L in the T.O.

         I got home kind of late, and the Mrs. was ready with the spaghetti arrabiata right when I walked in the door.  I took my time with dinner, because I figured the game tonight was going to be tough.  Halladay on the mound and the Yanks coming off the bust game of a huge run of ten wins in eleven games.  Usually you get a little bit of a lull after a run like that, and the Halladay effect had me thinking that tonight wasn’t our night.  Today would have a good day for an off day, actually.  In fact, before I headed up to the loft the Mrs. asked me why I didn’t seem to be in any hurry to turn on the game.  I told her I didn’t have a good feeling about it, so I was taking my time.  So after my moping around, when I finally flipped on the TV I was pretty surprised to see we had a 3-0 lead in the 6th.  But just as I saw the score the Jays and Halladay were walking off the field about to hit in the bottom of the sixth.  I flipped to the Mets.  I didn’t want to watch.  I still had a bad feeling, and I also know how Mussina works.  When he does get into trouble he goes into super slow-mode.  And if he gives up runs it’s like slow, painful death watching it.  So I waited the entire inning of the Mets game in which the Reds put two on with nobody out and eventually failed to score (it wasn’t until later that I realized that it was a replay of a day game that had been over for about 5 hours).  But it must have taken ten minutes.  So I flipped back to YES and hoped for the best.  Now it was 3-1 with a man on second and one out.  My stomach immediately started to tighten.  Like I said, slow death.  Then they showed the play that scored the run.  Allie boy.  Ugh.  But I’ll get to that.  Frank Catalanotto has been a thorn in the Yankees side for years.  I’d love to know his lifetime average against the Yankees.  It just seems like he’s always getting base hits against us.  And Vernon Wells and Glaus just put the hits together in the right place at the right time.  An error, a bloop, a bleeder, and a ball that was fair by about 6 inches and missed Allie Boy’s glove by another six.  There it was; 4-3 Blue Jays.  Now I was pacing downstairs, explaining my pain blow-by-blow to the Mrs, who humored me, God bless her.  I had very little confidence that we would pull this out.  But I forgot how plucky these b*stards are.  And when Gibbons yanked Halladay at 93 pitches and went to Ryan with two outs and nobody on in the 8th, I figured that was a strange move.  Maybe we could capitalize.  So there’s Giambino with two strikes, two outs, and nobody on sneaking one through the left side for a base hit.  Allie boy walks, and Posada bloops us tied.  Tying it with a bloop.  How did they like it? 

         But it wasn’t meant to be.  My original hunch was right.  There is a bright side, I guess.  We took BJ Ryan for 36 pitches, which in all likelihood makes him unavailable for tomorrow.  We’ll see if it works out.  The Yanks got beat with Mo, which is rare, but it happens.  The Jays needed every one of their key guys to step up, and they did, with Wells, Glaus, and even Catalanotto coming up huge, getting 7 of the Jays 9 hits, all at the perfect time.  And the Yanks fought back, again.  But losing bites.

         I’m calling A-Rod Allie boy because I’ve decided A-Rod is a Seattle nickname, given to him by a Seattle broadcaster, and isn’t working in New York.  So I’m giving him a New York nickname.  Like Paul O’Neill becoming Paulie when he got to the Bronx.  It’s not permanent.  I don’t know how long I’m going to go with it, and I might think of something else, but for now this is what I’ve got.  And these throws have got to stop.  I watched him make three errors at third the other night, all on easy throws.  Another tonight, and it may have cost us the game.  If he gets the yips it’s going to be very difficult to break out of it.  Mackey Sasser, Knoblauch, Rick Ankiel, Mark Wohlers.  Once it gets in there things get real weird.

         The Sox have got a two game lead in the loss column, but they have some tough games coming up.  Twelve straight games against the Angels, A’s, M’s, and Indians, with a six-game west coast trip thrown in the mix.  The Yanks, in the same span, don’t have a picnic either, with seven games against Toronto and three against Texas, albeit with a three gamer against Tampa Bay thrown in.  If the Yanks continue to win or tie every series, they’ll pick up ground.  Because the Red Sox don’t play well on the road, and they are two games under .500 against winning teams (it gets way worse when you exclude the Mets, which you probably should, along with the entire worthless National League).   

         So this was tough.  Moose was better than Halladay, who wasn’t great.  And we got to him, but again, a few well-timed bloops and bleeders did us in. 

        Jaret Wright has had a few competent starts in a row, but if he was ever going to decide to join us on this journey, now would be a good time.  The Jays are a markedly less scary team without Hillenbrand.  I have to say….

        Series after series.  That seems to be the theme so far, courtesy of Umair and Lucky.  I do like Med’s and Ras’s suggestions, however.  Rocco, how about this one for you – “Any day that’s less than 130 degrees that I don’t end up with more sand than sweat in my shorts is a good day”.  Level, I agree with you, dude.  This year is the year.  But I have to admit, I say that every year.  Kind of crushes my credibility with one fell swoop, I guess.  Jason, great analysis over at Baseball and the Boogie Down.  If anyone hasn’t checked it out, it’s worth the click, as they say.

30 Comments

I have to agree with you on this one.The sox do play worse on the road then at home.So we do have a hard road trip coming up.Plus we are bad against the AL WEST we got a losing record against them.
-kaylee

I can't sleep....


I was watching the game with my Pops and I said to him an inning before "why do I have a feeling Gary Thorne (ESPN dude doing the game. YES isn't offered in any form where I inhabit) is going to do the Gary Thorne freak out yell thing because Toronto is going to end the game with a homerun. I hate when I am right and it hurts the Yankees.

Interesting concept on the whole A-Rod naming thing. Maybe it could spread some cool vibes his way?

Anyway, it has been said before. Losing like this is worse than those 19-1 games. Cleveland (or any other team) can have that. These are the ones that make my stomach feel like a fried egg on a ferris wheel.

Ahhh.....work in six hours

Love the A-Rod compliment. A-Rod needs a change. Allie Boy is amazing, and best of all.. it's New York. I wonder how can we promote this name..

Not to mention that whole **** with Dotel going on again. I really wouldn't count on him for this year I'm sorry to say.


Uhm, why did Joe bring Mo in with the score tied, and then use him for 2 innings? Heard a rumor that we might get Roberto Hernandez and Burnitz from Pittsburgh...what do you think?
Ras #45

For whatever reason, I'm being tested. It's taking alot for me not to explode at work. I'm surrounded by Sawk fans, and they know I'm a Yankee fan, even tho I'd never admit it....I need my job. Don't laugh, I heard them joking in the hall about a young guy that told them he's a Yankee fan, and they (boses) were saying, "We should fire him". Said in jest? I dunno, but I sure wouldn't test it; not here in Boston. I'm serious. These people are that sick.
Then I come into BPS, and feel I have to put up with a young kid who just wants to harass, also.

It's **** being a Yankee fan. But it builds character.

Ras #45

Burnitz is 37 Yrs old and batting .229, Hernandez is 41. Both play for a 35-62 team in the quadruple-A league. All things considered, I'm willing to give the Pirates Carl Pavano straight-up for both of them. Seems fair...

I'm even willing to throw-in our 2009 42nd round draft pick if the Pirates want to give us Craig Wilson. But only because I'm feeling particularly generous today.

at a loss. I get on here the other day chiming up for Arod, then he does it to me and moose. Sure you can say Moose has these innings, because, he does. But it also pisses him off when a sharp grounder to 3rd scores a guy standing on 3rd base. Part of me feels bad for him, but either way Im not going to start booing the guy. What a head case though. Weird rumors floating around about Arod/Cabrera to philly for abreu, gordon, bell, and burrel. No sense of whether its true or not. But rumors will be rumors. At least Moose didnt take the loss, but not much happier seeing mo take one.

Let’s keep booing A-Rod and run him out of town. GREAT IDEA!!!! He is the best ball player that most of us have ever seen, but who cares. He is now a 280 hitting error machine. I bet if the fans boo louder he will drop another 15 – 20 in his batting average. KEEP IT UP!!!! I believe that NY has the best sports fans in the world but this booing of A-Rod is just plain stupid. If this keeps up, I smell a fake injury coming real soon. The Yankees can look forward to a strong third place finish if that happens.

I was hoping Moose would be able to hold on until the 7th but it wasn't to be. I'm tired of hearing all the Red Sox fans going crazy over us losing 2 straight like it never happened before. I like the idea of a new A-rod name, anything to get our guy going. He is one of the premier players in the league and just needs some confidence to get going. As we all know he can carry a team for months at a time when he gets hot and we need it. I was discouraged by Dotel's setback, I'm guessing August now for a return from him. The good news is that Matsui is ahead of schedule and hopefully will be ready to go come the stretch run soon. Sometimes the best thing to do after a loss like yesterday is to get back out on the field and whoop some ***. Let's take it to the Jays and Burnett tonight, Go Yanks!!

Look guys, the sky isn't falling in. We still look good from where I stand.


Aren't the Phills looking to dump a contract like Abreu's? Not sure why they would dump his contract to take on A-Rod's. Doesn't make sense. But most rumors don't.

Ras my friend, I know what you are going through. My former place of employment I had a boss who was a Mets fan who was your typical jealous "I wish the Yankees would die in a plane crash" jerko. After he uttered those "kind" words I never discussed baseball willingly with him. My answers to him were a rather curt "you're right" after that. When I got to my new job I made sure not to go through that **** again and kept my teams to myself. Try your best to ignore them. Eventhough your fist would think better....

The "yips"! Hilarious.


I can't figure out how I feel about Allie Boy. Sometimes I just scratch my head wondering why everyone hates him so much, why he seems to attract such endless rancor for no discernable reason, why Yankee fans just can't be OK with the guy who won the freaking MVP last year... and other times I feel like we should just stop trying to make this work and figure out a way to package him up and ship him off to the national league where he'd do us the least harm.

One thing's for sure: this all feels a lot like Reggie redux in the press. Allie can NOT win for losing with the press. Which is odd, really, because he's not going off about his manager, or complaining how Jeter can only "stir it bad" or all that other **** Reggie dished out. People just don't like him - and they're not going to like him until he hits a walkoff homer in a World Series game 7.

As much as I admire him for putting up with it all - and as much as the booing infuriates me - I'm really getting tired of watching the soap opera - tired of watching him freak out. Tired of the constant "will he stay focused?" "is he over it?". So tired of the yips.

Ras #45, I have been in a similar battle with those fans except my advantage is that I am a native New Yorker, living in New York. Just the other day I almost got into it because I told a sawx fan that Ortiz is one indictment away from driving for a car service. This was considered a high insult. I didn't think the whole "winning" facade would crumble so easily. I said it in jest and everyone else laughed. This dude went from outright belligerent to having a stupid stricken look on his face. But it occurred to me how easily alot of the sawx fans slip into 2nd place mentality even though they are (barely)in 1st. Keep to yourself and keep your head up. You are embraced in your community, and that's what matters. As for the young kid-just keep in mind: We'll see who hangs in there after the first day of school.


As for the booing, I have liked some yankees more than others but I can't get myself to boo anybody but the opposing team.

mwsherry...great point...I have been saying it for a few weeks...and you would have to be very slow to not see how counter-productive this booing of Arod is...but it is also someone's job on this team to speak up about it....it is the fans right to boo and cheer as they see fit...but it doesn't mean someone with enough clout(Jeter, Posada, Torre, Bern) can't pipe up and say "enough is enough"...someone needs to go out on a limb for their boy...but that also brings into question how tight this clubhouse is...


Tonight's game is getting uglier by the second. A-Rod is letting this get to him. Even though he let the 3 run hr to bring us with 1, he gave up a error on a pretty easy play 2 innings later. Wright pretty much lit the mound on fire, and Chacon is doing his usual tip-toe through big innings. Were still close and the game is far from over so let's get it back. Go Yanks!

hate to admit this but i dont see the red sox having sucess tonight either they got KYLE SNYDER AND HIS 10.03 ERA PITCHING.Against seattle they are tough
-kaylee

Where is our fearless leader?
Today's a great day to be a Yankee fan - ANY day they win and the Sawk lose is a GREAT DAY!(plus the fact I don't get harrased). Note to Sawk fans: (guess that's you, Kaylee) we are NOT going away !!! 2.5 back. Just lurking and waiting for the Sawk to start losing on the West Coast, like they always do. Nice to see that Wakefield's out. Nice to see THEM get some critical injuries. I feel it in my bones that if we can land Abreu, it'll be edge we need to overcome them. And I really don't wish anybody any serious career-ending harm, but it would be nice to see their offense (Ortiz & Ramariz) hit the DL !! Why should THEY pay with a complete outfield?

Ras #45

PS: still don't understand why Joe put Mo in with the game tied Fiday night...

RAS:I am fully Aware that the yankees are not going away we the SOX have to win tommorrow
or we are in trsouble because we got Oakland next who have totall had the SOX number all season long they own the sox this year!And then the angels who The sox have had troubles with in the past.plus we got Beckett Monday at oakland and he did not fair well last time with OAKLAND'S hitters.Plus he is not a road guy he pitches better at home.SO I AM AWARE THAT THE YANKEES ARE NOT GOING AWAY EASILY!

-kaylee

And btw No excuses but it was our infeild and Julian Tavarez who lost it for us(the SOX) tonight
-kaylee

P.s.RAS:I am glad that the yankees are still in it because it would be no fun to win the division straight up like the mets are the SOX need the Competition and i have said it already and will say it again whoever win this division will deseve it.
And no those injuries are not good for the SOX but they can battle through them and dont Jinx manny or ortiz by wishing them injuries.

One other thing I wish wakefield well in his recovery.hope he is back soon.
-kaylee

Now that today's (Sunday) game has mercifully ended, we can get the h#ll out of Toronto and over to Texas to face the Rangers. This is one of those series' that you are better suited to just forget about and move on. A-Rod is 0 for 8 the last 2 games with 5 k's. He is struggling and I hope he can get everything back together and get on a roll since we need him and his glove. This was a series of missed opportunities and the Jays are good enough to get the series win when the Yanks play like they did.

best part about today has been turning on he red sox game just in time to see Sexson put one in the seats!! Makes today pretty much a wash.

LuckyLeftie:Yes it does but if the red sox he had better relievers then SEANEZ AND TAVAREZ left in the bullpen francona would have put in the closer but we have ******* Tavarez and seanez and had to save papelbon for extras had it gone that far.
-kaylee

I love the Way THEO thinks he is paying Julian Tavarez 3.3 milion dolars this season and Rudy Seanez1.9 Milion dollars this season to do what?
Blow games I love theo's thinking

-kaylee

Where *is* everyone, including our fearless leader ??????
Ras #45

The red sox won but so did the yankees!why cant the red sox ever win when the yankees lose???????They always got to win when the yankees win!
-kaylee

I've made a blog - Survival Guide For Yankee Fans In Boston......please visit. Being a novice, does anybody know how I get it listed in the active list of blogs?
Ras #45

Got a link ras?

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