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Follow us on TwitterI hate to anoint any game a must-wing game, but tonight’s game is as close to a must-win as any the Yanks have played this season. In Minneapolis, the Tigers scored four early runs and held on late to sweep the Twins this weekend. So the Yanks find themselves up by just 2 in the Wild Card race and in need of a win.
Meanwhile, the Yanks are going with a different look tonight. Hideki Matsui, he of the hot July, has hit two home runs since August 1. During that span, he’s hitting a quiet .277/.358/.392 in 148 at bats. His September is worse: .125/.308/.200 in 40 at bats with just two extra base hits. He’s sitting tonight.
Jason Giambi, the victim of an HBP retaliation yesterday that angrily did not result in any ejections, is out of the lineup while Jorge Posada DHs after his jarring collusion with Eric Hinske. Giambi, who hadn’t looked great in the field this weekend, will be replaced by Doug Mientkiewicz. This game marks Mientkiewicz’s first start since June.
It’s a matchup for the ages — or at least six years ago — as Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling face off. This matchup was the main attraction for the heartbreaking game 7 of the 2001 World Series. On the plus side, this game could be a six-inning affair. Joba’s available for two tonight and Rivera is rested and ready as well. Here we go.
New York Yankees
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
Rodriguez 3B
Posada DH
Cano 2B
Cabrera CF
Mientkiewicz 1B
Molina C
Clemens P
Boston Red Sox
Ellsbury LF
Pedroia 2B
Ortiz DH
Lowell 3B
Drew RF
Varitek C
Hinske 1B
Crisp CF
Lugo SS
Schilling P
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I have been wanting them to sit/DH Matsui since last week. His knee seems to really affect his swing. Hopefully the rest will do him good. Also, they shouldn’t play Giambi at 1B anymore. It was good while it lasted, except for the last two games.
I have no problem with the Sox fans booing Clemens now. Heck, Yankee fans booed Boomer when he came back as a Red Sock (but that was after they cheered him like crazy as a Padre).
But I’d be pretty disappointed in RSN if they boo him whenever he comes out of the game. He’s the greatest pitcher in franchise history, and even though he’s wearing a Yankee uniform, the man should get nothing less than a standing O in what is likely his last ever game as Fenway.
Oy. This better not become one of those games…
Ben, I was just thinking the same thing. And we get to listen to Joe Morgan while it happens, for twice the pain.
I love watching Mink play. His D is worth the price of admission.
Dear lord, Joe Morgan is insufferable.
Red Sox catch a break they don’t need there. Should be first and third. That’s just great.
And that should have been a sac fly.
Insult to the injury right there. The powers that be should figure out how to get rid of these bad calls.
That was a terrible call. Damon was safe by half a step or so. Grrr.
(If anyone’s having problems leaving comments, e-mail me at Ben at riveraveblues dot com. Not sure if something’s wrong or not…)
I’m pretty sure Cano hit 2 homers off Schilling just like that one in the last series in the Bronx. Robbie’s got him figured out.
That was a pretty sweet shot.
Yeah, he’s not doing too bad against him. 11-for-28 and .393/.414/.714/1.128 coming in.
3-5 in 05.
3-12 in 06 with a HR.
and now 6-12 with 3 HRs this year. Not too shabby.
the Damon out at 1st was classic crap…
boston gets all the calls at home..
Nice job there by Roger.
Yanks bats loook bad so far. Not doing a good job of working the count against Schilling for the 2nd time in a row.
Looks like Schilling will pitch 9 innings with 80 pitches tonight. I can’t believe they aren’t working the cout better against him when they usually do.
Class acts those Red Sox fans, I tells ya.
That was some terrible pitch selection in that at-bat against Hinske. Poor work by Molina.
Ellsbury just got owned. Completely overmatched right there.
In other news, I count 3 hits saved by Mink so far tonight, and at least 2 runs, probably 3 though.
Well, phew.
72 pitches in the 8thi inning. Pathetic.
+5 so far on the Mink hit counter.
Please tell me Joe Torre didn’t just pinch hit for Jose Molina. Great strategy giving UP THE DH YOU FUCKING MORON!!!
It’s so cute that you seem shocked by Joe.
Well then. Carry on.
LOL.
Man, the Yanks are getting killed by the bads today. Bad call early on. Bad luck with that Giambi ball that was 10 inches away from a home run. And bad baserunning right there on Damon’s dinky out. Bad clutch hitting too.
Except for right there. Nevermind. That was pretty fucking clutch.
Clutch?
Oh, right, that thing that doesn’t exist…
De-rek Je-ter!
Non-NYY fans can harp on the guy all they want. Moments like that define the greatness of Derek Jeter.
I am a Yankee fan, but I do hope all of you realize how utterly absurd it is to even think for a second that “clutch” exists. It simply doesn’t. However, luck does, and if you want to call Derek Jeter lucky, I can go with that.
Trust me, I love DJ as much as you do. Just for different reasons.
Oh clutch absolutely exists. Just because it can’t be measured by some voodoo sabermetric bullshit, doesn’t mean it’s not real.
(I hope this didn’t come off as some personal attack on you Adam, I don’t mean it like that at all)
Filthy curve by Joba. Sit down you fucking leprechaun.
First earned run for Joba.
First ever ER in Joba’s career. Too bad the Sox are still going to lose.
Oh, well. Joba’s not going to give no earned runs forever. I like seeing pitchers throwing strikes and challenging hitters here. What can ya do?
That was a good pitch. Out of the strikezone, 98 mph. What are you gonna do? Tip your cap to Lowell and move on.
That Joba guy is a bum. Butholz would have never given up that homer. And wait til Daniel Bard comes up. He’s gonna be wicked awesome.
After this season, Lowell should decide to stop killing us and return home - the yankees. He would be a fine replacement for A-Rod.
No one would be a fine replacement for A-Rod.
Lowell is having a career year in his contract year. Hell of a coincidence I say.
Pass please. Don’t need to blow another $10M a year on league average production (that wall is inflating his numbers, you know it, I know it, he knows it).
Career years happen. Example A: Adrian Beltre. Example B: Our own Jorge Posada.
Beltre had his career year in a contract year. Jorge’s a FA this winter.
I’m going to lose another five years of my life tonight…Come on, Mo.
Or dinner. I could lose dinner. Come on.
Games like this are good for your heart - they make it work harder.
Gah. Phew.
No need to wake up and do some cardio tomorrow. Or the 10 days after that.
huge win. win the season series against the sux. need to beat up on baltimore, tb, and toronto..
huge win 3 in the loss on Detroit….
I’m taking some Zanex & scotch right now, holy shit!!
looks like the yanks can win some one run games after all this year
Everyone raise your hand if you love the way that JoBA pitches these bitches inside
Consider my hand raised. See comment on the Joba Watch.
that’s excellent mike A, JoBA gives those clowns an idea what to expect for the next decade- don’t get too comfortable in the box fellas
Excellent? But I thought i was a bore with a bug up my ass about Melky?
you do have a bug up about Melky, this site is sweet except for your riding of the Melkyman, which is boring, much more interesting to see pics of shelly duncan giving it to the next generation of Sox nation
ditto for clippard in the past, even if he was right about this year