05/02: Bullpen falters in Damon's return to Fenway
Posted by: Michael
Boston fans let Damon know what they thought of him last night, constantly booing Damon anytime he was at the plate, or was running down fly balls in the outfield. Damon went 0-4 for the night, and perhaps the BoSox fans did get to him a little. Who knows for sure?
The end result was a Yankee loss clearly from their lack of hitting with a team total of 4 hits for the evening. In fact, the entire offense for the night came in the fourth inning alone. Bases loaded, Matsui hits a weak RBI producing grounder to first to tie the score. Posada tries the same move, but this time we have Giambi on third who always looks like he has weights tied around his ankles. Then Cano, who is batting in the 7th slot hits a grounder right up the middle to add an addtional 2 more runs. That was all the offense for the evening folks.
Fast forward, tied in the eighth with men on second and first for Boston, Torre decides to yank Small and insert none other than Tanyon Sturtze. Sturtze then proceeds to give up a grounder up the middle from Loretta and giving the Red Sox the lead for good. Sturtze is yanked for Mike Myers to face Big Papi who then puts the game out of reach stroking a three run homer to seal the deal. Papelbon comes in an closes the door. Did we really expect a rally with that homer from Ortiz?
Some thoughts:
Does anyone have the feeling of strike out rather than home run when A-Rod comes to the plate now? Clearly a non-clutch hitter. I still admire his fine defense in the field, and hopefully the home runs will come to reverse my thinking.
Has Sturtze lost it? Does he have what it takes to be our guy in these situations? I believe so. In as much I was actually asking the TV...why not Proctor? Why not Villone? Then the run scores to put the Sox in the lead.
In the news this morning it is all over about how Big Papi continues to haunt the Yanks. Does he? I didn't think the Yanks could come back even from one run down. Did anyone watch the game to see that when Ortiz hit that home run in the 8th that the Sox were already in the lead???
Lastly, I disagree with Torre last night playing Cairo at first. Now, I'm not slamming Cairo and his abilities, but I'm a big fan of Phillips and giving him a chance. Give the guy a chance to get some ABs. Please!!! Crosby looked good in right defensively and made a remarkable sliding catch in the first. But at the plate he looked horrible. Another sign that lack of ABs will diminish your plate skillz.
We are back at Fenway tonight at Shawn Chacon (301, 4.56 ERA) takes on Josh Beckett (3-1, 4.50 ERA) in what will amount to another intense game decided upon pitching, strong defense, and come on guys...a few more hits would be ideal! Game time is at 7:05pm ET.
The end result was a Yankee loss clearly from their lack of hitting with a team total of 4 hits for the evening. In fact, the entire offense for the night came in the fourth inning alone. Bases loaded, Matsui hits a weak RBI producing grounder to first to tie the score. Posada tries the same move, but this time we have Giambi on third who always looks like he has weights tied around his ankles. Then Cano, who is batting in the 7th slot hits a grounder right up the middle to add an addtional 2 more runs. That was all the offense for the evening folks.
Fast forward, tied in the eighth with men on second and first for Boston, Torre decides to yank Small and insert none other than Tanyon Sturtze. Sturtze then proceeds to give up a grounder up the middle from Loretta and giving the Red Sox the lead for good. Sturtze is yanked for Mike Myers to face Big Papi who then puts the game out of reach stroking a three run homer to seal the deal. Papelbon comes in an closes the door. Did we really expect a rally with that homer from Ortiz?
Some thoughts:
Does anyone have the feeling of strike out rather than home run when A-Rod comes to the plate now? Clearly a non-clutch hitter. I still admire his fine defense in the field, and hopefully the home runs will come to reverse my thinking.
Has Sturtze lost it? Does he have what it takes to be our guy in these situations? I believe so. In as much I was actually asking the TV...why not Proctor? Why not Villone? Then the run scores to put the Sox in the lead.
In the news this morning it is all over about how Big Papi continues to haunt the Yanks. Does he? I didn't think the Yanks could come back even from one run down. Did anyone watch the game to see that when Ortiz hit that home run in the 8th that the Sox were already in the lead???
Lastly, I disagree with Torre last night playing Cairo at first. Now, I'm not slamming Cairo and his abilities, but I'm a big fan of Phillips and giving him a chance. Give the guy a chance to get some ABs. Please!!! Crosby looked good in right defensively and made a remarkable sliding catch in the first. But at the plate he looked horrible. Another sign that lack of ABs will diminish your plate skillz.
We are back at Fenway tonight at Shawn Chacon (301, 4.56 ERA) takes on Josh Beckett (3-1, 4.50 ERA) in what will amount to another intense game decided upon pitching, strong defense, and come on guys...a few more hits would be ideal! Game time is at 7:05pm ET.
Patrick wrote: