Two More Reviews Of "Don't Let Us Win Tonight"

Pete Chianca, Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle (Danvers, Mass.):

Lovingly constructed ... quotes that get into the heads of the players and manager – not to mention the GM, owners, medical staff and even the bat boy.

Through their testimony, the smaller dramas behind the series all coalesce into a broader overarching story about grit, determination and sheer boneheaded luck. You know exactly what's going to happen, and yet you still feel the bumps rise on the back of your neck. ...

[E]xtra kudos to the authors for devoting an entire chapter to the jeering sportswriters who piled on when the Sox were down 0-3. ...

[M]uch more than a souvenir for Sox fans. It's a historical document that, behind all the game-time drama, reverberates with a love of the sport that would resonate with any baseball lover. Maybe even a Yankee fan.

I'm extremely pleased with this review, as happy with it as I was for the Globe's rave. It's obvious that Pete read the entire book and then gave it a good deal of thought before writing his review. I'm thrilled that he noticed that the older quotes we used were devoid of puffery and I'm pleased that he enjoyed the many sportswriters' quotes from after ALCS 3!

The Feathered Quill has also reviewed the book:

Allan Wood and Bill Nowlin have put together a minute-by-minute playback of a Red Sox win that diehard fans had waited far too long to see. ...

Why are there so many endnotes? The reason is simple and is why this book is so good. Rather than simply write a dry synopsis of each game, the authors chose to incorporate a vast quantity of quotes by those who were there; the players, coaches, front office, the medical staff, and members of both the Yankees and the Cardinals. A few paragraphs of text, then it’s on to the comments from those who lived each moment. ...

The reader comes away with a true sense of the strategies behind various decisions, what the players were thinking, play by play, the tension, stress, anxiety, and best of all, the relief and elation. Don’t Let Us Win Tonight should be added to every Sox fan's library!

G33: Red Sox 4, Reds 3 (12)

Reds    - 010 000 020 000 - 3 10  0
Red Sox - 102 000 000 001 - 4 11  1

Grady Sizemore's single - his third hit of the night - banged off the base of the Wall in left-center, scoring David Ortiz from second, giving the Red Sox a victory on what was an intensely frustrating night of baseball. (It was Sizemore's first walkoff hit since August 11, 2006!)

Felix Doubront (5.1-5-1-3-3, 97) turned in yet another inconsistent start and Boston struggled to convert prime scoring opportunities off Homer Bailey (6-5-3-5-5, 110). In the end, however, they received superb performances out of the bullpen from Burke Badenhop, Andrew Miller and Craig Breslow, and, after 4:04, everything worked out for the best.

Bailey never had his pitches working at any time during the game and Boston scored right away in the first. Dustin Pedroia walked and Shane Victorino singled. Ortiz appeared to ground into a double play, but second base umpire Jim Wolf blew the call, saying Reds shortstop Zack Cozart did not get his foot on the bag in time (he did). The Reds did not challenge the call. Pedroia took third on the grounder and he scored on Mike Napoli's ground out to first.

After a strong first inning, with two strikeouts, Doubront nibbled in the second - and paid the price. Todd Frazier walked, Ryan Ludwick doubled, and Skip Schumaker singled to produce a 1-1 tie. Doubront wriggled out of any further trouble with a pop-up to short right, a fielder's choice out at the plate and a fly to right.

Jackie Bradley walked to begin the third and took third on Pedroia's double. The runners had to hold as Victorino grounded to third. Ortiz was walked intentionally to load the bases; then Bailey walked Napoli to bring in one run. Sizemore's single scored another and Boston led 3-1.

The Red Sox squandered another scoring opportunity against Bailey in the fifth. Ortiz cracked a ground-rule double to right and Napoli walked. The table was set, but Sizemore lined out to deep left, Xander Bogaerts struck out, and A.J. Pierzynski grounded into a force.

The Reds hit two two-out singles in the fourth, but could not score. Doubront issued two four-pitch walks in the sixth and left the contest with one out. Badenhop came in and needed only one pitch to induce an inning-ending double play.

Junichi Tazawa pitched the eighth and allowed the Reds to tie the game. With one out, Joey Votto walked, Brandon Phillips doubled, Frazier singled (3-2), and Ludwick lofted a sac fly (3-3).

Cincinnati threatened against Koji Uehara in the ninth. Cozart led off with a single and was bunted to second by Billy Hamilton. Cozart moved on to third as Tucker Barnhart flied to right. Chris Heisey then bunted down the third base line. Uehara raced over, got the ball and slipped, unable to make a play. But Cozart had not run from third! (He likely would have been out had he tried for the plate.) Uehara then got Votto to foul out to third.

Boston had a good chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth. Pedroia singled with one out, but was caught stealing. Victorino and Ortiz both walked, and Vic stole third while Napoli batted. But the Bearded One grounded to short to end the inning.

Miller pitched the tenth and eleventh, allowing no hits and striking out four. Breslow allowed a two-out hit in the twelfth, but fanned Frazier to end the inning.

In the home half of the twelfth, Ortiz whacked a 3-1 pitch off Logan Ondrusek into the shift for a single. Napoli grounded a full-count offering past the shortstop's left and into left-center. Sizemore hit his game-winning single on the first pitch he saw.

Sizemore and Pedroia ended the night with three hits apiece. ... Napoli and Sizemore each drove in two runs. ... The Red Sox (16-17) will try to get to .500 for the ninth time on Wednesday night.

Homer Bailey / Felix Doubront

Pedroia, 2B
Victorino, RF
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Sizemore, LF
Bogaerts, SS
Pierzynski, C
Middlebrooks, 3B
Bradley, CF

The Cincinnati Reds visit Fenway Park for two games in a week with two scheduled off-days for the Red Sox: yesterday and Thursday.

If you are wondering if these franchises have played each other before (outside of the 1975 World Series, of course):

June 13-14-15, 2005: Red Sox won 3 of 3: 10-3, 7-0, 6-1
June 13-14-15, 2008: Red Sox won 2 of 3: 1-3, 6-4, 9-0

Isis

Newly Found 1919 World Series Video

Jacob Pomrenke, Chair of SABR's Black Sox Scandal Research Committee:

A quick 3-second clip beginning at the 3:06 mark of the video online appears to be one of the most disputed plays of the World Series, one of the plays famously circled by sports writer Hugh Fullerton on his scorecard in the press box: the botched double play ball hit by the Reds' Larry Kopf and fielded by White Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte in the fourth inning.

Cicotte was said to have made "a dazzling play" to field the ball, but Swede Risberg was unable to turn the double play. At full speed, the play doesn't appear to be unusually suspicious and it is impossible to tell with any certainty whether Cicotte's throw to Swede Risberg at second base was too low or too slow, or whether Risberg delayed in making the double-play throw to Chick Gandil at first base. But according to the Chicago Tribune account of the game afterward, the Reds' 5-run rally in that inning "hung on the toenail" of Kopf beating the throw to first.

Only one thing is for sure: All three of the White Sox players involved in that play later admitted to receiving bribe money from gamblers to fix the World Series.

G32: A's 3, Red Sox 2 (10)

A's     - 100 001 000 1 - 3  8  2
Red Sox - 000 010 100 0 - 2  9  0

Sonny Gray / John Lackey

Pedroia, 2B
Victorino, RF
Ortiz, DH
Carp, 1B
Pierzynski, C
Bogaerts, SS
Sizemore, LF
Middlebrooks, 3B
Bradley, CF

G31: Red Sox 6, A's 3

A's     - 000 000 003 - 3  4  0
Red Sox - 401 100 00x - 6  6  2

Jon Lester (8-1-0-2-15, 119) set a new career-high in strikeouts and Jonny Gomes hit a first-inning grand slam to power the Red Sox to victory. David Ortiz and David Ross hit solo shots for Boston's other runs.

In the first inning, Dustin Pedroia walked, Xander Bogaerts singled, and Ortiz walked. After Mike Napoli struck out, Gomes launched the Red Sox's second grand slam in as many games, and their third in the past eight days.

Oakland managed only one hit against Lester, a single by Craig Gentry leading off the third inning.

Lester's previous strikeout-high was 13 (July 24, 2010 against Seattle). He's is the first Red Sox pitcher to strike out 15 batters in a game since Pedro Martinez did it on July 23, 2000.

What was a relaxing afternoon turned tense in the ninth inning. Chris Capuano allowed the first four batters to reach (and two to score) before John Farrell called on Koji Uehara, who walked Yoenis Cespedes, loading load the bases and bringing the potential tying run to the plate.

Derek Norris grounded back to the mound and Uehara got a force at the plate, but Ross's throwing error brought in another Oakland run. Koji fell behind Alberto Callaspo 3-1, before coming back to strike him out. Then Koji fell behind pinch-hitter Brandon Moss 3-0; he got a called strike and then Moss flied out to right field.

Tommy Milone / Jon Lester

Pedroia, 2B
Bogaerts, SS
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Sizemore, CF
Middlebrooks, 3B
Bradley, RF
Ross, C

G30: Red Sox 7, A's 1

A's     - 001 000 000 - 1  5  1
Red Sox - 020 004 01x - 7 11  1

Dustin Pedroia's grand slam - his 100th career home run - was the big blow in Boston's victory.

Buchholz: 6.1-3-1-3-5, 110.

Dan Straily / Clay Buchholz

Pedroia, 2B
Victorino, RF
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Sizemore, LF
Bogaerts, SS
Pierzynski, C
Middlebrooks, 3B
Bradley, CF

Runs Scored per Game: Oakland, 4th (5.29); Boston, 10th (4.07)
Runs Allowed per Game: Oakland, 1st (3.18); Boston, 7th (4.55)

The Red Sox continue to hit poorly with runners on second and/or third: .223/.314/.338. Their OPS of .652 in those situations is 12th out of 15 AL teams; only the Royals, Yankees, and Astros are worse.

Gordon Edes (ESPNBoston) notes:

The Sox had six hits in both games Thursday. They have had six hits or fewer 12 times in 29 games, or 41.4 percent of the time. Last season, the Sox had six hits or fewer 35 times in 162 games, a 21.6 percent rate.

If you thought I was kidding when I called the Rays' TV announcers epic crybabies, check out yesterday's Tampa Tribune. (H/t OTM.)

G29: Rays 6, Red Sox 5

Rays    - 011 002 011 - 6 10  0
Red Sox - 000 050 000 - 5  6  1

Yunel Escobar led off the top of the ninth against Koji Uehara with a home run, and the Red Sox failed to score a man from third with one out in the bottom of the inning.

Shane Victorino doubled off the Wall against Grant Balfour to start the ninth and took third when David Ortiz grounded sharply to first. Mike Napoli worked a full count, but struck out looking. After Grady Sizemore walked, Xander Bogaerts was also caught looking. And Tampa completed a sweep of the day-night doubleheader.

Boston had the same trouble scoring in the eighth inning. Bogaerts doubled and was bunted to third by A.J. Pierzynski. Will Middlebrooks struck out. Pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes walked, and Dustin Pedroia grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice.

Trailing 2-0, the Red Sox took the lead in the fifth when Rays starter Chris Archer lost control of the plate. He walked Bogaerts, Middlebrooks, and Jackie Bradley to load the bases with one out. With two down, Archer hit Victorino to bring in one run. Ortiz singled in two runs, and Napoli and (after a pitching change) Sizemore each singled in one.

Chris Archer / Felix Doubront

G28: Rays 2, Red Sox 1

Rays    - 001 100 000 - 2  4  1
Red Sox - 100 000 000 - 1  6  0

In the ninth, facing Grant Balfour, Dustin Pedroia singled with one out and was bunted to second by Shane Victorino. The Rays decided to pitch to David Ortiz with first base open (and Mike Napoli on deck). Ortiz looked at a strike, ripped a long foul to right, and then grounded back to the mound to end the game.

Cesar Ramos / Jake Peavy

Pedroia, 2B
Victorino, RF
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Bogaerts, SS
Middlebrooks, 3B
Ross, C
Bradley, CF

First game of a day/night doubleheader.

The Rays are not happy at the re-scheduling. (Their TV broadcast team, led by Dewayne Staats, are crybabies of the highest order, and will no doubt be whining about this for hours during both games.)

G28: Rays at Red Sox, Postponed

Tonight's game has been postponed because of rainy weather.

There will be a day-night doubleheader on Thursday.

Rays    - 
Red Sox - 

Chris Archer / Felix Doubront

Did you know that in the long history of the Red Sox, there is only one player with 100+ home runs and 100+ stolen bases? One guy, and it's Carl Yastrzemski. ... However, Dustin Pedroia is one dong away from joining him, as he has 99 HR and 120 SB.

G27: Red Sox 7, Rays 4

Rays    - 000 001 102 - 4  8  0
Red Sox - 000 015 01x - 7 13  1

Big hits from the bottom of the order sparked Boston's sixth-inning rally and John Lackey (8-6-2-1-5, 112) pitched yet another excellent game.

Mike Napoli and Jonny Gomes both walked to open the sixth against reliever Brandon Gomes. After Xander Bogaerts flied to left, Rays manager called in Juan Carlos Oviedo from the pen. A.J. Pierzynski's hard single to right scored Napoli, snapping a 1-1 tie. Will Middlebrooks's double off the Wall made it 2-1 and Jackie Bradley's double to dead center field gave Boston a 5-1 lead. One out later, Shane Victorino (who went 4-for-4) doubled home JBJ.

The Red Sox got on the board first in the fifth. Middlebrooks walked and went to third on Bradley's first double of the night. After Dustin Pedroia lined to third (and Middlebrooks just made it back to the back before Evan Longoria could tag the bag), Victorino hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Tampa tied it up within six pitches. Desmond Jennings doubled with one out, went to third on Matt Joyce's single and scored on Longoria's sac fly.

Boston added an insurance run on three consecutive one-out singles from Pedroia, Victorino and David Ortiz.

The Rays scored twice against Edward Mujica in the ninth before Koji Uehara came in and struck out Ben Zobrist on three pitches, all swings and misses.

NESN Note: Jerry Remy was out sick, so Steve Lyons filled in. Man, was he godawful. Granted, I only heard two innings before switching to the radio, but that was more than enough. The capper was hearing him state that dropping the "Devil" from Tampa Bay's nickname "changed the mentality" of the entire organization and so they started winning.

Erik Bedard / John Lackey

Pedroia, 2B
Victorino, RF
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Bogaerts, SS
Pierzynski, C
Middlebrooks, 3B
Bradley, CF

WEEI's Alex Speier notes that the Red Sox are not worried about Xander Bogaerts's fielding. They accept any lapses as part of his necessary growth.

Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston writes:

He's learning on the job, which means there have been errors, there have been plays that should have been made that weren't, and throws that have left something to be desired. ... Until the Sox start winning, there will be an undercurrent of grumbling that they would have been better served re-signing [Stephen] Drew to play short. ...

Offensively, Bogaerts has yet to hit his stride, but is off to a strong start. His .287 average ranks second among all big-league rookies to Yangervis Solarte of the Yankees (.301), and his .392 on-base percentage ranks third to Josmil Pinto of the Twins and Solarte. Pinto and Solarte are 25, Bogaerts 21.

Awful Announcing ranks NESN 13th among MLB broadcast teams, according to fan voting. Two readers' comments:

"Remy is just flat out unbearable for the Red Sox, which is a shame because Orsillo is very good." -sangell2007

"What makes many Red Sox games difficult to watch is the incessant "extras" on the telecasts. The stupid graphics, polls, and pointless interviews with fans can just ruin a game." -AnthonyJennings

"Pay No Attention To A Pitcher's W-L Record", Starring Jon Lester

ESPNBoston's Gordon Edes explains why a pitcher's win-loss record is nearly meaningless. (I think the stat should be abolished, but that will likely never happen.)

Last April, through his first half-dozen starts, Lester was 4-0.

This April, through six starts, his record is 2-4.

Then he gives us some statistics:

2013: 6 starts, 3.11 ERA, 37.2 IP, 13 ER, 12 BB, 33 K
2014: 6 starts, 3.10 ERA, 40.2 IP, 14 ER,  8 BB, 43 K

You could make a decent case, based on his BB/K ratio, that Lester has pitched a bit better this season.

Then comes the vital information:

Runs scored by the Sox in Lester's first six starts in 2013: 42
Runs scored by the Sox in Lester's first six starts in 2014: 13

Lester:

I can't control it. I don't get to hit. If I did, it would probably be worse. ... I can't control wins, I can't control losses, I can only control what I do those five days and the preparation I have in between pitches. That's all I can control. I'm going to keep chucking the ball and see what happens.

Also: The Great Yankee Stadium Ice Cream Riot of 2009

G26: Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 1

Red Sox   - 010 000 000 - 1  6  1
Blue Jays - 011 000 23x - 7  9  0

Jon Lester / R.A. Dickey

Pedroia, 2B
Sizemore, LF
Napoli, 1B
Pierzynski, DH
Middlebrooks, 3B
Gomes, RF
Bogaerts, SS
Bradley, CF
Ross, C

G25: Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 6

Red Sox   - 006 010 000 - 7  5  0
Blue Jays - 300 000 021 - 6 13  0

After Clay Buchholz (7-6-3-3-3, 105) and the Red Sox fell behind early, it was A.J. Pierzynski's grand slam that got the team back in the game. And while it was harrowing at the end, Koji Uehara got the save, leaving the potential tying and winning runs on base.

Jays starter Brandon Marrow lasted only 2.2 innings and did not allow a hit. He did, however, walk eight batters, including the last four he faced (2.2-0-4-8-1, 65). Pierzynski then greeted reliever Chad Jenkins by blasting a home run to right center to put Boston in the lead, 5-3. Will Middlebrooks followed with a solo shot, his second of the season.

Junichi Tazawa ran into trouble in the eighth, allowing two runs (cutting Boston's lead to 7-5) and leaving two on, with one out. Chris Capuano struck out pinch-hitter Jonathan Diaz for the second out, but walked Jose Reyes in a 10-pitch battle, loading the bases. Manager John Farrell asked Uehara to get a four-out save. He got Melky Cabrera to pop up to Grady Sizemore in short left to end the bases-loaded threat.

In the ninth, Jose Bautista homered to left, cutting the score to 7-6. After Juan Francisco struck out, Dioner Navarro singled to right center. Cody Rasmus went down on strikes, but Brett Lawrie singled to center, putting runners at first and second. Uehara sealed the victory by retiring Moises Sierra on a fly to Jackie Bradley in center.

Clay Buchholz / Brandon Morrow

Pedroia, 2B
Victorino, RF
Ortiz, DH
Carp, 1B
Sizemore, LF
Pierzynski, C
Middlebrooks, 3B
Herrera, SS
Bradley, CF

2004 Red Sox: Before The Breakthrough

Yahoo! Sports has excerpted the beginning of Don't Let Us Win Tonight: An Oral History of the 2004 Boston Red Sox's Impossible Playoff Run at The Post Game.

G24: Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 1

Red Sox   - 041 002 001 - 8 16  0
Blue Jays - 000 000 100 - 1  6  1

Jake Peavy (7-5-1-2-7, 113) was rock solid on the hill and every one of the starters had at least one hit.

Jackie Bradley and A.J. Pierzynski each had three hits, with Bradley collecting two doubles and a triple, two runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. (Boston hit seven doubles in the game.)

Will Middlebrooks, playing in his first game of 2014, went 2-for-4, with two RBI. ... Dustin Pedroia also drove in two runs. ... David Ortiz homered in the third inning.

Jake Peavy / Mark Buehrle

Pedroia, 2B
Victorino, RF
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Bogaerts, SS
Pierzynski, C
Middlebrooks, 3B
Bradley, CF

Will Middlebrooks has rejoined the Red Sox. Brock Holt was sent down to Pawtucket.

Mark Buehrle has a 0.64 ERA over four April starts.

MLB Does Something Right!

It's rare, but when it happens, we should applaud it.

Major League Baseball has adjusted the transfer rule, effective immediately. In short, it sounds like things are back to the way they were before the season began.

Major League Baseball announced today that the Playing Rules Committee has provided its official view of how Umpires should apply the Official Playing Rules when a fielder loses possession of a ball when attempting to transfer it to his throwing hand.

The Committee's interpretation of the rule has been discussed and agreed upon by MLB, the MLB Players Association and the World Umpires Association. Beginning with games played tonight, Umpires will enforce the rule according to the standards below.

The Committee has determined that a legal catch has occurred pursuant to OBR 2.00 (Definition of Terms, "Catch"), or a valid force out or tag has occurred pursuant to OBR 2.00 (Definition of Terms, "Tag"), if the fielder had complete control over the ball in his glove, but drops the ball after intentionally opening his glove to make the transfer to his throwing hand. There is no requirement that the fielder successfully remove the ball from his glove in order for it be ruled a catch. If the fielder drops the ball while attempting to remove it to make a throw, the Umpires should rule that the ball had been caught, provided that the fielder had secured it in his glove before attempting the transfer. The Umpires will continue to use their judgment as to whether the fielder had complete control over the ball before the transfer.

Guess Who The Mets' Closer Is?

Surprise.

But he's not enjoying it.

I wouldn't say I've enjoyed my time out of the bullpen. I'm still trying to figure things out by seeing how the game progresses and seeing where I might be called upon. I just have too much on my plate right now to enjoy the process.

G23: Yankees 14, Red Sox 5

Yankees - 133 000 511 - 14 14  1
Red Sox - 002 000 300 -  5  4  5

For the first three innings alone, this game ranks as the season's worst.

In that time, Doubront (2.2-6-7-2-1, 73) came, had nothing, and went, the Red Sox committed four errors, and the Yankees seemingly ran at will, stealing three bases; there was also two wild pitches and a passed ball. New York led 7-0 before Boston could get its first hit off Sabathia (6-3-2-3-8, 106).

By the time the night was over, Mike Carp was on the mound. (The last time the Red Sox committed five errors in a game was on April 28, 2001, against the Royals.) The Yankees drew a total of 12 walks.

Shane Victorino, in the lineup for the first time this season, doubled into the left field corner in the third, after Dustin Pedroia had begun the inning with a walk. David Ortiz's sacrifice fly scored Pedroia and Victorino scored on Jonny Gomes's double.

The Red Sox took advantage of Shawn Greene, who was making his major league debut, in the seventh. Greene could not buy a strike and walked three batters; Derek Jeter made an error, and after New York changed pitchers, Gomes hit a sac fly and Xander Bogaerts doubled in a run.

However, Carp's ninth inning - which Gameday categorized solely as changeups and knuckleballs - made Greene look like Greg Maddux: BB, GIDP, BB, BB, BB, BB, PF2.

CC Sabathia / Felix Doubront

Pedroia, 2B
Victorino, RF
Ortiz, DH
Napoli, 1B
Gomes, LF
Bogaerts, SS
Holt, 3B
Ross, C
Bradley, CF

Schadenfreude 176 (A Continuing Series)

George A. King III, Post:

Michael Pineda may or may not have the physical tools to be a successful major league pitcher. What we know after Wednesday night is that he is likely the dumbest player in the big leagues.

After being caught with pine tar on his pitching hand the last time he faced the Red Sox in The Bronx when the Red Sox knew of it and didn't complain, Pineda figured he could get away with it again at Fenway Park Wednesday night when he applied an illegal substance to his neck before taking the mound for the second inning after giving up two runs in the first. ...

"I would expect if it's used it will be more discreet than the last time," Farrell said before Pineda unbelievably put the pine tar in a more visible spot than his hand.

Anthony McCarron, Daily News:

There’s a new Idiot in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. But this one is from the Bronx. ...

"I know I made a mistake and I feel so sad," Pineda said.

Kevin Davidoff, Post:

There's gamesmanship, there are unwritten rules, and then there's just utter stupidity. The Red Sox showed Wednesday night that they have extreme tolerance for the first two qualities and very little patience for the third. They won't suffer fools gladly.

Joel Sherman, Post:

Hey, Mike, if you are going to cheat be discreet. You dodged this once, please, please don't force your opponent’s hand to act — particularly the same opponent who just happens to be your most bitter rival.

Instead, after his worst inning of the season — a 30-pitch, two-run first in which he threw just four of his trademark sliders — Pineda emerged for the second with a discoloration on the right side of his neck that had all the subtlety of Mike Tyson’s face tattoo. It looked as if the worst makeup artist in the world was drunk and had at him. It was certainly distinct enough to be caught by three networks — YES, NESN and ESPN — televising the game.

Wallace Matthews, ESPNNewYork:

After the game Pineda confirmed the substance was pine tar, saying "It won't happen again."

Pineda said he wanted a better grip on the ball so he wouldn't hit anyone.

Mark Feinsand, Daily News:

Michael Pineda needs to get a grip. Not on the baseball, but on himself.

Three starts into his comeback from shoulder surgery, Pineda was shaping up as one of the feel-good stories of the young season. Following Wednesday night's ejection for loading up his neck with pine tar, the 25-year-old now finds himself as one of the game's early-season punchlines.

Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi said all the right things Wednesday after Pineda embarrassed himself and the organization ...

David Schoenfield, ESPN:

In the annals of illustrious moments in pitching history, I'm not exactly sure where Michael Pineda's pine tar on the neck ranks ... but suffice it say it was one of the lamest attempts at cheating you'll ever see.

I mean: Where was Derek Jeter's veteran leadership?