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August 20, 2006
Boston Massacre
Yep all the ingredients of the historical New England slaying.. Well, there was no Crispus Attackus, but there was a Coco Crisp. I guess that doesn't count ;)
Absolutely estatic by the way my squad played during a crucial five game set. Awesome sweep. Though, I know that there is plenty of baseball left, it is clear that the Bombers are headed in the right direction. The RSN seems to be scuffling at the worst time. The recent domination is reminiscent of the way the dynasty Yanks played during the 96-01 magical run.
An excellent blend of farm system talent (ie Philips, Wang, Cabrera, and Cano), coupled with seasoned veterans (ie Jeter, Posada, Damon, A-Rod, etc), it is going to be very difficult to deny this team in October. Our pitching has been stingy when needed. The difference between this year and last, is that the bridge between starters and Mariano Rivera was sufficiently bolstered by Proctor, Villone, Myers, and Farnsworth. They have absolutely been getting the job done.
As I look at the Bosox demise, it's clear that the absence of Pedro Martinez, aging Schilling and Wells is taking a huge toll on the club. Perhaps most telling is their very abysmal bullpen, as it was completed shredded by the thunderous Yankee lineup. I've heard alot about young Papelbon, and I realize he has Rivera aspirations of greatness. Nonetheless, you can't get to the Hall of Fame by having a pretty good month. To be mentioned in the same breath of Mariano Rivera, you have got to close out games year after year in very big spots. Papelbon has much to learn.
I'm sure RSN apologists will point to the injuries that beset their club immediately before the trading deadline. I don't have much sympathy, as the Yanks were able to overcome injuries to more key players. Besides Yankee General Manager, Cashman made the right moves to improve the club without giving up any of our young talent. Very textbook and again reminiscent of the dynasty years.
Clearly, that 2004 ALCS Bosox comeback down 0-3 was an abberation ushered in by the silly wildcard and poor Yankee pitching. Yeah, the curse may be over but the torment continues.
Posted by AG at August 20, 2006 4:05 AM
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Comments
Hey man. First time commenter. I'm feeling this post seeing as my Bombers went up there and totally dismantled the Red Sox from within, from without, pitching, timely hitting and even a little defense. Even when it seemed they wanted to give games away, the Yankees still found time to pound out all of those runs and hits. As usual, the RSN are in a state of panic with more than a month to go for the season. I so agree with you on Papelbon. Sure, he's a weapon now, but hasn't been battle tested during the rigors of a playoff championship run or even more the World Series. Its insulting to Mariano to be compared to the upstart when there is NO comparison. And to be taken apart from one of the former idiots (Damon) priceless. He was murderous on Monday...
Posted by: Luke Cage at August 24, 2006 8:44 AM
Good posts.
I felt compelled to go out and get some numbers for who NY picked up at the trade deadline and who Boston picked up off waivers. But that would take too much time from my day job and prove absolutely nothing more than the games on the field already did. We could just name names - Bobby Abreu, Corey Lidle, Eric Wilson for NYY, and Javy Lopez is the main pickup for BOS... hmmm well our parts are fitting better than theirs...
The Yanks did the best job of preparing for the stretch run into the playoffs of any team in the Majors. Everyone else is basically going with the horses that got them there. As Boston proved, you have to get quality used parts to plug into your lineup for the stretch run or you will find yourself limping into the end of the season, holding on to nothing but prayers and thin string just to make it.
The Bobby Abreu trade has been absolute dynamite in a bottle for the Yanks. Abreu seems very happy to be on a winning team to the point he is hitting well and fits right into place on this team. Get on base by any means necessary - watch Abreu take his at bats and he'll show you how to battle all types of pitchers. He's got a great eye and the Yankees are benefitting from it. Puts less pressure on Bernie Williams to perform at the high level he's been at this whole year. Despite Bernie's numbers, he's been another key to the success of this team. Now that he's beginning to decline, Damon's stepped it up and is now performing at the level the Yankee brass expected. If he can keep from tweaking something else he'll continue to be a solid contributor.
Cory Lidle has been more important to this team than anyone figured. Now Jaret Wright is in the bullpen (where I think he should stay for a while), and the Bombers were able to release the ineffective Sidney Ponson. Not gonna help his drinking problem any, if he still has it. The new pitcher to be brought up from AA Trenton is doing reasonably well in Moose's absence... we'll see how well it goes. It looks like the organization is doing what it can to make sure Phillip Hughes' progression is as natural as possible. He's definitely the ace of the future.
No one is hungrier in baseball right now than the Yanks. Chicago and Detroit are trading blows right now, and both teams will have to deal with keeping their mainstays healthy down the stretch. The Twins are knocking on the door for the wildcard and continue to play hard like they always do - will it be enough. The whole AL west is dogfighting for the one spot they can get to advance to the playoffs - division champ. Oakland and Anaheim are probably the two biggest players out there - Texas has a long shot and the M's an even longer shot. In the NL, the only team dominating and most likely assured a playoff berth also plays in New York and their stadium is visible from LaGuardia Airport. Everybody else not named the Pirates still has hope for a wildcard berth there.
As for the A-Rod talks, struggles, etc... My opinion is to let the man play his small role. I think he has to realize that he's only a small, albeit important, cog in this Yankee machine. Sadly it's become a pastime for ignorant Yankee fans to bash ARod for not being the dominant player he was in Texas, but on YesNetwork.Com, Steve Goldman of the Baseball Prospectus (looks like a bunch of stat guys over there) compared ARod's stats for the Yankees with this last few years in Texas, and the numbers are actually better over in NY than in Texas, including this year. He's doing something right. I think we should lower our expectations of A-Rod to be nothing more than a good thirdbaseman that can contribute occasionally to this team winning #27, rather than expect him to break out of some sort of slump and become the absolute best player taking that field. So what he earns $25 mil a year? Texas is paying most of that.
Overall the Yanks are in good shape for the pennant race. If Matsui and Sheff get back in September, I'd use them sparingly until they're back in the flow of things, and unleash 'em in the playoffs.
Posted by: Adrian Bradley at August 24, 2006 1:15 PM
Luke:
Welcome aboard. I do believe that this could be a special year in the Bx. Despite the missed opportunities in Seattle. Let's see how they play in Anahiem.
Posted by: AG at August 25, 2006 6:30 AM