Game 14: Fenway

April 20, 2012 by Mike Axisa 256 Comments

Yankees Red Sox Baseball — Hope the Yankees score 100 runs today to celebrate. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

It’s just another game for the Yankees, but it’s a historic day for the Red Sox. Fenway Park, home to so many memorable Yankees moments, turns 100 years old today. The Sox will have basically every living Red Sox player in the ballpark and on the field for a pre-game ceremony, though apparently Theo Epstein didn’t get an invite. The guy only delivered their first two World Championships in a lifetime, I’m sure the Fenway faithful didn’t want to give him a hand anyway. Seriously, the Sox have never really been great at public relations.

Anyway, the Yankees will lend a hand in the festivities by wearing 1912 throwback uniforms, the same get-ups they wore when the place opened. There are no numbers on the back, so you better know your Yankees by their mannerisms. Here’s the starting lineup…

SS Derek Jeter
CF Curtis Granderson
DH Alex Rodriguez
2B Robinson Cano
1B Mark Teixeira
RF Nick Swisher
LF Raul Ibanez — would have preferred Andruw Jones in left with the wall
3B Eric Chavez
C Russell Martin

RHP Ivan Nova

Looking for a big outing out of Nova today, quality innings and lots of ‘em. The game is tentatively scheduled to start at 3:15pm ET and can be seen on YES locally and MLB Network nationally. We’re going to chat during the game, so join the fun after the jump.

Dale Mohorcic

Yanks should bring those uniforms back.
Paul VuvuZuvella

I’m a sucker for all this pregame crap.
- Dale Mohorcic
  
  Me too. I sort of feel dirty watching this though.
JohnC

Amazing that Fenway opened just a week after the sinking of the Titanic
http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa

Chat’s started, FYI.
Paul VuvuZuvella

Favorite Sock…Yaz.
TopChuckie

No Clemens, Schilling, or Boggs. I get Clemens and Boggs, I don’t remember Schilling leaving on bad terms, what’s his reason?

Yanks don’t have the red and blue socks, I was looking forward to that.
JobaWockeeZ

Oh that’s tasteless but hilarious at the same time.
- First time lawng time
  
  What happened?
Nathan

You stay classy, Boston.

“Awkward!”.
GardnergoesYardner

This toast is totally bush league. Millar’s wasted, Pedro can be speak English. I’d be embarassed that such a great ceremony ended like that.
- RetroRob
  
  Yeah, that was pretty bad. Were they drunk?
  - Nathan
    
    They are Boston players, aren’t they?
- GardnergoesYardner
  
  *barely
  - Havok9120
    
    Its better as originally written. I thought it was on purpose.
- Jesse
  
  I find it fitting after their fiasco last September.
- LiterallyFigurative
  
  Yeah, that was terrible.
Pinstripes in Cali

Millar and Pedro were visibly intoxicated.
- Darren
  
  I was watching at Hooters without the sound and I could tell Millar was drunk. What a shock!
the Other Steve S.

Somebody bring Ted’s head?
TopChuckie

Maybe not the best idea when your previous season’s collapse and subsequent dismantling of management was at least partially blamed on inappropriate alcohol consumption.
Nathan

I was just waiting for Millar to look at Pedro and say “I really waant to kissh you. I don’t care about the pitchingg stuggalingg”.
GardnergoesYardner

That Bucholz undefeated stat is exactly the fallacy of using wins in any kind of argument.
LiterallyFigurative

The Yankee uniforms look good. Shocking to see Jeter in stirrups.
LiterallyFigurative

Pedroia isn’t emotionally and physically invested in this game…..
GardnergoesYardner

Nice to see that 100 years at Fenway hasn’t changed the way the Sox field.
LiterallyFigurative

RBI for Centaur
Dale Mohorcic

I don’t recall the Yanks ever wearing throwback unis before.
- Havok9120
  
  That’s because we’ve never done it before.
- Jared
  
  David Wells wore a throwback cap once. Actually he wore a REAL Vintage Babe Ruth cap onto the mound. Boomer was a colorful dude. I think the Yankees should have shown up at Fenway today wearing throwback Babe Ruth uniforms. The entire team. That would have been jolly good sport.
JobaWockeeZ

That’s how a real 2B catches a pop up. And yes I’m aware Pedroia’s UZR destroys Cano.
GardnergoesYardner

First time in a few days I haven’t gone into the first inning commercial break cursing a starting pitcher.
jimmy

holy shit o_0
LiterallyFigurative

Is the “Swisher= garbage time” meme still circulating?
- Havok9120
  
  Damn straight.
FIPster Doofus

BuchhLOLz
flamingo

WOOOOOO this game is awesome

Look at our backup backup third baseman go!
Professor Longnose

Back to back. Yankees for some reason seem to handle Bucholz.
Havok9120

We were already leading. Garbage Time.
- LiterallyFigurative
  
  OH yeah, I forgot…..
LiterallyFigurative

These Highlanders really can hit……

Might have to wear these unis to Fenway more often.
GardnergoesYardner

If the hitting keeps going like this, a lot more attention is going to be placed on Martin’s anemic start with the bat.

#Freechrisstewart
- LiterallyFigurative
  
  Who needs Montero? We got Chris Stewart!
  - LiterallyFigurative
    
    #UnleashChrisStewart
thenamestsam

Someone who’s not stuck at work…Are they booing in Boston? Please tell me they’re booing. Even if they’re not I’m mostly okay with you lying to me.
- LiterallyFigurative
  
  Not yet, give it a few innings though….
Alkaline

So, can we keep these Unis?
- Professor Longnose
  
  Only if they rebuild Hilltop Park and play there.
LiterallyFigurative

In a game with throwback unis….can the umps actually use the replay system?
Karl Krawfid

Why were they throwing him fastballs inside.
flamingo

Is Sterling a rep for the umps?! “I’m not a replay fan, it stops the game too much.”

WELL IF THEY GOT THE CALL RIGHT…
NoH

Dang, it seems like no one is here. I know it’s a day game and a chat day, but still.
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  Mike is ignoring all of my earth shattering brilliant questions so I’m here now. ;)
- Havok9120
  
  I’m reading our and OTM’s Game Threads. Just not commenting much. So many things to read.
  - flamingo
    
    Ha, I should check out Over the Monster. The comments during the back to back homers must be amazing.
    - Havok9120
      
      The better one, by far, is the 18-3 game with Texas a couple days ago. Or the game where Valentine kept Bard in 25+ pitches too long.
      
      I make sure never to comment, because that’d just be rude. But its a ton of fun to read.
  - NoH
    
    Lol, I’ve glanced over there a little bit every once in a while and it has been epic. Man, and some people think that people freak out too much/ledge jump on this blog?
    - Havok9120
      
      Yeah, OTM’s people are losing it. I’ve read most of their Game Threads the last week or so, and they’ve been hilarious.
      - NoH
        
        They really are. I honestly can’t believe that some of them have literally given up on the season only a dozen or so games in.
        
        Havok9120
        
        And its the regulars too. Even the people that most of them consider reasonable. It’d be like if Plank, Needed Pitching, and I started Chicken Little’ing it.
  - GardnergoesYardner
    
    OTM’s game threads are pretty funny to read, because it’s a comibnation of people cursing the Yankees, swearing allegience to Ryan Sweeney/Darnell McDonald/etc. or just trolling. Heck, most of their comments look like troll posts.
    
    Far and away, RAB is the most civilized and sophisticated baseball blog.
    - NoH
      
      They do look mostly like troll posts, but some of them that have to be serious. Either way it’s oh so enjoyable to watch.
      - GardnergoesYardner
        
        I think that’s just the way Sox fans think.
        One of my favorite comments that I saw today was “I can’t wait until I’m 21 so I can drink while I watch the Red Sox lose.”
        If that was posted here, it would be disregarded as stupid. There, it’s part of the regular conversation.
Greg

So far Nova’s done pretty well.

Key is not to let those 3 at the bottom cause damage
- NoH
  
  My only quibble so far is his some of his pitch selections. I did not like that sequence against Ortiz, but otherwise he’s pounding the zone and painting the corners well.
  - Havok9120
    
    And his willingness to throw the breaking ball in any count is something I love to see.
    - NoH
      
      Indeed. His command of it has also been very good. I’m sure that he is benefiting greatly from the shadows greatly, but still he’s pitching solid at the moment.
GardnergoesYardner

What is this newfangled technology of replay that was used? Everyone knows that it is impossible to rewatch sections of a game a second time.

Next they’ll be telling me that there are these websites called “blogs” where crazed fanatics gather to verbally joust over irrevelant minutae, such as a plyer named Jesus. The very nerve of even suggesting that!
- NoH
  
  Well, I don’t know nothing about no fancy door code!
NoH

Bucholz is missing his spots and the yankees are making him work. Lets get to that battered bullpen quick.
JobaWockeeZ

Predictable
sdjohn

Damn, chance to not only score, but run up that pitch count by the boards. Cmon Nova…
NoH

Can we please put someone else in the outfield? How about Nunez?
- Professor Longnose
  
  Ibanez is brutal.
  - Greg
    
    Not as bad as Marcus Thames was
    - NoH
      
      I don’t know, dude. Thames was awful, but Ibanez might just be worse. Of course we really don’t have a large enough sample size, but given his performances so far, his atrocious play the last few years in the field, and his utter lack of speed to track any ball down, I would really much rather prefer someone gets out there. He can dick around out there while Gardner is out, but I hope this doesn’t become “a thing” and he is sent out there in games that really matter.
chcmh

Like the old time ‘roadies.’ Where can I get me a shirt?
Karl Krawfid

That was not Honus Wagner
rek4gehrig

I’m liking me some Nova :-)
Dela G

great job, nova!
Chen Meng Wang

I’m not asking smart enough questions for mike up there, so I’m joining the normal people down here in the thread =P
- Professor Longnose
  
  Who you callin’ normal?!?
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  Yeah, he’s only publishing the questions from the teacher’s pets ;)
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    Haha, he publishes a few of mine, but I wanna discuss the actual game on a regular basis.
Havok9120

DANG I like this guy.
Karl Krawfid

Chavez 2 bombs!
Paul VuvuZuvella

Chavez!!
swishers fauxhawk

Zombie!
Professor Longnose

Chavez trying to outdo Granderson?
flamingo

…Chavez? CHAVEZ? I love this game.
Eirias

Chavez: Bench This.
Karl Krawfid

Damn what a catch!
GardnergoesYardner

Seriously, first good SWING. Not hit. SWING Martin has had all year and it gets robbed.
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  at least the swing is coming around
- NoH
  
  Yeah, he got robbed. That was a great catch out there.
Dela G

Chavy!
NoH

I’ve got it! The key to making Chavez a productive member of the team is to rest him ten games in between appearances!
Havok9120

That was an amazing catch. I can’t even be bitter.
NoH

I’m really curious/excited to see how Nova does the next few innings. I want to see him turn this lineup over a couple times and see if he can continue to get outs.
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  If he does, he will once again have positioned himself as the Yankees Number 2 starter.
  - NoH
    
    I don’t want anyone to rush to any conclusions, but he has shown good stuff in all of his outings. Yeah, he had a rough couple of starts to get the season going, but it is really encouraging that he has at least pitched OK while everyone else seems to be struggling a bit coming out of the gate.
GardnergoesYardner

Next time you doubt the Yankees, just remember.

Joe Knows.
NoH

Is there any merit to sustaining a silly and mostly unprovoked hatred for Salty? Even just that nickname bothers me.
- Havok9120
  
  No, he’s not worth out time. The name isn’t good enough for us to hate a guy hitting .070.
  
  I mean, its not like its Plouffe or something.
  - NoH
    
    You’re probably right. It’s not like I hate him because he has been the Yankees bane. I just don’t like his face for some reason. Kinda like Jamey Caroll. That dude looks really creepy.
flamingo

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!
dontchaknow

A-GOD !!!
Bonnie Parker

AND THAT’S AN A-BOMB FROM THE A-ROD!!!!!!!! 5-1 YANKS!!!!!!
Athenian

That was a glorious HR by Arod.
- Havok9120
  
  Yeah, that broke a windshield in the parking lot.
Havok9120

BOOM!

Old Dude is rockin’ it today.
GardnergoesYardner

Chavez 2
ARod 1

Let the competition begin.
NoH

You know, it always feel great when Jeter, Cano, Tex, and Grandy get hot, but there is something so special about things when Arod starts catching fire. I can’t quite explain it, but it just feels so good seeing him drive the ball with authority.
- Havok9120
  
  Seeing him and Jeter hit and Mo pitch effectively are the three greatest joys I get out of baseball.
  - NoH
    
    Jeter is another guy to see hit well. I will never grow tired of the patented inside-out swing that has been a big part of his success over the years.
Professor Longnose

I can’t see Rodriguez not passing Mays, but it’s conceivable he tanks before he gets to Ruth.
- Havok9120
  
  Yeah, he could easily tank before then.
  
  Or he could blow Bonds outta the water. It all depends on health.
Dela G

home run derby
NoH

Damn defensive positioning!
Nathan

If A-Rod is healthy and anything close to the old A-Rod, the Yankee offense will be extra scary!
Eirias

Reading the OTM game thread as well and someone termed Mark Melancon as “Melancoly.” I’ll admit, that amused me.
- GardnergoesYardner
  
  They called Vincente Padilla “Vincent” and Mark “Tashera”. Spelling is obviously less important than chicken and beer to them.
  - Eirias
    
    Perhaps I was attributing too much intelligence to the lot.
    - GardnergoesYardner
      
      It’s best to just leave them be. They’ve been through a lot recently. They’ve seen things that no man should ever see.
  - NoH
    
    Whoever spelled Teixeira “Tashera” propably had no idea what the spelling was and was just half assing it. Still that’s pretty pathetic.
    - GardnergoesYardner
      
      It’s a hard name to be sure (I had to go through it letter by letter when writing it off memory for all of 09 and part of 10) but Tashera? Don’t even write if you’re going to do that.
      - NoH
        
        I still find myself occasionally misplacing a letter or two in his name as well. That spelling would be like one of us saying “Salttelamkya” instead of Saltalamacchia.
GardnergoesYardner

Pettite is really on his game in terms of command in the minors. Seems like a relief now that he is coming, when just a short month ago it was panned as overkill.
Paul VuvuZuvella

can’t bust on Swish for that…
Havok9120

Dang. Robbie with the hops.
Chen Meng Wang

Swish :(
- Greg
  
  You cant blame him for that. Come on now
  - NoH
    
    Yeah, there was virtually nothing he could do about that.
Eirias

Yes, Michael Kay. That is indeed the same sun. It hasn’t changed much in the last 40 years.
- Paul VuvuZuvella
  
  lol’ed
Chet K

Damn sun!!
Professor Longnose

Unfair to call that a double. Might also be unfair to call it an error.
Professor Longnose

Nova doesn’t let it bother him.
Professor Longnose

Chavez is nothing. Granderson got his 3 HRs by the fourth. Chavez only has 2.
Greg

Is Kay really going to call this Highlanders baseball?
- NoH
  
  He’s been doing it most of the game if I’m not mistaken. He does seem a bit giddy about calling them that, but he may very likely has some higher ups telling him to say “Highlander” here and there instead of Yankees.
- Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)
  
  Why don’t they REALLY stick with the gimmick and not let the blacks play?
  Just sayin’.
GardnergoesYardner

If chavy hit three homers tonight, I would personally drive to Beantown to give him a pat on the back myself.
Greg

Swung at the first pitch Chavy. That’s a no-no
Paul VuvuZuvella

Russell got the swing back
flamingo

The homering Highlanders, huh?
- Professor Longnose
  
  Can’t call ‘em The Bronx Bombers.
GardnergoesYardner

Chris Stewart curses and slinks back into the shadows…
JobaWockeeZ

Good to know that Nova gave up only one ER (it should be 1 ER)in a bandbox under perfect weather conditions. Conditions where Chavez hits 2 homers and Martin hits one. And Nova’s a fly ball guy too.
- Havok9120
  
  Yes, I was encouraged by that as well.
- NoH
  
  The bigger ballpark is probably helping his fly ball tendencies. It’s just really good to see that he’s been effective with the majority of his pitches, and doing some good work with his offspeed stuff.
Athenian

This keeps up, Selig is going to drug test the entire team. Only thing that would make it better is to see Youklis meltdown on Valentine. That would be top bill!
Greg

If Nova goes through this inning scoreless, I think we will be in good shape
- Professor Longnose
  
  He’s cookin’!
JobaWockeeZ

Aaron Boone is much better than Bucky Dent.
- Greg
  
  Difference is that they lost the WS to the Marlins that year so it probably gets beaten down a little
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    True but it’s a game seven in Yankee Stadium and extra innings. It’s tough to get more pressurized as that.
    - GardnergoesYardner
      
      I always have considered Boone better mainly for that reason, plus that it ended the game while Dent’s, while huge, was only towards the end. It didn’t even give them all runs eventually needed.
      
      Doesn’t get better than a Game 7 walkoff homer in the stadium against the Sox.
      - The209
        
        your handle is vaguely racist
        
        GardnergoesYardner
        
        How so?
Nathan

Can’t blame Swisher on that. Good to see some of our guys find their swings (Martin, A-Rod, Chavez).
Professor Longnose

Big batters here for Nova.
flamingo

Wow, a Nova with higher strikeout rates who can still get those ground balls will be really, really fun to watch going forward.
Ned Johnson

Is it too soon to call a breakout for Nova? All of the peripherals that people pointed to argue that he was lucky last year have improved greatly thus far. He looks great.
- NoH
  
  It may still be a bit soon. I personally am going to wait at least a few more starts, but what he’s shown so far, especially today, has been exactly what the Yanks need from him.
- Havok9120
  
  Yes, its too soon. Way too soon considering that the first two starts were hardly dominant. They were good, but he got hit hard. Sure, there’s something to be said for winning the game, a TON to be said in fact, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. This has been his best start so far.
  - NoH
    
    I agree. You have be happy about his strikeout and walk rates. Plus, he has held opponents to a .111 batting average with risp. I know it’s an extremely small sample size, but these are all good signs and if he can continue he could become very good.
BK2ATL

This Nova kid is pretty good.
Havok9120

Yes, that was the shift working.

Is it overmanaging when it works?
Dummies Playing With Balls (formerly Rainbow Connection)

These uniforms (Yankees) are bad.
The Sox costumes are far worse.
What a bunch of assholes.
- First time lawng time
  
  I actually like the Yankees’.
Bonnie Parker

Ivan Nova is our #2. He and CC will need to carry the staff until Andy and Pineda arrive. They’re our only consistent starters who give us a steady 6 innings. Nova should have won ROY last year but management sent him down to AAA. This kid is gonna win a Cy Young some day.
GardnergoesYardner

With every list on YES involving former players, it is inevitable that Singleton repeats one of the players’ names as in disbelief after Kay goes through them.
LiterallyFigurative

Why is Nova out of the game? I didn’t notice a high pitch count.

Nova isn’t walking people. I have no worries about him.
- NoH
  
  I think he was in the mid to upper 80’s. I wanted to see him go another inning.
  - Greg
    
    93 pitches through 6 innings
    - NoH
      
      My mistake. Still, I was hoping to see if he could be effective for another inning.
      - RkyMtnYank
        
        Me too, don’t see any reason he couldn’t have approached 110 pitches. Should have only had 1 earned run too.
        
        Chen Meng Wang
        
        I think it was just a matter of Joe wanting him to come out on a good note, also yesterday he left Hughes in for one batter to many, I think that’s in his head a little bit.
        
        NoH
        
        I can fully understand and appreciate that move and it really doesn’t bother me. The main reason I wanted him to go another inning was to see if he could keep it up, but I am perfectly fine with taking him out so he has the confidence of a solid start under his belt.
        
        RkyMtnYank
        
        I can understand that but seems like there’s something about Joe having to pull Nova in the 6th. Would have liked to see Nova finish the 4th time through the lineup.
        
        Chen Meng Wang
        
        If you remember, early last season and at the end of 2010 his biggest problem was going through the line up a 3rd and 4th time. Maybe it’s just a matter of Joe wanting Nova’s confidence( or his confidence in Nova) to be at an all time high before he has him go through the fourth time.
        
        Rookie
        
        The Rangers, with their philosophy about arm strength, would have probably pitched him right up to 120 pitches. I don’t know if that would have been good for bad for Nova, but I have to think it would have been good for the bullpen and its availability for the rest of this series and this tough stretch they’re in without Pettitte or Pineda.
    - LiterallyFigurative
      
      Oh, ok. Still, another inning would’ve been good.
      - Rookie
        
        And with a three-run lead and three righties coming up (although maybe they knew Spears would pinch hit for Repko) why not save Cory Wade for when we really need him and have Eppley start/pitch the eighth inning?
        
        Rookie
        
        And with a FOUR-run lead and three righties coming up (although maybe they knew Spears would pinch hit for Repko) why not save Cory Wade for when we really need him and have Eppley start/pitch the eighth inning?
        
        Rookie
        
        Whoops! I meant the SEVENTH inning.
        
        I’ve got to start drinking later on Fridays.
Chen Meng Wang

Not to pat myself on the back (RE: To Absolutely pat myself on the back) I called Nova getting off to a good start, and I’m so happy I was right :)
LiterallyFigurative

Not for nothing, but I wanted to see CC in one of these throwback, high sock get ups.
NoH

I can only imagine just how awful the Sox outfield situation will be if Repko is out for any length of time, and he himself isn’t very good.
LiterallyFigurative

“Send your player of the game votes by stagecoach. We will unveil the tallies in 3 weeks”
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  I don’t know if I should laugh, facepalm, or both?
- Havok9120
  
  I think that line is awesome. I wish I’d gotten to hear it.
Greg

Just realized. This game has gone pretty quickly for a Yankees Red Sox game
- LiterallyFigurative
  
  Wait till ESPN gets a hold of the rivalry.
  
  Cricket matches feel shorter.
Unravelled Santana

If any one is watching he redsox feed lenny clark accused swisher of being on steroids and being a jerk with a big attitude.
- Chen Meng Wang
  
  …why of all people would you attack Swish? He is literally the most happy-go-lucky guy on the planet. That’s like saying Kevin Millar had a bad attitude.
  - Professor Longnose
    
    He’s the pieman this year, isn’t he?
    - Chen Meng Wang
      
      I would think so. I can’t see Jeets or Alex picking up that mantle.
      - NoH
        
        I never really understood why AJ had it in the first place. Swisher fits the role much better.
        
        Chen Meng Wang
        
        Apparently in the locker room AJ was one of the biggest characters there. I think he just came across to the media and public as a sullen kind of guy because he was always talking about how horrible he was. I mean, that can’t be fun, constantly answering questions that are PC versions of “why do you suck so hard?”
        
        Professor Longnose
        
        I think the whole thing was Burnett’s idea. Just something he started doing at some point in his career. At least, that’s what I remember reading.
- Wil Nieves Number 1 Fan
  
  Good, I’m glad somebody is finally calling out Swish for his bad attitude. And I’m sick of punks like Orlando Hudson and Brandon Phillips getting off easy too. Their day will come.
  - LiterallyFigurative
    
    GET OFF MY LAWN!!!
- NoH
  
  It is extremely classless to talk about a playing in a negative manner as an announcer, especially spouting unfounded allocations like that.
- Havok9120
  
  Wow….
  
  Just wow.
- JohnnyC
  
  Lenny Clark is not funny. Never was. Maybe juicing would get him a real sense of humor.
LiterallyFigurative

Love the Homeruns, but not enjoying more RISP failure.
Chen Meng Wang

Swish has to take off for home there.
- flamingo
  
  Why didn’t he?!
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    idk man, I’ve just got the radio lol.
    - NoH
      
      It was poor baserunning, but I don’t think that he thought Ibanez would stay in the rundown for so long.
Greg

Swisher could have scored on that rundown
Chen Meng Wang

Even though we’re winning that was RISPfail at it’s finest.
- Greg
  
  Yanks 2-9
  Sox 1-10
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    Haha so uberfail by both teams.
Professor Longnose

All right, no jokes about whether Ibanez’s running is worse than his fielding. At least for a few seconds.
GardnergoesYardner

Is the too many homers narrative back in play? Or are we still on first inning runs, than stop scoring?
- Professor Longnose
  
  Both good. But drop the too-many-pitchers thing.
Chen Meng Wang

Is Jeter just uncomfortable playing on the right side of the infield?
Ro

Why in the hell does the shift work for Joe Maddon, without fail, every time, while the Yankees try it two nights back to back and the ball is hit exactly in the hole? Jeez.
- JohnnyC
  
  Because TB has an actual reason to put the shift on. Girardi is just doing this to seem smart.
Chen Meng Wang

I just thought about how funny it would be if Girardi gets thrown out of a game at some point in the season early in the game, and Pena brings in Robertson in the 6th or 7th just to piss him off.
- NoH
  
  I’m beginning to wonder if getting thrown out violates the binder in some way. I honestly cannot remember the last time Girardi got thrown out of a game.
  - GardnergoesYardner
    
    I remember he got into that screaming match with Acta last June, but I dont remember if he was tossed.
    
    Although the binder might have it written, “Engage Manny Acta in a heated argument at least once a summer.”
    - NoH
      
      Haha yeah, I remember that one with Acta. That was great. I think you have to ask yourself did he just say, “aw fuck it” and just decided to lose his shit, or was he just dooping around like an idiot because he thought it would be fun?
      - GardnergoesYardner
        
        Idk. The thing with Girardi is that he rarely gets pissed, but when he does…look out. I remember Tex was pretty pissed and I think whoever was pitching was giving up lots of runs, so Joe was probably trying to stand up for his player. Tex was getting hit a lot last year.
  - Chen Meng Wang
    
    Maybe Pena told him, “Joe if you ever get thrown out, I’m going to do the exact opposite of what the binder says.”
I’m sexy and I Cano it

Just got in. Nice to see K-Rob doing his thang.
Clyde Barrow

Shutup Youkilis you big cry baby. 3 outs away from raining on the Red Sox parade.
Greg

I know we have an inning to go, so its not in the books yet. But this game has been one of the easiest Red Sox Yankees games that I have seen in awhile
- GardnergoesYardner
  
  This is one of the worst Red Sox teams that we have seen in a while.
- Zanath
  
  I agree. This was a remarkably stress-free game.
  - NoH
    
    And the fact that it was actually quite short shows how quickly hitters were carved up.
    - Zanath
      
      Yup. I wasn’t actually able to watch most of the game (bah work), but it seemed like Nova was locked in most of the game.
Chen Meng Wang

Remember when Salty was one of the best young catchers in the game? There was a time when I wanted the Yank’s to trade for him to replace Jorge one day.
Clyde Barrow

Yeah, don’t wait to bring in Mariano. Do it right now. Eppley is gonna blow this and Joe is going to let him.
- Greg
  
  Say sorry to Joe
Chen Meng Wang

Sori or Mo?
Greg

Good move by Joe. Dont even let them sniff a comeback
thenamestsam

It drives me insane when they bring in the scrub relievers in these situations but then pull them as soon as they give up one baserunner. The whole logic behind bringing in the junky relievers is that they may give up one or two runs a lot, but even sucky relievers rarely give up four in an inning. But then as soon as one guy gets on they completely forget that logic existed.
- Havok9120
  
  I would have let him throw to the next batter. At worst, you’re bringing in Mo with a two run lead instead of 1.
  
  That said, I don’t have a problem with this. It’d be nice to put this in the W column after that disappointing series.
Chen Meng Wang

Zero cliff-jumping today :) very happy.
- NoH
  
  Nova (and all the homers) refused to allow it.
Chen Meng Wang

Lol at Mo having an ERA above three.
I’m sexy and I Cano it

“We want Tito” chants, lol.
GardnergoesYardner

Did you hear them chant “We want tito?”

I have to agree with them. I have gained a lot more respect for Francona ever since The Collapse.
Chen Meng Wang

Hooray, live look in for the end of the game :)
Needed Pitching

dominance
Chen Meng Wang

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a quieter crowd at Fenway.
- Havok9120
  
  I’m sure there’s been a blowout at some point and its been like this.
  
  Still, it was pretty quiet all day.
GardnergoesYardner

Yay for ruining the anniversary celebration. Things are not well in Beantown right now. Important for the Yanks to capitalize, and Texas and Detroit are locked in right now.
thenamestsam

Very good stuff by Nova. He impresses me more and more every start. I think he’s going to be around for a while.
- Havok9120
  
  Yeah, he’s reminding me of Andy Pettitte. He’ll get knocked around a bit, give up some runs, but rarely allow a blowout loss.
  
  And I love the dude’s confidence. Its darn impressive.
Karl Krawfid

Party Crashers
chcmh

Did I hear Nova has won 15 of his last 19 games? impressive.