red Sox and the Yankees. Baseball won't miss a beat should both those teams be home watching the playoffs this year.


The Yankees outdraw the Cubs during prime time. The Cubs have been scheduled in prime time, perhaps once ot twice during a series, because of the novelty of their participation in post-season play and the belief that fans outside the New York and Chicago markets have an interest in seeing the Cubs "break the curse." Nonetheless, the Yankee primetime ratings are just about always higher than anyone else -- including the Cubs.

As for World Series ratings, they are inevitably higher if the Yankees are in it. Even the ratings for the 2000 World Series, which were considered disappointing at that time, has now turned out to have higher ratings than the more recent World Series.

Look at the ratings for 1999, Yankees-Braves, which featured baseball's two most popular teams. Also look at series that go to 6th or 7th games. There is a significant upward trend in later games, while recent World Series have been four or five game affairs.

World Series Ratings Since 1985 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_television_ratings)

[andy7171]

I hate the Yankees and Red Sox equally!








....that's a lie I hate the Yankees much more.

[GannonFan]

The Yankees outdraw the Cubs during prime time. The Cubs have been scheduled in prime time, perhaps once ot twice during a series, because of the novelty of their participation in post-season play and the belief that fans outside the New York and Chicago markets have an interest in seeing the Cubs "break the curse." Nonetheless, the Yankee primetime ratings are just about always higher than anyone else -- including the Cubs.

As for World Series ratings, they are inevitably higher if the Yankees are in it. Even the ratings for the 2000 World Series, which were considered disappointing at that time, has now turned out to have higher ratings than the more recent World Series.

Look at the ratings for 1999, Yankees-Braves, which featured baseball's two most popular teams. Also look at series that go to 6th or 7th games. There is a significant upward trend in later games, while recent World Series have been four or five game affairs.

World Series Ratings Since 1985 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_television_ratings)

National ratings are fine to chat about, but the distribution of those ratings matter just as much. The Yanks getting a huge share in their own market can skew the numbers, but it misses the fact that some major markets totally ignore it. The Cubs may get a lower national number, but more markets are in play when they are playing versus say the Yankees or Sox. And notice how Boston's rating tanked in '07 compared to the '04 series - obviously the novelty of the Red Sox winning the WS wore off - with the Curse they were interesting, without the curse they're just the team that's taken the Yanks spot as the best team in the AL East (that is, assuming Tampa isn't legit - this year excluded obsviously).