On the Yankees beat

Jim Caple has an amusing piece on ESPN.com today. He calls Red Sox fans "arrogant" and "the most obnoxious fans in sports". And he says he's a former Sox fan.

Clemens going on the DL.

A-Fraud dropping a pop up that caues Kennedy to allow 2 runs and build up his pitch count.

Sox up by 5 games.

Beautiful.

I think "Red Sox Fan" may have read that article

Red Sox Fan ,

Didn't The Sox lose last night also? I guess you missed that?

Sox fan,

yankees putting up 5 unanswered runs which would be more if Carlos ena wasnt playing a gold glove 2nd base.

Kennedy looking pretty good out there and AROD is killing the ball.more than made up for the misplay

BJ Upton is one heck of a player and Justin is supposed to be better..hell of a family tree.

Sully,

Need the answer to the trivia question. I am going with Wettlent, Mo, Nelson and Stanton

Kennedy looks real good, I'm even surprised that he pitched 7 innings, but he kept the pitch count down. A-Rod atoned for his error in a big way and Seattle has already lost.

Like Borat say "Happy Times!"

Kennedy did a fantastic job. He really settled down after a long shaky 2nd inning prolonged by A-Rod's rare error.

Today's Stats:
7 innings
96 pitches
66 strikes
6 strikeouts
5 hits
2 walks
1 earned run
ERA 1.29

Iwamura's bat was confiscated because the Yankees questioned the flatness of the end of the bat. It was sent to the Commissioner's Office for inspection. No one knows why A-Rod's bat was confiscated other than out of spite and cheapness.

this is a joke

rivera in the 8th again???

come on - noone else can get one out

vizcaino looked like absolute crap and melky's lack of range was exposed in that inning

Chris,
Who would you have liked to see come in and get a much needed out in the 8th? Surely not Farnsworth or Bruney. I think Mo was the right call there and Joba can come back tomorrow right? I don't know if he appealed his suspension or just went ahead with it, which I would prefer.

Chris:

Surely Mo and Wetteland.
Then there was the immortal Gabe White who closed a blowout. No idea when and what team.

Nice to see Giambi finally get a hit, he'd been pretty cold lately.

Rieber: Congrats on your 10 year anniversary, not many people stay in their jobs that long these days. I hope Newsday acknowledged it somehow.

Hey...A win is a win. 2 Games up in the wild card.
Sweet.

Oh and I bet Clemens misses a start, every time they downplay something, especially with Clemens, he's sitting. Usually he only comes up hurt after losses though so this is different.

Zander is right.
Gabe White closed out the Twins in 2003

The other one, which was actually a save situation, was Ramiro Mendoza closing out my Red Sox in 1999.

El Duque won the ALCS MVP in 1999 and he was great... but Mendoza should have won. He shut down two possibly series turning rallies.

So that's the answer:
John Wetteland (all 3 in 1996)
Ramiro Mendoza (1999 ALCS)
Gabe White (2003 ALDS)
and Mariano Rivera (so many I can't even count them)

Kennedy better stay in the rotation over Mussina!!!

The Yankees would be better off with TEDDY Kennedy than Mike Mussina

I thought you were off for the weekend Sully? Or did you mean your Casual Observer alias;)

Great win for Kennedy! Go Yanks!

Just checking in
The hotel has wireless and my wife is taking a nap

I can't stay away from you people!

OK Blog.
I'm off for the weekend...

If anyone posts something this weekend and you think it is me... it's not

See you in September

Posted by: Sully | August 31, 2007 6:05 PM

I heard Clemens hurt himself by eating too much postgame spread.

Gary ,

I heard he laughed so hard he pulled his obiques over the suspension of Joba...due to the crybaby Sox. Waaaah!!!!!

Obiques? Must be some new fatty muscle.

I'll return Sully's trivia challenge.

How many players and managers and executives do the Yankees have in the Hall of Fame?

I'm not a doctor but play one on tv , the prior poster must have meant "obliques". Though I have heard in some rare occurrences , especially amongst Red Sox fans , that obiques , which are fatty brain tissue found in the simpletons , infact can be strained. I hope that clears it up Gary. please don't forget to watch my show:)!

Oops! I meant found in the simpletons brain. My apologies , young Gary:).

Kennedy continues to surprise everyone and pitch well at ever level.

I am not trying to complain or say that he stinks so dont take it that way, but I am upset with what I am seeing from Hughes. All the hype had me thinking he was a sure fire ace and woulde a be this years version of Jered Weaver, but he has looked very pedestrian.

After reading for the last 2 years that he was the ace for ears to come, now everyone is callin him maybe a future number 2. From looking at his stuff, I can see why. His curve is very good and he has a good fastball, not great though and his command has been aweful this season.

I am a little depressed about the whole situation (man that makes me sound pathetic) because I have been waitin with baited breath for this guy. If he doesnt establish a better change-up he will never even be a number 2 starter. Very dissappointing.

Kennedy was great though - throws stikes - has a lot of movement on that fastball and has good breaking stuff - I know it was Tampa, but you have to be impressed with his mound presence especially considering the adversity in the second inning

Joe Maddon should apologize to Arod... He whine and complain so much. Remember he's former bench coach under Mike Sciocia with Angels. Angels are known for Cheating.. Remember Pinetar incident with Donnelly and K-rod got cheating with pinetar with under his cap

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/c...stion-akis-bat/

Quote from DevilRays Fans about Joe

Posted by Charlie Troeger, Auburndale FL on 09/01 at 06:06 PM

Just goes to show you just how desperate the Yankees are down the stretch. This team was at one time a team with respect & honor but now it is classless money hungry and way over paid. They break the rules and just pay the fines and the league loves the $ Money $. Joe Torre should apologize to Akinori Iwamura, Rays, Umpires and the league for such a Bush League display. Aki is an honorable man that considers this a question of his integrity and honor.

Posted by Jim Smith, on 09/01 at 03:49 PM

Joe Torre is pathetic. That was a bushleague move. Stunts like this continue to justify why I hate the Yankees and their annoying fans. Then, Torre complains when Maddon does it. Torre is classless and pathetic. Marc, what are your thoughts on this matter?

Posted by John Carter, tampa on 09/01 at 02:59 PM

For a team such as the Yankee’s the call themselves a “classy organization” that is a a preaty classless move by Torre. If this is what the Yankees need to do to try to get an important out ia a game then there is no way they will go far in the playoffs if they make it. Buch league.

Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens looked very pedestrian during their rookie seasons as well.

I really believe that Hughes doesn't have the strength and drive in his legs that he should as a result of the hammy and ankle injuries he sustained this season.

Hughes will be fine. These kids are going to have their stretches of greatness and struggles.

There aren't many polished pitchers at the age of 21 or 22 and they will all get better.

Sox game...Markakis gets hit

Probable because of his 3 run homerun last night. No ejection. No fine. No suspension

Viper

Hope you are right -- I was expecting onconsistancy, but he hasnt shown any flashes of brilliance since coming back.

Perhaps it is his legs as I had read that throughout 2005-2006 he was clocked consitantly at 93-94 and could touch 96 at times.

Hopefully with a full offseason he can master that change, or mabe even a splitter. His and Joba's development and improvement is a big reason I want clemens back next year - more as a tudor than anything else

I assume the Clemens elbow inflamation is the reason he "might" miss his Mon. start. I can't imagine "foot blisters" causing Clemens to miss a Sept. start. The Yanks are notorious for "down playing" injuries, as we saw with Wang at the end of Spring Training. Wang was out roughly a month. The Yanks can't afford to both lose Clemens for any length of time, and add Mussina to the rotation.

Is that the same Alberto Gonzales at SS that was the U.S. Attorney General?

Way to go Kennedy! The University of Spoiled Children has produced many great pitchers ...

Seaver

Randy Johnson

Mark Prior

And now Kennedy

There are many others I could name ... if I knew them ...

Sully you are great!

Hughes' ankle injury has to be holding him back.

It's not good ...

Seattle has two games in hand so we are not ahead in the race.

What's with checking the bats? Strange ...

We need to win these kinds of games.

If Mussina subs for Clemens I will expect a good game from MM.

Rate the Kennedys

Ian
Joe
Ted
JF
Bobby

Suspend Bucholtz...

He threw at Miggy's head.

If you guys watch Futures game, Joba was overthrowing his fastball then. His control was way off.

Sox game...Markakis gets hit

Probable because of his 3 run homerun last night. No ejection. No fine. No suspension

Buchholz is pitching no-hitter. Hopefully this will jinx him.

Like Hughes did with Texas one -hit. Rangers have Texiera, Young, Blalock, Kinsler,Sosa

Hughes got hurt and needs to leave the game in the six innning.

Bucholz has electric stuff....wow, a no friggin' hitter!

Incredible performance by the 23 year old kid in his second ever ML start...first in front of the Fenway faithful....imagine what he must be feeling right now. THAT, my friends is why I love this game so......

Hughes will owned garbage and low dwellers The Boston Redsox Team for years to come... At least Hughes was pitching one-hitter on the road against Rangers. Let see Clay "Rich Garces" Bucholtz pitch on the road not at home.. owned.

Zander,

The only one obnoxious is you, you piece of Sh*t!

Any one of the million rookies the Yankees pitched so far this year pitch a no hitter yet! Yeah I didn't think so. Buchholz does it for Boston tonight!!!! What a staff we are going to have next year!!!! You guys won't see another AL East title for a long, long, long time!!!!!

Zander you little sh*t!!!!!!!!

Remembered Wang and Clemens almost no-hit against Redsox for two consecutive games. owned..

as usual, you just exude "class" knuckle-dragger.

Is this Buccholz retarded or slow? His interviews are so awkward. Personally, I believe he is on HGH and is a one time wonder.

30 runs or no hit by a rookie?

30 Runs by Ranger Offense or No hit by Rookie Redsox pitcher?

Oriole fans are on suicide watch. lol

The Evil Empire at It Again?

We knew it was going to happen, but just a matter of when.

Everything is clicking, the pitching has been strong, the All-Stars are playing like All-Stars, A-Rod is a beast, Jeter is Jeter, and yes, they have JOBA.

Just when the ship looked like it was going to sink, and the high dollar contracts would prove futile and swallow the Yankees, they have stormed back.

Now, they have overtaken the Wild Card lead from the sinking Mariners.

After struggling for much of the season, the New York Yankees are back in a playoff position, sweeping the Boston Red Sox to take over the AL wild-card lead.

Oh joy. I don't think they will take the AL East, but the Wild Card is theirs. As it looks right now, anything can happen...

I'm sure not a Yankee fan, but you have to give them props for storming back and making something of the season. We all may hate them, but they play the game the right way, and the talent on that team is so good that it cannot be understated.

I knew they were not going to be down for long, I'm just amazed the way they came back...

Ankiel .354 with 3 more RBI's.

Way to go Bucholtz! Uber pitcher!

He's no Chase Wright that's for sure!

Good for Bicholtz although Jeez..looks like Mussina will be back already, starting for Clemens in a crucial game no less -- think i may schedule a detist appointment and have some teeth pulled that day rather than be subjected to the pain that his that 5 minutes between he releases his fastball and it actually hits the catcher's mit.

Also on Mike, read a great article earlier this morning on one of those other sport sites...Talked about his stoberness and unwillingness to adjust. Spoke of David Cone who made an amazing trasformation when he lost 8-9 MPH on his fastball - didnt bring up Pedro who did as well. Also has some quotes from Orel Hersheiser who was a very similar pitcher to Mussina and had to make adjustments as well toward the end. Basically, if he wants to extend his career, he needs to slow his pitches down - change-up and Curve -- which would then make the FB look faster. Possibly altering his arm angle, much the way Pedro did to compensate for a loss in velocit and the way El Duque works his magic.

(El Duque could be one of the biggest travesties produced by the cold war and Cuba's move to communisim. Imagine this guy in his prime - we didnt even see it with the Yanks. A good guess as to his age would probably be 47?? That would give him conservatively 23-24 years in the majors. He would have been a 300 game winner, and is one of the funnest guys to watch pitch - shame he is on the Mets and that he and the yanks couldn't keep that marriage in working order.

Back to Mussina and making adjustments. True it is much much easier said than done and he cannot do it on the fly, but there is talk is unwilling to make adjustments. I get the feeling that next will be his last, but if he could master a 70 MPH curve and change and work off those pitches, that 85 MPH fastball looks 90. If he can drop his arm slot and become effective vs. righties he immediately becomes a much better pither (as duque has proven) you can pitch successfully getting pounded by lefties if you can dominate righties.

Mike, make some adjustments, and sanction a trade to the Padres. With no history of major arm problems it is conceivale that he can pitch 5 or 6 more years and win 10 games per. That would have him knocking on the 300 win door. The question is whether or not he would be able to adjust and willing to finish his career as a junk baller much the way Cone did. I hope he does because he has meant a lot to this team oer the years and I don't want to see him rot away in the back of the bullpen next year.

I hate to see a Red Sox guy do it..I have this theory about no-hitters on contenders propeling a taeam to a W.S.
Gooden/Wells/Cone..that coupled with someone in the organization cming back from a sickness (Torre/Straw/Torre's Bro) --The Sox have the Lester thing too...

I hate to say it, but I really think this is the Red Sox year...

How about future battles with these young pitchers though. Boy will it be exciting.

Joba, Hughes, Kennedy, Wang, Santana (thats Johan - he will start opening day in 2009) - not included Sanchez (injury), Brackman (an)infant with an injury

vs.

Beckett, Dice-K, Bucholtz, Lester, Papelbon, and surly they will grab one of the remainng stud free ant pitchers frok the o9-09 class

Lets get some objective responses on which core of young pitchers wou gus would rather have.

Finally, AROD is clearl the best hitter in baseball and when he gets fired up he is absolutly untoppale. After the bat incident, he nearly took the cover off the ball in his next two hits. Hopefully we get lucky and they confiscate his bat in the post-season because watching him hit with a chip on his shoulder is so much fun. Expext a big game from him again today.

sorry for the lenghty posts - nobody will probably read them, but it 6:00 AM and I am bored to death

I swear I am really not usually this poor of a speller.

I read that Clay Bucholtz was going to play wide reciever at Texa A&M. He must be a great athlete.

Certainly a clean cut All American kid. A role model for our youth. Thank God (Sorry, I mean, "The Supreme Being.") Though someone said in the post game interview that the Clay Man did not speak well. Maybe he thinks he's Miss South Carolina? Ha ha ...

What was wrong with the TB 3B's bat?

It's not like you are shooting pool. So what if it has a flat top? The Japanese are geniuses at technology and improving things ... just look at Hello Kitty!

Did the Yankees fear a better kind of torque or bat speed or mere corking?

Asking to check A-Rod's bat had to be a joke ... tongue in cheek and it was a point well taken by most baseball fans.

One thing I think I like best about the Yankees. You don't see the hideously ugly facial hair ... It is a good rule from George S.

Maybe we will win the Wild Card. For 200 million you need the playoffs and that would mean more revenue from tickets ...

I think it is a good team but I am still concerned with the road trip to the Angels and Tigers.

We are one team on the road, one team at Baltimore, and then another team at home.

What to think?

Congrats to Buch! I am a Yankee fan but can appreciate a no hitter! Now it's up to one of the Yank's kids to do it;)

Chris spelling and typing don't go hand in hand for me either;). I think the future pitching matchups will be awesome , though i give the Yank's the edge. DiceK is not what was advertised and I expect by next year everyone will catch up to him who has already faced him. Beckett is fine , until The yanks face hime..he shot his wad in '03 WS. Lester is a great story and I wish him well. Buch looks great but so does everyone who pitches a no hitter...Andy hawkins pitched one;).

The Yanks have several guys that just may do it at some point. I'd say both the Sox and Yanks are wealthy in young arms. Let the rivalry continue to grow.....

Hughes should've gotten the no-hitter before Buccholz though. If only Hughes hadn't gotten hurt. Now he hasn't been the same since, but it's obvious he's still going to be an ace in the future.

But, he didnt

Hughes needs a third pitch. That is the only difference between he and Bucholz. Bucholz has a great change and Hughes is pimarily a two pitch pitcher, otherwise their stuff is nearly identical. I am surprised that they didn't stress that more down in the minors, although that is most likely the reason why before the season they said they wanted him to spend a full year down at AAA.

I think that you may be selling Dice-K a little short. Remember, he is only 26 years old and is going to get better. I do like the Yanks future staff a bit better than the Sox, mostly because I just don't trust Josh Beckett. I don't know why, but I don't see him perrenially challenging 20 win seasons unless of course he continues to get 8 runs a game in support.

The entire division is really going to be special the next few years. The Orioles have possibly the 2nd best pitcher in the A.L. with a good supporting cast of young guns and Toronto has a nice young core of starters.

Watch out for Tampa Bay though. In a couple of years, if their managment ever decided to "go for it" alla the 97, 03 Marlins, they will be aweful dangerous. I am predicting them to be a contender in 2009 (Carl Crawfrd's last year before free agency). By then a lot of their prospects will have become stars and the post 2008 free agent class is amazing, particularly in the area of pitching

Red Sox and especially their fans are the worst!!!

Buccolz is a retarded moron who will get his butt kciked next time out!!!

Red SWox will choke once again and their next championship won't come for another 9 decades.

You suck Boston!

Yes, he didn't like I said. Thanks for the reminder though.

Hughes definitely has more pitches but he's not using them -- YET. Yankees brass knows better than to display all the ammo to the enemy at this point. This is a game of wits and strategy in order to win in a long season and in the post season.

Good Going Boston, keeping the Bucholz kid out there for 115 pitches -- 21 more than he's ever pitched before. Entertainment is great, the Boston crowd loves showmanship. Never mind the kid's health. Nice to show everyone all his stuff. And nice of you to reserve his seat in the HOF after one game. So typically Boston.

Maybe Clemens can teach Hughes a split finger fastball!

That would be a nice pitch moving down.

Now ... considering Babe Ruth, Stan Musial and even Ankiel ... up to .356 with HR's and RBI's galore ...

Who was the best hitting pitcher of all time?

Ken Brett?

This year Kip Wells is hitting .340 but not much power.

Bob Gibson hit .303 in 1970 and had 2 WS HR's in his career.

Don Newcombe hit .271 for his career with 15 HR's and 108 RBI's in 878 career at bats. It would be interesting to find out if people threw at him ... the first very good black pitcher ...

I know they threw at Mays but no one could hit him!
(Very wrong! But we won't go there for the sake of the morally challenged ...)

How about Don Drysdale who is 1965 batted .300 with 7 HR's and had an on base + slugging mark of .839 in 130 at bats? He also won 23 games as a pitcher that year. He also invented the Slinky.

Red Ruffing is in the Hall of Fame for his pitching. Yet he hit .300 or better EIGHT seasons! He had a remarkable 273 career RBI's. This was in the 1930's and 1940's.

Again I ask who is the best hitting pitcher of all time?

Again I ask who is the best hitting pitcher of all time?

==============

There is no debating this one. It's Babe Ruth.

Congrats to Sully, Casual, and Clay...

I am very disturbed that you guys have a pitcher who threw a NO No in his 2nd start.

Those morons on here trying to downplay this event are like myself-Jealous.

I saw a sweet curveball and a good live fastball in the highlights.

Future looks bright for the Sox's pitching.

I don't care what anybody sais Beckett is a potential cy young candidate every year and as he gets older he'll get better. Dice K is not quite as good but he too is in his middle 20's and it would be foolish to not expect him to also get better as he adjusts to his new league.

Tip of the hat to the Nation...

Rick Ankiel is a quitter. He got lit up and quit pitching.

Ankiel = Failure.

;-)

COA=OCD

Stop kissing up to Sox fans. Yankees fans know Red Sox scores and what their pitchers are doing just like Yankees fans know Seattle and Tiger scores and what their pitchers are doing. We don't need their fans coming here with updates and rubbing their wins in our faces while making mindless predications.

Clemens is a fat toad.