The unbalanced schedule returned to baseball in 2001, and that created three visits per season to division mates' ballparks, an increase from the previous two.
In six of the eight seasons since, the Yankees have made their first trip to Fenway Park in April. They've played a total of 21 April games over those six years, and they've posted a 5-16 record.
So this weekend, a series loss culminating in last night's ugly affair, followed a recent trend. Just like in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2007, the Yankees departed Boston bruised, _ they lost the series finale each time _ and with an aura of panic hovering over them.
The Yankees wound up qualifying for the playoffs each of those seasons, of course, so we should know to avoid drawing profound conclusions from 13 games. But what are we gonna do? Sit quietly until the All-Star break?
Here are some early first impressions, after a typically compelling weekend on Boston's Back Bay:
It's hardly shocking that Phil Hughes, last night's loser, and Ian Kennedy, tonight's starter, are off to shaky starts. Pitching in the big leagues, and even more so the American League East, is challenging. Not everyone can pick it up so quickly. If one or both have to go back to the minor leagues, it wouldn't be a horrifying development.
Brian Cashman is trying to run the Yankees like a normal organization, one which exhibits patience for its youngsters. I think it is absolutely the right plan. And I think it is absolutely going to result in the Yankees missing the playoffs this year.
What a scene in the the eighth inning of last night's game, when the Red Sox ran freely on Jorge Posada, knowing full well that he couldn't throw the ball because of his sore right shoulder. We didn't realize at the time that Joe Girardi pinch ran for Jose Molina in the top of the inning because Molina injured his left hamstring.
Baseball sure humbles you, doesn't it? Here the Yankees thought they had the health thing figured out with their work-intensive spring training. And now, even if the Yankees get the ailing Derek Jeter (left quad) back at shortstop tonight, they'll likely have Chad Moeller at catcher.
Speaking of humbling, do any of you think that Joe Girardi made the right call on Saturday, allowing Mike Mussina to pitch to Manny Ramirez in that big, sixth-inning spot? I'm open to dialogue, but as I wrote here, any argument in favor of that strategy has to be countered by, "But it's Manny!!!"
You know that Girardi messed up when even noMaas says so. As I wrote in today's Newsday, it's time for Girardi to show us he has the personality to handle this job. We already know he has the intellect and the passion.
Chien-Ming Wang is one of my favorite pitchers to watch. I'll never forget how he grinded through a torn rotator cuff in 2005 while Carl Pavano sat out half the season with something that doctors defined as "nothing." But I refuse to buy into the idea that Wang belongs in the same conversation as Josh Beckett, Roy Halladay, Jake Peavy, John Smoltz and other aces.
If you watched Friday night's game, you saw that a number of Red Sox players smoked the ball, just right at people. Wang pitches to contact, which is fine, especially when he generates grounders. But it's not as good recording a barrel full of strikeouts. Strikeouts remove the element of luck.
Speaking of Cashman, Kyle Farnsworth proved yet again last night that he stinks. And Wilson Betemit stinks, too; Alberto Gonzalez has much better speed and defensive skills, and he's cheaper than Betemit, to boot. If the Yankees really want a deep, 25-man roster for Girardi to deploy, then both of those guys need to go.
I expected to see an improved Daisuke Matsuzaka _ his rise was one of my primary reasons for picking the Red Sox to win their second straight AL East crown _ but he pitched just as poorly as he did last year against the Yankees. Six walks? Ay yi yi.
It's painful watching Mike Timlin, 42, pitch, given how much he has accomplished in baseball. But I'm sure Jason Giambi won't complain.
I shared an elevator with Fred Lynn in my hotel here Saturday morning, at about 7:30, after I had read about Jack Curry's run-in with the 1975 AL MVP and Rookie of the Year just a couple of days prior. I reached the obvious conclusion: Fred Lynn is stalking sportswriters!
After seeing Lynn at 7:30 Saturday morning, I saw Doug Flutie at about 8:30, although this was less of a surprise. My colleague Jim Baumbach invited me to run into a 5K at Boston College, and the cause was Flutie's foundation for his son, who is autistic. It marked only the second official race of my life, and I finished 100th out of 184 competitors, as you can see here. I am not embarrassed by such a result. They spelled my last name "Daviduff," but that's my fault. I have terrible handwriting, and I'm not even a doctor.
Thanks to the IMDb for the Kirk Cameron photo.
Comments (8)
I can't think of any reason not to release Farnsworth and bring up Patterson. Any good reason, anyway.
This was an awful series for Girardi and I'm very disappointed.
I don't think there's any way you can defend his decision to not walk Manny. The guy wons Mussina in his career and just hit a long homer off him earlier. Yeah, Youkilis is no slouch himself, but he's not Manny. This decision may have cost the Yanks the game.
I also thought it was a big mistake to not bunt Damon in the 8th last night with 1st and 2nd no out. I thought we were going to see more NL style ball with Girardi, and also why is Cano, who is struggling and looks awful, batting 2nd?
I also want to see Hughes and Kennedy sepaarted in the rotation to help save the bullpen and think it's a mistake we're not carrying a long-man in the bullpen with these two youngsters.
And Betemit needs to go. I thought he's on this team to fill in for Jeter or someone if they go down, but he can't playany position well and strkes out seemingly every other AB.
And please call up Duncan and give him the majority of the AB's at 1B.
Ken, I think your prediction of the Yanks finishing 3rd will unfortunately turn out to be right. I think this very well could be a transition season where the team takes a step back in order to move two steps forward. And I agree it's the right route to take and applaud the organization's emphasis on developing younger players and improving the farm system.
I'm also happy so many of these ridiculous contracts come off after the season.
Were you hinting that Cashman is lucky? or maybe was lucky for the timing of him being named GM?
No, Luke, I wasn't hinting that Cashman was lucky. I think that overall, he's done a fine job since gaining full power in 2005. But I think he's got to cut the cord on Farnsworth and Betemit, two of his favorites.
Looks like you were the 8th oldest person running in the race (well tied for 8th anyway). Not a bad finish Ken.
Farnsworth and Betemit have certainly earned exit visas. Alex Gonzalez should be kept up and Duncan should be brought back up. Patterson deserves a shot in the bullpen.
If I was sure that Hughes and Kennedy were really going to make it, I wouldn't mind missing the playoffs, even with a pretty potent lineup (when it starts hitting), but I am not sure they are going to make it. Hughes throws way too many pitches and both of them have to prove they have staying power. Ken is right, they might need additional minor league experience to work on some things. All the more reason to get Freddy Garcia when they can.
I like Cashman and think he has instilled some sanity in the Yankee ranks. But, events still have to prove he is right with the moves he has/is making.
Hey Ken, would you like to amend your stance on having Joba in the rotation? With Joba not with the Yankees right now beacuse of his father, Harlan, being in the hospital, the Yankees had a 7-2 led in the 7th tonight, and then Billy Traber and Brain Brueny blew up on the mound and the Rays tied it at 7-7. This is why Joba should stay in the pen. Hawkins and Farnsworth stinks. Both should be cut and release with the Yanks eating both their salarys. But the Yanks show no guts in doing that especially Cashman. Everybody else in the pen stinks.
No, Dennis, I'm not going to amend my stance on Joba based on one night, particularly a night when the Yankees still won. Joba is too talented to be a setup man. IMHO, the Yankees should have committed, at the start of spring training, to finding a non-Joba setup situation that worked.