Basic progressive baseball thought (which the Red Sox claim to subscribe to) tells you to go with your best pitcher with the game on the line. Francona couldn't have forseen Pauley loading the bases (DP was as shocked as anyone that he didn't field Cairo's grounder), but the score was 1-1 -- Tito's got to have quality arms getting warm.
Pauley pitched his heart out -- way beyond anything I could have hoped for. ... Manny got robbed of a game-tying home run in the eighth by Milk Dud in left (and screw you, Johnny, for the excessive celebration).
And thanks a ton, Nixon-Varitek-Lowell, for making Rivera work so hard in the ninth -- five pitches.
***
7:00 PM -- Craig Hansen is with the team (last outing: 72 pitches on Friday). Jermaine Van Buren was optioned back to Pawtucket. Also, Francona said Keith Foulke (back stiffness) was examined by the Red Sox medical staff; the team "may be forced into making a move".
***
David Pauley, who turns 23 next Saturday, is visiting New York City for the first time -- he was a bit of a tourist yesterday -- and he'll be on the Yankee Stadium mound tonight.
Pauley says his greatest challenge will be
controlling myself under pressure, being able to pitch my game and stick to my game plan. I learned you've got to be able to hit your spots all the time. Mistakes up here get hit and they get hit hard. I got tedious and tried to make too good pitches, and balls were getting hit hard. ... It's tough to put where I am in the back of my mind, but I have to look at this the same as any other start.Last night, the Yankees battered Red Sox pitchers for 11 hits. It was their 12th straight game with at least 10 hits -- a new club record, breaking the old mark of 11 (May 21-31, 1937).
New York and Boston have changed places atop the East for three straight days. How about four?
David Pauley (12.46) / Chien-Ming Wang (4.82), 7 PM
And not shake off Tek.....
ReplyDeleteIf ever there was a spot to start warming up Papelbon before the 9th inning, the 7th inning of tonight's game was it (error, two base hits loading the bases for Jason Giambi).
ReplyDeleteoff with melky cabrera's fat head.
ReplyDeletecould johnny have celebrated that catch any more in the outfield? asshole.
ReplyDeleteand yeah, seanez should not have come in with the bases loaded. that is just a tough spot for any pitcher, late in the game when it's tied. wtf, tito.
(3 posts in a row)
ReplyDeletei know, i swear trot pops up everytime he faces mariano. can we just have a sit down and study the cutter-physics please? thx! ;(
Damon is one of those people who you either love or hate, usually depending on whether or not he's on your team.
ReplyDeleteDamn, that game was so frustrating, Pauley pitching so well but with the error, and Manny getting robbed. If the rest of my week weren't going so well I'd be sooooo depressed right now. -Mulceber
Note: I often hated Damon when he was on my team (this usually happened when he was in the field).
ReplyDeleteTito gets the L in this one, as Seanez gets the mound during crunch time and Pap sits on his ass.
Once again (as always), Seinfeld is appropriate: Opposite, Tito, do the opposite!