Schilling sharp, Heredia to DL, the game continues.
Curt Schilling began by throwing mid-90s with pinpoint control. The umpire is calling a low strike, and Curt was right on the black at the knees. Rodriguez got a good swing on a fattish fastball (Schilling's only mistake) but just missed, lofting it to centerfield.
Michael Kay just noted on the CBS broadcast that Felix Heredia (I'd pretty much forgotten about him) was placed on the 15-day DL today. This provides a temporary solution to the impending roster crunch as long as the Yankees are content to have Gabe White as the only late-game lefty in the bullpen. They should be.
Mussina looked good in the first inning although he still doesn't seem to have his best fastball. Perhaps he'll loosen up.
In the bottom of the 2nd, it's clear that Mussina doesn't have control of his breaking stuff. That's especially ungood, considering he's not breaking 90 mph with his fastball. After a groundout, Mussina walked Varitek and Bellhorn back-to-back. A soft single by Kapler loaded the bases.
As the Boston fans break out the first "Pokey! Pokey! Pokey!" chant ever to reach my ears, Reese strikes out on a way-too-high fastball. He'd run the count full to Reese, and then again to Damon before walking him, bringing in a run. That's three walks this inning. And then he hit Mueller!
Where is the Mike Mussina we've come to know? He walked 40 in 31 starts last year. This year, he's already walked 9 in 17.3 innings. Thankfully, Ortiz rolls a broken-bat grounder to Wilson for the third out. 2-0, Sox. Mussina has thrown 52 pitches through two innings. He'd better get it together, as Osborne and DePaula both pitched last night.
Here's something I didn't know about Alex Rodriguez: He blows boogers out of his nose before each at bat. I noticed it recently, and the cameras have caught him doing it over and over. He hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire so far, so maybe he should leave 'em in there.
Great play by Rodriguez on a shot to his right, but it's cold comfort as the Red Sox tack on another run on the play. 3-0. Mussina's up to 71 pitches after three innings.
Top 4, Sheffield on first with one out. Matsui has worked the count full, and now Sheffield is running on every pitch, for three foul balls. I don't like the risk, whether or not Matsui is a "contact hitter." It works out, though, as Matsui lines a single to right-center, Sheffield making third. Unfortunately, Posada grounds into a DP to end the threat.
God bless Johnny Damon. On a one-out popup by David Ortiz, Damon jogged from first to third and was easily doubled up by Rodriguez. He was even nice enough to step over second base, without touching it, on the way.
Top 5: Clark just CRUSHED a ball to centerfield for a long home run. Too bad he might never play again, what with Travis Lee joining the team.
Bottom: Just as Mussina seemed to be settling in, Ramirez blasted a ball out of the stadium for his 350th home run. That was a shot that made Clark's look feeble, clearing the Volvo billboard.
I would like to have Joe Torre's inner monologue scrolling across the bottom of the screen like one of those cable news tickers.
Top 6: Schilling seemed to tire somewhat in the 6th, loading the bases (K, walk, foulout, single, walk). He gets out of it, inducing Clark to ground out. 108 pitches, 72 for strikes.
Bottom: Osborne relieves Mussina - 99 pitches, 59 strikes. Quick flyout (well-hit) and strikeout, then Mueller lines one off the Monster for a single. Matsui's gotten a lot better out there since last year. Osborne is throwing as hard as Mussina, which says more about the latter than the former.
Top 7: With Wilson on first, Jeter just finished off a pretty damn fine at bat poorly. Down 0-2, he battled back to a full count, fouling off several pitches before watching strike three. Schilling threw at least 10 pitches in that at bat, and now he's out of the game. Mike Timlin is in. His control is awful, but he escapes on a double play hit into by Rodriguez. The Sox fail to score in the bottom, despite some defensive follies by the Yankees infield.
Top 8: Yankees don't even threaten to threaten. Bottom: More Keystone Kops defense. Bellhorn, on first by HBP, takes off for second on a slow curve. Posada threw a screwball down to second that went into centerfield. Bellhorn made third on the play. Pokey then bounced one back to Osborne, and they got Bellhorn out in a rundown that allowed Reese to make second. Damon then lined one to left that Matsui misplayed (didn't make much difference), scoring Reese. 5-1 now, 9th inning on deck.
Top 9: Foulke is in to nail it down, and he gets two quick outs from Posada and Matsui. Sierra pinch hits for Wilson and grounds a single up the middle. He takes second on defensive indifference, then scores on a hard single by Jeter. Jeter also takes second on DI. Groundout, 3-unassisted, and it's over.
Not much good happened today, other than a super play by Rodriguez in the field. Once again, the Yankees had opportunities and couldn't push runs across. I don't think that's going to be a lingering problem, but it sure isn't fun to watch right now.
Red Sox win, 5-2.
Michael Kay just noted on the CBS broadcast that Felix Heredia (I'd pretty much forgotten about him) was placed on the 15-day DL today. This provides a temporary solution to the impending roster crunch as long as the Yankees are content to have Gabe White as the only late-game lefty in the bullpen. They should be.
Mussina looked good in the first inning although he still doesn't seem to have his best fastball. Perhaps he'll loosen up.
In the bottom of the 2nd, it's clear that Mussina doesn't have control of his breaking stuff. That's especially ungood, considering he's not breaking 90 mph with his fastball. After a groundout, Mussina walked Varitek and Bellhorn back-to-back. A soft single by Kapler loaded the bases.
As the Boston fans break out the first "Pokey! Pokey! Pokey!" chant ever to reach my ears, Reese strikes out on a way-too-high fastball. He'd run the count full to Reese, and then again to Damon before walking him, bringing in a run. That's three walks this inning. And then he hit Mueller!
Where is the Mike Mussina we've come to know? He walked 40 in 31 starts last year. This year, he's already walked 9 in 17.3 innings. Thankfully, Ortiz rolls a broken-bat grounder to Wilson for the third out. 2-0, Sox. Mussina has thrown 52 pitches through two innings. He'd better get it together, as Osborne and DePaula both pitched last night.
Here's something I didn't know about Alex Rodriguez: He blows boogers out of his nose before each at bat. I noticed it recently, and the cameras have caught him doing it over and over. He hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire so far, so maybe he should leave 'em in there.
Great play by Rodriguez on a shot to his right, but it's cold comfort as the Red Sox tack on another run on the play. 3-0. Mussina's up to 71 pitches after three innings.
Top 4, Sheffield on first with one out. Matsui has worked the count full, and now Sheffield is running on every pitch, for three foul balls. I don't like the risk, whether or not Matsui is a "contact hitter." It works out, though, as Matsui lines a single to right-center, Sheffield making third. Unfortunately, Posada grounds into a DP to end the threat.
God bless Johnny Damon. On a one-out popup by David Ortiz, Damon jogged from first to third and was easily doubled up by Rodriguez. He was even nice enough to step over second base, without touching it, on the way.
Top 5: Clark just CRUSHED a ball to centerfield for a long home run. Too bad he might never play again, what with Travis Lee joining the team.
Bottom: Just as Mussina seemed to be settling in, Ramirez blasted a ball out of the stadium for his 350th home run. That was a shot that made Clark's look feeble, clearing the Volvo billboard.
I would like to have Joe Torre's inner monologue scrolling across the bottom of the screen like one of those cable news tickers.
Wow, Mussina's really laboring out there. Home run, walk, single. Nobody out, maybe I should get somebody warming up. Naaaaaaaaaah.The Yankees catch a break. Bellhorn lines into a double play, Kapler grounds out.
Top 6: Schilling seemed to tire somewhat in the 6th, loading the bases (K, walk, foulout, single, walk). He gets out of it, inducing Clark to ground out. 108 pitches, 72 for strikes.
Bottom: Osborne relieves Mussina - 99 pitches, 59 strikes. Quick flyout (well-hit) and strikeout, then Mueller lines one off the Monster for a single. Matsui's gotten a lot better out there since last year. Osborne is throwing as hard as Mussina, which says more about the latter than the former.
Top 7: With Wilson on first, Jeter just finished off a pretty damn fine at bat poorly. Down 0-2, he battled back to a full count, fouling off several pitches before watching strike three. Schilling threw at least 10 pitches in that at bat, and now he's out of the game. Mike Timlin is in. His control is awful, but he escapes on a double play hit into by Rodriguez. The Sox fail to score in the bottom, despite some defensive follies by the Yankees infield.
Top 8: Yankees don't even threaten to threaten. Bottom: More Keystone Kops defense. Bellhorn, on first by HBP, takes off for second on a slow curve. Posada threw a screwball down to second that went into centerfield. Bellhorn made third on the play. Pokey then bounced one back to Osborne, and they got Bellhorn out in a rundown that allowed Reese to make second. Damon then lined one to left that Matsui misplayed (didn't make much difference), scoring Reese. 5-1 now, 9th inning on deck.
Top 9: Foulke is in to nail it down, and he gets two quick outs from Posada and Matsui. Sierra pinch hits for Wilson and grounds a single up the middle. He takes second on defensive indifference, then scores on a hard single by Jeter. Jeter also takes second on DI. Groundout, 3-unassisted, and it's over.
Not much good happened today, other than a super play by Rodriguez in the field. Once again, the Yankees had opportunities and couldn't push runs across. I don't think that's going to be a lingering problem, but it sure isn't fun to watch right now.
Red Sox win, 5-2.
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