July 25, 2008

G104: Yankees 1, Red Sox 0

Yankees - 001 000 000 - 1  9  0
Red Sox - 000 000 000 - 0 6 0
Update: "Terrible, Terrible Strike Zone"

"Strike 3" to Lowell is circled. As you can see, the baseball was not close to the strike zone.

***

A few more games like tonight's and I will have completely changed my position on keeping the human element in umpiring.

Home plate umpire Marty Foster embarrassed his entire profession tonight. It's bad enough that no one raises an eyebrow when media talk about umpires having their "own strike zones". But when an umpire is inconsistent all night long, often batter-to-batter -- then it's time to start thinking about phasing out the men in blue.

I have argued in favour of having on-field umpires having the final say in all facets of the game -- for better or worse -- for more than 30 years. However, pitch calling has gotten much worse in the past five years and if the technology now exists to negate the imperfect human eye and render a truer decision on what has actually happened on the field, then why not take advantage of that? As it stands now, I am in full support of MLB's plan to have an off-field arbiter ruling on fair/foul disputes. I'll be thrilled if it's in place by the playoffs (Selig's stated goal).

There were so many blatantly wrong calls tonight -- most of them going in favour of the Yankees (Update: he sucked all night long). I'll comment on the worst one. With Kevin Youkilis representing the tying run at first base and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Mariano Rivera worked Mike Lowell steadily away. Ahead in the count 1-0, he took what looked like ball 2 for strike 1, then fouled off three outside pitches, took ball 2, and fouled another pitch off. Rivera's 8th pitch was well inside and a bit high, clearly off the plate. Foster called it strike 3.

The normally reserved Lowell exploded. He jumped straight up in the air and when he came down, he was giving it to Foster at a volume and intensity I have never seen from him. I have no doubt he was talking about other calls that night in addition to the one that had just retired him. He was quickly ejected. J.D. Drew was also called out on strikes -- ending the game -- but at least that strike 3 was actually a strike.

Beckett (7-9-1-1-6, 110) allowed nine hits, and only a 10-hopper to the shortstop spot with the shift on for Jason Giambi put the Yankees on the scoreboard. And it was Foster's bogus strike zone that set it up. Beckett fanned Johnny Damon and got Derek Jeter to ground back to the mound. He got ahead of Bobby Abreu 0-2, then threw him strike 3. Foster called it a ball, and Abreu promptly singled to center. Alex Rodriguez also singled and Abreu raced to third. Because of the runner on third, Lowell was playing closer to the base. Giambi's squibby grounder went right to the spot where Lowell would usually be positioned. The ball barely rolled out of the infield, but the run scored.

The Red Sox got only three runners to second base -- and no one to third. Their best shot at tying the game came in the eighth. Kyle Farnsworth took over for Chamberlain (7-3-0-1-9, 103) and gave up hits to Jed Lowrie (opponents had been 0-for-their-last-28 against the Mop) and Coco Crisp. Joe Girardi summoned Rivera, who struck out Jacoby Ellsbury and got Dustin Pedroia to tap back to the hill.

Oh: JtC threw yet another pitch at Yook's head, this time on an 2-0 count in the seventh inning. Both benches were warned.

***

Joba Chamberlain (2.52, 163 ERA+) / Josh Beckett (3.98, 110 ERA+)

Showdown!

Plus: The Large Father returns!

The Sox went 26-19 without Ortiz -- a .578 winning percentage, which would work out to a 93.6 win season. Boston's offensive numbers actually improved (slightly) with Flo out of the lineup.

And, thanks to Kansas City, we are tied for first place.

MLB.com:
Chamberlain pitched six strong innings against the A's on Saturday afternoon but came away with his seventh no-decision in nine starts. ... He has not given up more than three earned runs in any of his starts. ... [Beckett] fired a complete game in his last start, though it was in a losing cause. ... Beckett has given the Red Sox at least six innings in 10 of his last 11 starts. In seven Fenway starts, he [has] a 4.82 ERA.
Joba's stats in his nine starts: 47.2 IP, 44 H, 22 BB, 54 K, 2.64 ERA (.249/.337/.316).

George A. King III, Post:
The A's can't hit and the Twins' bowels lock every time they enter Yankee Stadium, so the six wins [following the All-Star break] have a "So What?" feeling attached to them.

The Red Sox ... can hit - and are getting Yankee-killer David Ortiz back from the disabled list tonight - and don't wet themselves upon seeing the Yankees.
Beckett understands that It. Is. On.



Also: Rays/Royals, 8 PM

460 comments:

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SoSock said...

Jeez
GDGD just went from Giambi's K straight to Ellsbury at bat, but now it looks like they've changed it to Peds at bat.
What gives?

Jere said...

we've been getting hassled AND hustled by this ump, though

Rob said...

Ortiz has "RIP 45" on his helmet... Pedro Martinez's father died of brain cancer.

Jere said...

ells and ped are out

Rob said...

Just in case anyone was wondering.

Jere said...

NESN showed a close up of the RIP 45 b4

SoSock said...

How about that!
Danielle at the top of the page!
Gotta be good luck.
But I guess it will start next inning :(

allan said...

I fully expect the media to rip Ortiz a new one for lollygagging down the line on that grounder. A bit of hustle might have beaten it out.

tim said...

Fuck, stealing TV is getting hard.

allan said...

Note: I do not expect the media to criticize Ortiz. Only Manny gets ripped for not sprinting to first 100% of the time.

allan said...

mlbtv missed the first pitch -- which was put in play.

did nesn miss it too?

allan said...

mlb shows only commercials for itself -- no excuse for missing anything.

Jere said...

no, NESN had it.

allan said...

TB: 100
KC: 000

Jere said...

ground out lowrie, nice play going to his left, and line out center field. 2 out.

SoSock said...

Crap. Watching GDGD is bad enough, but tonight they're missing just about every other at bat. Goes straight from Tiz's out to "Gardner lines out - 2 out"

my freaking luck

Rob said...

Fuck, stealing TV is getting hard.

I've noticed that too. This time last year I'd be watching games on my computer. Not this year. You'd be lucky to find one or two a night. wtf?

allan said...

fucking foster - on ball 3 to damon.

allan said...

lopez, mdc up

tim said...

Yeah, I mean there's a ton of links to the game but nothing appears when I click them. MLB must actively be trying to make sure fans are unable to watch their team or something.

tim said...

GOT IT! awwww my9 feed. oh well, better than nothing. just buffering like hell.

Rob said...

GOT IT! awwww my9 feed. oh well, better than nothing. just buffering like hell.

Buffer is the worst word in the world in that part of the internets.

nixon33 said...

no cheap RBI please

Jere said...

jeter fly out to drew

s1c said...

Now that was intangible!!!

Rob said...

The way his pitch count was going, the Red Sox are lucky Beckett went 7.

allan said...

Tangible.

...

Gimme some BATS!!

nixon33 said...

LETS FUCKING GO YOU SORRY SACK OF MOTHERFUCKING SHIT TEAM.
ONE RUN THATS ALL U FUCKING NEED CUNTS!

SoSock said...

Damn that was In-fucking-tangible!

nixon33 said...

sorry just had to get that out there

Benjamin said...

Run[] please.

(Not getting picky.)

allan said...

Errr, sir (taps lightly on shoulder) we need 2 runs.

Jere said...

2-0, joba's losin it

allan said...

Let's get us started, Sultan.

Benjamin said...

Hit Youk in the head.

SoSock said...

Nix - the pic goes great with that rant!

Rob said...

Wow. Again!

allan said...

Hey Now!

Rob said...

Can't believe Joba threw at Youk again. What gives? That was RIGHT at his face!

allan said...

this should rattle the cunt nicely.

SoSock said...

On field delay???

Rob said...

Joba's probably thinking hey. Still a strike.

Jere said...

NESN showing 3-0. should be 2-1

tim said...

this is pretty terrible.

wow fuck you joba.

Benjamin said...

Guess it was off the bat.

Rob said...

Beckett was ready to run out there. Heh.

SoSock said...

From comments I gather there was a bit of head-hunting there.
Anything come of it?

Jere said...

sosock: the fat bitch threw one right at Youk's head. No fight or anything, but there were warnings, etc.

allan said...

Rx pls

Matt said...

f-joba may the curse of the great lakes bugs be with him always

Jere said...

Youk yelling in dugout. Something like "throwin' at my fuckin head"

nixon33 said...

whats the word im looking for.....hmm..... pathetic.

allan said...

Yook looks ready to get in the ring with Jobber.

Jake of All Trades said...

Love how Remy was getting a little hot saying it couldn't be intentional unless Joba is stupid and Don just laughed.

allan said...

GDGD still has Yook up.

SoSock said...

Youk yelling in dugout
I take it he made an out.
GDGD still at 3 - 1

allan said...

frick, truped myself off the bat.

tim said...

MFY announcers said that Joba never intended to throw at his head.

I call shenanigans!

allan said...

Yook K
Lowell K
Drew F9

nixon33 said...

redsock said...
GDGD still has Yook up.


made me laugh

Jere said...

too bad Beckett won't be coming back out-- fuck! that looked like a dong and it was nowhere near! Stupid new camera angle! By the way, I'm super pissed at it tonight and I've been biting my tongue because I know no one wants to hear it but my god the players are tiny on it compared to the old, every hit ball surprises me, it's shaking, and I need things to be just so especially against the Yanks because I have Asbergers or something! Fuck!

nixon33 said...

joba owning the sox.

allan said...

JB: 7-9-1-1-6, 110

allan said...

Lopez in

Benjamin said...

joba owning the sox.

Foster owning the sox.

allan said...

mdc and the mop both up

Rob said...

I need things to be just so especially against the Yanks because I have Asbergers or something! Fuck!

That'd get my vote for quote of the night.

allan said...

alright - mdc in

Jere said...

I'm ready to knock over a dustbin in Shaftesbury....

allan said...

hey victor martinez, shut the fuck up!

Rob said...

I'm ready to knock over a dustbin in Shaftesbury....

There's a Shaftsbury in Vermont...

allan said...

jeemer up

103 for the c-word. i think he's done.

Jere said...

yeah I saw that when I went to look up the correct spelling of the British town, ha

Rob said...

Hooligan, ruffian... speak English!

Jere said...

now they'll just bring in Joba in the 8th and Mo in the 9th. oh wait....

allan said...

Buh bye Alice.

Rob said...

LMAO. A-Rod spits a loogie and hits it with his bat.

Not going to improve your hand-eye coordination, Slappy.

MDC hurt?

Jere said...

MeDiCal issue. crap.

Benjamin said...

I still haven't found the SAP button, but I found the ASL button (mute).

Rob said...

Thumb? Wrist?

Either way, he gone. He walks off with Paul Lessard.

Jeemer Time.

allan said...

shit on a cracker

allan said...

better safe than sorry, i suppose.

A Conformer said...

Just finished a 6-hour drive from Richmond to the northern outskirts of Philly. Fucking cunt.

Since the bottom of the order is coming up in the 8th, I'm calling a Papi dong-off.

SoSock said...

On field delays, now injury delay.
What a freaking night to have to rely on GDGD.
Wait.... I'm not relying on them, I've got JoS :)

Rob said...

Even Heidi talking about that "ribbon-cutting" ceremony isn't interesting. And if she doesn't make me interested, there's just no hope for it.

Jere said...

sosock--MDC kind of curled up his hand after the K. Remy noted he was trying to say he was OK, but Tito didn't risk it. It's not like he was in agony or anything.

Jere said...

it's weird since the Bleacher Bar's been open all year

Matt said...

what do you think the odds are of manny pinch hitting?


to quote Mrs. Wermer from Animal House.."doubful"

Rob said...

Jeemer being Jeemer!!! Strikes out HGH.

Jere said...

we WILL take the lead and then be three mere outs from winning.

or, simply, a walk-off.

lurkkher said...

TB 2, KC 0, top of 5th. sigh.

Rob said...

what do you think the odds are of manny pinch hitting?

None.

allan said...

I'm going the "lost his mind" route and calling a dongalicious game-tying blast from Varitek.

allan said...

nice pic, f-west!

s1c said...

Been awhile since I have done this.

Dear Red Sox Offense,

Now is the time, this is your moment. Reach out and take it, make it yours.

Score some fucking runs you morons!

Thanx,
RSN

allan said...

Mop Time!!!

allan said...

and sexson at first

SoSock said...

Farnswart = run(s) time!

Rob said...

Jedi starts the inning off right!

Jere said...

tying run on base

allan said...

last 28 batters 0-for vs Mop

BUT JEB SAYS F THAT

Jere said...

manny had been available, but then he left for that MRI so....

SoSock said...

It's a start!

laura k said...

hey there. i was wondering how far back i'd have to scroll to see a heidi comment. not far, thanks to ish.

don & remy gush over The Mop, our Mind Trick hits him.

RUNS PLEASE!!!

Jake of All Trades said...

LOL! In my RSS reader, excerpt of the "letter to the offense" ends with "this is your mom"

allan said...

gap double pls ococ

allan said...

don is wrong - 103 for joba, not 100.

allan said...

bot and 'bat both up

laura k said...

i'm sure their moms want them to score runs, too!

Rob said...

The CF camera went out of focus all of a sudden.

And the radio station I'm listening to is being invaded by an adjacent station playing Lenny Kravitz.

There is another station I could listen to, but it's 6 seconds behind.

Rob said...

hey there. i was wondering how far back i'd have to scroll to see a heidi comment. not far, thanks to ish.

I live to please.

A Conformer said...

Is Lowrie supposed to be a good base stealer? They're definitely throwing a lot to first...

laura k said...

SAFE!!!!

Rob said...

FAIR BALL!!! That's a BIG play right there!

allan said...

HAHHAHAH MOP!!!!!!!!

s1c said...

a break thank god a break!!!

Rob said...

You think that ball was going to go foul?

laura k said...

I live to please.

That's what you're trying to tell Heidi. If only she'd listen.

SoSock said...

I like seeing "no out". Wish I saw "run(s)".

Rob said...

So, that ball traveled about 40 feet up the first base line, a swinging bunt, basically. It was rolling a foot fair. Farnsworth picked it up as Coco raced past, but bobbled it and Coco reached. :D

allan said...

Lyndon v Fruitbat, tying run on second.

9casey said...

Wow! looking for 5 outs...Is that Joe Torre?

Jake of All Trades said...

Coco with another Matrix move

allan said...

jedi with avg speed i think. just wanted to keep him close for a posible dp, though.

laura k said...

Come on LBJ. Now would be a good time to be a hero.

allan said...

i wanna see one rattle around the triangle.

Rob said...

Oi. 93 mph past Jacoby. Not a good sign in my estimation.

s1c said...

Now would be a good time for the bat to suffer his first blown save of the year.

laura k said...

Or not.

allan said...

the save thing is so stupid.

rivera has blown games this year - he has been charged with 3 losses!!!!

allan said...

just a single for fuck (yeah)'s sake.

laura k said...

save thing is stupid, but he's still having an amazing year.

allan said...

shut up don

Rob said...

I did a google search for fruitbat... They show three images above the articles below. One of them showed a fruitbat and its relatively large dong.

Maybe that's saying something here for... the 9th inning.

laura k said...

bah

s1c said...

frack, that sucked.

laura k said...

Ish, did you see the JoS reference on the Wiki page for fruitbat?

nixon33 said...

eh...knew they weren't gonna score.

allan said...

Mo mops up for the mop.

We got Tiz, Yook and Dr. D in the 9th. On Fire up 4th.

SoSock said...

bah

What she said

allan said...

eh...knew they weren't gonna score.

jack?

allan said...

............ just joking!!

s1c said...

Keep it at 1-0 jeemer.

SoSock said...

Okie - Dokie

allan said...

we cannot lose on that squibby piece of shit infield hgh hit. can. not.

laura k said...

a papi walkoff on his 1st game back, wouldn't that be cool

allan said...

TB 2-1 after 5.

laura k said...

hey ofer, you are in philly? what park do you go to there?

s1c said...

One more out Jeemer, one more out!!!

allan said...

nice buckle with that curve.

laura k said...

come on jeemer....

allan said...

every single fan is thinking papi dong ........

A Conformer said...

hey ofer, you are in philly? what park do you go to there?

Sesame Place. Smallish kids' park.

And BTW, to have a Papi walkoff we'll need extra innings... he can only tie it in the 9th.

laura k said...

beautiful! damn the bullpen is on tonight!

s1c said...

Yeah but a papi dong only ties it, so how about a back to back from papi and youk!

andy said...

I am a bottom lover. Bottom of the 9th that is. No walk off for him but a tie off would be cool.

allan said...

powerful stuff from the jeem!

laura k said...

Oh shit, forgot that re Papi. OK never mind, a Papi tie will be cool but let's win in the 9th.

Sesame Place, I was there with my kid when I was a nanny. Like a million years ago.

allan said...

b2b dongs?

good for papi to tie
good for yook to win it!

nixon33 said...

COME ON LETS DO THIS!

allan said...

is girardi staying with fruitbat?

:>)

nixon33 said...

you know youk can taste it...

laura k said...

OK, I'm down with the B2B dongs from Papi & Youk.

Andy loves bottoms so let's give him a big one to love.

allan said...

YOU CAN DOOOOOO EEEEEEETTT! (/tonylittle)

Rob said...

I fucking hate fucking radio stations fucking leaking into the station I'm trying to listen to when all night the signal was fine. Why the fuck does it happen all of a sudden? Does someone just turn up the wattage on the other station's signal? And I hate it when another Red Sox station is six fucking seconds behind the fucking game! And I don't want to fucking listen to Don and Jerry or John Sterling and his stupid crazy bat partner Waldman. Fuck!

laura k said...

crap.

ok forget that plan.

next?

allan said...

sox: channel your inner mueller.

laura k said...

jere, are you there, they're talking about your camera angle

andy said...

Can On Fiya be a real hero here?

Benjamin said...

Fucking fuck fuck.

laura k said...

someone give ish a xanax

allan said...

someone's gotta get on for the firey one.

laura k said...

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOK

Benjamin said...

Dong would win it....

allan said...

yook been chasing a lot of outside pitches lately.

laura k said...

On Fire is always a hero. But first we have the Doc.

allan said...

Can Lowell -- fellow 3B -- be Pro-esque?

andy said...

Who will be the Dong Master?

laura k said...

Dr is the new Pro

andy said...

I am not counting on the doc. I am counting on the arsonist.

allan said...

sox gotta hack since foster'll call anything a strike at this point.

Jake of All Trades said...

Awesome JoS reference in fruitbat wiki, but surprised no Carter USM reference. I'll have to fix later...

andy said...

I do see that the Dr is getting the rivera all loosened up for tonight's hero.

laura k said...

fucking shithead ump

Rob said...

The Doctor explodes!!!

andy said...

You are gone.

s1c said...

Dr is pissed, I don't think I've ever seen him that mad. Wow

laura k said...

good on him, giving hell to that stupid ump

allan said...

wow - never seen lowell that hot.

i'll bet he's telling foster he's been fucking the sox all night long

andy said...

The Dr has left the building. Wow I can't believe he wasn't tossed.

laura k said...

no one has ever seen him like that.

laura k said...

crowd on the ump too

s1c said...

andy he was tossed.

andy said...

A lot of JoS Wow's there.

allan said...

jesus - that was not even close.

go werd!

andy said...

Bullshit chant?

Rob said...

Crowd chanting "Bullshit" I believe.

Reminds me of the NBA Finals.

andy said...

Was he kicked?

laura k said...

andy, he was tossed

allan said...

fucking foster -- it's not like mo needs any fucking help.

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