Ortiz came up big to put Boston ahead 4-3 with a homer in the 5th innning. Boston seemed to be gathering some momentum scoring another run in the seventh. He also hit a double in the ninth, but Boston failed to score (obviously).
Derek Jeter with two outs in the 9th, drives in Melky Cabrera on a bloop single to right. Game is tied. He also started the Yankees rally in the 4th inning and scored on Giambi's HR.
The series is not only important because the Yankees can go up 6.5, but also in terms of the MVP race between Jeter and Ortiz.
I think that if the Yankees win the division Jeter wins it because he plays the field. Hopefully the sports writers will continue to register their silent protest by refusing to award a DH. Of course, that traditionalism kicked us in the butt a little last year, because Mo was certainly more valuable than Colon--who had a good but hardly great season--but I'd take it this year.
Absolutely. I agree with both statements. This team has really come together. The lineup is reminiscent of the great teams of the 90s. It may end up that losing Sheff and Matsui were the best things that could have happened to us. It made this a team of execution again. Melky and Bernie have been terrific. It's great to watch two guys overachieve the way they have, one too young to play this mature and the other recapturing old magic. This team is hard not to like.
Abreu is a perfect fit. He's a line drive hitter who sees a ton of pitches, kind of like a Paul O'neill. Our front four is devastating right now. If A-Rod turns it on--good God.
But speaking of A-Rod, he doesn't even seem to fit anymore. He seems a part of the failed Yankees teams of seasons past, those slugging teams that seemed to live and die by the homer. If he gets hot he could still be the difference between a world and division championship, but I feel as if the Yanks and the fans have already moved beyond him. They don't depend on him. If he gets the job done, great, but if not we can rely on eight other guys. And I think he must feel it, too. His mediocrity is becoming old news. He's too arrogant to show any real frustration with himself out there, but you can see his disappointment in his indignation.
I too think we (the fans) have moved on from A-Rod as the offensive centerpiece of the lineup BUT that means he should not be in the 4-hole anymore. Even in our wildly successful offensive series against Boston, A-Rod's penchant for grounding into the double play was obvious. It was great to get so much production out of everyone else to overcome those mistakes by Rod, but when we get to the playoffs-- specifically, when we face better pitching than Boston's rotation-- we're not going to have such a wide margin for error. A-Rod's ineffectiveness is going to be a persistent problem for this team, and I can only hope he moves beyond his ego and gets back to being a ballplayer again (soon).
On the positive side, I saw something in the dugout today, just before the first pitch that made me smile from ear-to-ear. Melky and Cano did their traditional handshake before the game started. The dugout camera showed Melky's face and I gotta tell ya, there's nothing more encouraging than seeing a copule of kid on the Yankees loving their jobs. The two of them have really filled a void in our lineup, but also they've brought an energy to this team that "veterans" sometimes lack. As is, I think this team is a perfect blend of age and experience and talent.
Agreed. Check out this vignette on Abreu from the NY Times:
"The usually unflappable Torre said that he was emotional after the game as he thanked his players for what they had done in Boston. Torre offered his appreciative words to Abreu near a bathroom sink in the cramped, yet giddy, clubhouse.
'With Bobby,' Torre said, 'I told him I couldn’t be prouder to have him here.'
Torre said Abreu smiled, shook his head and said nothing, which Torre understood as Abreu’s way of responding that he was thrilled to be with the Yankees.
'It means a lot to me,' Abreu said of the encounter with Torre. 'He’s happy to have me here. He believes in me.'
'This is the right team,' Abreu said. 'This is the right time.'"
Abreu has been a fantastic pick up, if for nothing else then he is the biggest pain in the ass for a pitcher to face. I've never seen a player constantly have so many pitches per at bat. Even when he gets out, he wears out the opposing team's starter. Just look at his walk total. It's unheard of for someone who isn't a power hitter.
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Papi vs. Jeter
Ortiz came up big to put Boston ahead 4-3 with a homer in the 5th innning. Boston seemed to be gathering some momentum scoring another run in the seventh. He also hit a double in the ninth, but Boston failed to score (obviously).
Derek Jeter with two outs in the 9th, drives in Melky Cabrera on a bloop single to right. Game is tied. He also started the Yankees rally in the 4th inning and scored on Giambi's HR.
The series is not only important because the Yankees can go up 6.5, but also in terms of the MVP race between Jeter and Ortiz.
What say you fellas?
I think that if the Yankees win the division Jeter wins it because he plays the field. Hopefully the sports writers will continue to register their silent protest by refusing to award a DH. Of course, that traditionalism kicked us in the butt a little last year, because Mo was certainly more valuable than Colon--who had a good but hardly great season--but I'd take it this year.
Now the AL East pennant is ours to lose.
Absolutely. I agree with both statements. This team has really come together. The lineup is reminiscent of the great teams of the 90s. It may end up that losing Sheff and Matsui were the best things that could have happened to us. It made this a team of execution again. Melky and Bernie have been terrific. It's great to watch two guys overachieve the way they have, one too young to play this mature and the other recapturing old magic. This team is hard not to like.
Abreu is a perfect fit. He's a line drive hitter who sees a ton of pitches, kind of like a Paul O'neill. Our front four is devastating right now. If A-Rod turns it on--good God.
But speaking of A-Rod, he doesn't even seem to fit anymore. He seems a part of the failed Yankees teams of seasons past, those slugging teams that seemed to live and die by the homer. If he gets hot he could still be the difference between a world and division championship, but I feel as if the Yanks and the fans have already moved beyond him. They don't depend on him. If he gets the job done, great, but if not we can rely on eight other guys. And I think he must feel it, too. His mediocrity is becoming old news. He's too arrogant to show any real frustration with himself out there, but you can see his disappointment in his indignation.
I too think we (the fans) have moved on from A-Rod as the offensive centerpiece of the lineup BUT that means he should not be in the 4-hole anymore. Even in our wildly successful offensive series against Boston, A-Rod's penchant for grounding into the double play was obvious. It was great to get so much production out of everyone else to overcome those mistakes by Rod, but when we get to the playoffs-- specifically, when we face better pitching than Boston's rotation-- we're not going to have such a wide margin for error. A-Rod's ineffectiveness is going to be a persistent problem for this team, and I can only hope he moves beyond his ego and gets back to being a ballplayer again (soon).
On the positive side, I saw something in the dugout today, just before the first pitch that made me smile from ear-to-ear. Melky and Cano did their traditional handshake before the game started. The dugout camera showed Melky's face and I gotta tell ya, there's nothing more encouraging than seeing a copule of kid on the Yankees loving their jobs. The two of them have really filled a void in our lineup, but also they've brought an energy to this team that "veterans" sometimes lack. As is, I think this team is a perfect blend of age and experience and talent.
The Abreu/O'Neill comaprison is extremely appropriate too.
Agreed. Check out this vignette on Abreu from the NY Times:
"The usually unflappable Torre said that he was emotional after the game as he thanked his players for what they had done in Boston. Torre offered his appreciative words to Abreu near a bathroom sink in the cramped, yet giddy, clubhouse.
'With Bobby,' Torre said, 'I told him I couldn’t be prouder to have him here.'
Torre said Abreu smiled, shook his head and said nothing, which Torre understood as Abreu’s way of responding that he was thrilled to be with the Yankees.
'It means a lot to me,' Abreu said of the encounter with Torre. 'He’s happy to have me here. He believes in me.'
'This is the right team,' Abreu said. 'This is the right time.'"
Abreu has been a fantastic pick up, if for nothing else then he is the biggest pain in the ass for a pitcher to face. I've never seen a player constantly have so many pitches per at bat. Even when he gets out, he wears out the opposing team's starter. Just look at his walk total. It's unheard of for someone who isn't a power hitter.
That story tells me that Abreu is here to stay.
Dodort! Welcome back for the fifth time! Hopefully you're hear to stay.
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