A Quick Update from the AL East
The Rumble for The Bronx: Yankees at Tampa Bay.
I always say that some days, no matter who you put in the game to pitch, they are going to get hit. Some days, the entire line up can see the ball, which usually results in some laughable high scoring games.
Which is exactly what happened in Tampa Bay last night, as the “highly anticipated” season ‘crap-up’ series between the Bronx Bombers and the New York Devil Rays of Tampa Bay kicked off last night.
The Yankees, who are 4-12 against Piniella’s Poop Squad so far this season, ripped though six Devil Rays’ pitchers, for a total of 17 runs off 20 hits, scoring 10 of their 17 runs by the middle of the 2nd inning.
Devil Ray starter Doug Waechter, not only didn’t make it out of the first inning, he never even recorded an out and was pulled when the score was already 5-0. Waechter made his last start in the Bronx against these same Yankees, giving up 3 earned runs, off 5 hits, while walking 1 for a no decision.
Ironically, his line was the almost identical to his previous start, (3 ER, 5H, 1BB) with two major differences: Innings Pitched (5.1 IP, 0.0 IP, respectfully) and strikeouts (5Ks, 0Ks, respectfully.)
Some may say that the Yankees played a little “Bruce Ball1" which, if true, should make for an interesting contest tonight. I guess that is why the slogan for the Devil Rays is “Watch it Happen!”
Sox get “blown” away: Red Sox at Toronto.
Meanwhile a few thousand miles north, the division leading Boston Red Sox of Boston Proper gave up a heartbreaker on the turf to the well-balanced (I am talking about record) Toronto BJ’s.
You might say they delivered them the game inside a large cake, normally made for Mo Vaughan's personal stripper to pop out of.
Starter Matt Clement had a fine night…if you remove the 5-run 2nd inning, but as the Devil was not present in Tampa, he was obviously making his presence in Toronto as Clement gave up his calling card of 6 earned runs, off 6 hits, in 6.0 innings pitched.
Bronze Glove candidate, Edgar Renteria was charged with two more errors, bringing his total for the season to a league leading 27 errors, lowering his fielding percentage to .954 (44th in the league for all shortstops.)
The lost allowed the Yankees to cut the lead to 2.5 games in the AL East Standings.
However, on a most sarcastic and cynical note, ever-struggling closer Keith Foulke seemed to invent a new pitch: "The Texas Tit-Twister", hitting Eric Hinske with a frustration pitch…right in the ‘chest’ after he gave up an RBI hit to former Sox whiner Shea Hillenbrand – causing Hinske’s nipple to be iced after the game. Hinske did not except Foulke apology.
However, after the game, Foulke was showing the new skills he learned at the Kevin Millar School of Public Speaking, saying:
Thanks Keith. Nice teamwork.
The Battle of “Who Could Care Less”: Baltimore at Texas.
There is an old philosophical question. If there is a baseball game schedule and no one shows up to watch it, do they still play? Or do they just make something up?
Footnotes:
1. Bruce ball is when a team jacks up the score thus using up all there allotted runs, because baseball is a game of averages, there are only so many runs a team can score. Other theory, the other team is allowed to do this, in a hope that they will use all their runs. See Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS.
2. Ok, maybe I am a little harsh. After all, if Raffi Palmero made the trip to TX, the stands would be full of fans ready to boo him.
I always say that some days, no matter who you put in the game to pitch, they are going to get hit. Some days, the entire line up can see the ball, which usually results in some laughable high scoring games.
Which is exactly what happened in Tampa Bay last night, as the “highly anticipated” season ‘crap-up’ series between the Bronx Bombers and the New York Devil Rays of Tampa Bay kicked off last night.
The Yankees, who are 4-12 against Piniella’s Poop Squad so far this season, ripped though six Devil Rays’ pitchers, for a total of 17 runs off 20 hits, scoring 10 of their 17 runs by the middle of the 2nd inning.
Devil Ray starter Doug Waechter, not only didn’t make it out of the first inning, he never even recorded an out and was pulled when the score was already 5-0. Waechter made his last start in the Bronx against these same Yankees, giving up 3 earned runs, off 5 hits, while walking 1 for a no decision.
Ironically, his line was the almost identical to his previous start, (3 ER, 5H, 1BB) with two major differences: Innings Pitched (5.1 IP, 0.0 IP, respectfully) and strikeouts (5Ks, 0Ks, respectfully.)
Some may say that the Yankees played a little “Bruce Ball1" which, if true, should make for an interesting contest tonight. I guess that is why the slogan for the Devil Rays is “Watch it Happen!”
Sox get “blown” away: Red Sox at Toronto.
Meanwhile a few thousand miles north, the division leading Boston Red Sox of Boston Proper gave up a heartbreaker on the turf to the well-balanced (I am talking about record) Toronto BJ’s.
You might say they delivered them the game inside a large cake, normally made for Mo Vaughan's personal stripper to pop out of.
Starter Matt Clement had a fine night…if you remove the 5-run 2nd inning, but as the Devil was not present in Tampa, he was obviously making his presence in Toronto as Clement gave up his calling card of 6 earned runs, off 6 hits, in 6.0 innings pitched.
Bronze Glove candidate, Edgar Renteria was charged with two more errors, bringing his total for the season to a league leading 27 errors, lowering his fielding percentage to .954 (44th in the league for all shortstops.)
The lost allowed the Yankees to cut the lead to 2.5 games in the AL East Standings.
However, on a most sarcastic and cynical note, ever-struggling closer Keith Foulke seemed to invent a new pitch: "The Texas Tit-Twister", hitting Eric Hinske with a frustration pitch…right in the ‘chest’ after he gave up an RBI hit to former Sox whiner Shea Hillenbrand – causing Hinske’s nipple to be iced after the game. Hinske did not except Foulke apology.
"He said on the mound he didn't try to hit me," said Hinske, whose right nipple was taped and iced. "I just looked at him and said, `Come on man.' It really hurt. He nearly took my nipple off."
However, after the game, Foulke was showing the new skills he learned at the Kevin Millar School of Public Speaking, saying:
"If I'm not on the postseason roster, if they don't think I'm good enough, that will be an even bigger story. I'm making $7.5 million. If I'm not on the postseason roster, there's probably a pretty good chance I won't be here (in 2006)... Do you think I give a (expletive) about their confidence? It's all about me."
Thanks Keith. Nice teamwork.
The Battle of “Who Could Care Less”: Baltimore at Texas.
There is an old philosophical question. If there is a baseball game schedule and no one shows up to watch it, do they still play? Or do they just make something up?
Footnotes:
1. Bruce ball is when a team jacks up the score thus using up all there allotted runs, because baseball is a game of averages, there are only so many runs a team can score. Other theory, the other team is allowed to do this, in a hope that they will use all their runs. See Game 3 of the 2004 ALCS.
2. Ok, maybe I am a little harsh. After all, if Raffi Palmero made the trip to TX, the stands would be full of fans ready to boo him.
posted by mjunior at 1:10 PM
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