Game 2 in the Bronx

The Yankees are not going to win 162 games this year, they will have to settle for 160 at this point.

~~ Red Sox 7, Yankees 4 ~~

It is never a good thing when your starter starts hitting batters, especially when he does it twice in one inning and walks a batter in between. Kuroda got hit on the hand, suffered a bruised middle finger. He tried to stay in but with his loss of control Girardi took him out and put in Cody Eppley who managed to get the next batter to ground into a double play. You can look up which batter hit him, I off to buy supplies to make another doll for my Red Sox collection and sharp pins.

Cody Eppley then proceeded to give up 4 runs in the next inning. His ERA is now old enough to drink in every state in the Union. He and Kuroda need to do some stellar pitching to bring it down to normal levels. Kuroda I think can do it, Eppley has the problem that as a reliever he doesn’t pitch a lot of innings.

Adam Warren saved the bullpen, came in as a reliever and pitched 5 and 1/3 innings. 5 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 4 strike outs. He came through for the Yankees in a big way as did Hafner (why is he called Pronk?) and Wells. Both hit home runs so even though the Yankees lost, it wasn’t a totally embarrassing loss.

Tomorrow night is the last game in the series. Here’s hoping we don’t get swept.

Game 2
Yankees 0-2

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

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Opening day, the reality

~~ Red Sox 8, Yankees 2 ~~

The reality is I didn’t get tickets. I kept looking, up until yesterday and the lowest they got was $75 and I just couldn’t swing it. So I made plans to meet with a couple friends to eat and drink and watch the game. So we had fun, the place was a sports bar/restaurant on the Westside called “Blondies”, which actually had a pretty good set up for watching games, a divided room, one side a bar with TV’s and the other side tables and chairs, also with TV’s on every wall. The food was pretty good too.

The game was pretty horrible, and I then had to read all the “Yankee fans are terrible! They leave before the end of the game, that never happens anywhere else!” The game and the downpour at the end of the game made me glad I wasn’t there to get cold and soaked. Next game is Wednedsay, I believe in Hiroki.

Game 1
Yankees 0-1

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

More free baseball

By now we all know the Yankees have won the division and the next game played will be in the Playoffs, the ALDS. However I didn’t blog about the game I went to Tuesday which once again was extra innings.

~~ Yankees 4, Red Sox 3 ~~

Since starting going to games in 2009, I don’t think I was ever at an extra innings game. There were some games that I hoped went to extra innings, but it didn’t happen. Then the Saturday game against the A’s was extra innings, and then the next game I went to, yesterday also went to extra innings. I got the tickets because I saw the commercial for donating sock and thought, there is no way there are tickets available, when I saw there were tickets I impulsively bought one.

First of all, I planned to go straight from work but with how yucky the weather was I decided to go home and get a heavier jacket, it turned out to be a good decision. Then when I got to the stadium I got a complimentary bottle of chocolate milk, not wanting to drink it right away I stuck it in my pocket. Since I had switched jackets, it wasn’t noticeable and I walked into the stadium with it.

One of the reasons I like going by myself is that if I want to walk around I can do it without feeling like I am abandoning whoever I came with. It had been raining and the seats I had were just at the edge of the roof so my seat was a little wet, which meant the seat that is attached to me also got wet, so I walked around hoping it would dry. Also, it wasn’t really raining, it was misty and the wind was blowing the water around, being under the roof wasn’t helping. Another reason I was walking around was I wasn’t very happy with how the game was going. The Red Sox were ahead by 1 run when Soriano gave up a home run in the 9th to first batter he saw, James Loney. I was standing behind the seats on the third level when that happened and I thought about going down to the great hall just so I could run out quick, but I just stayed there, the mist was turning into rain when Ibanez hit a home run, he was the second batter Andrew Bailey faced which is why we were now tied and going into extra innings. I went into the ladies room and grabbed a bunch of paper towels. Then I found a section in the 300 seats without security walked in, wiped off the seat and sat down. There I sat through the 10th, 11th, Francisco Cervelli came into the game in the 11th and Twitter started buzzing with the possibility that “Frankie’s going to win this.” It was sarcasm I’m sure, at least for some people. Derek Lowe had replaced Soriano who after giving up the home run pitch the rest of the inning and the next scoreless. Derek Lowe was also pitching scoreless innings. Bottom of the twelfth with two outs, Frankie came up to bat, the couple in front of me stood up and clapped, I sat there and thought of the Frankie of old, the one who would scorch a hit through the infield and the ball seemed to have feet as it ran all the way to the wall. He walked. I couldn’t believe it, but there it was, a walk issued to Francisco Cervelli, who has not played in the bigs all year. Then Curtis walks. Then Raul Ibanez comes up to bat, and gets the hit and I was jumping up and down screaming, “RUN FRANKIE!”

Which I didn’t need to do, because he definitely knows how to run. But it felt good, and he listened.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

The plan for today is ….

Or actually what I hope happens today is the Yankees win (of course!) and Texas wins, and Baltimore loses.

We shall see if that actually happens. The Yankees don’t have to do an exact repeat of last night, Andy just need to be dominant, and Ricky needs to not be good.

One of my problems with writing posts

Is deciding on a title, first I was going to use HIROK HIROK HIROK, then I thought, well it was Hiroki and Ichiro, so maybe IT WAS A NIGHT FOR THE JAPS …. but then I thought either of those titles could be considered offensive, and I don’t want to offend anyone, so I didn’t use either. Obviously.

~~ Yankees 4, Red Sox 1 ~~

So what can I say about Kuroda and Ichiro that hasn’t already been said? I was thinking this game would be a win for the Yankees, mainly because Kuroda was pitching. It’s kind of the thing I say about C.C., if he’s pitching you have a better than even chance it’ll be a win. Of course C.C. is on the D.L. along with Andy so we are now relying on Kuroda, Phelps and Garcia. Hughes is rather hit or miss right now, but I have faith, he will come through for us. Nova is also a pitcher that needs seasoning and experience. I also think he will go on to great things for us.

Yankees just need to keep moving forward, keep winning games and go all the way.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

My plans changed about a dozen times

Well maybe not that many, certainly not as often as the content of this post changed. I always ‘write’ my post ahead of time in my head and the title and content kept changing. Maybe because this is the third game I was planning to write about in my effort to ‘get blogging again’. This is a good one since I actually went to this game. But that’s not the whole story.

First it was going to be me and some friends, who just happen to be Red Sox fans going to the game. Unfortunately we were unable to get tickets, so then we thought, maybe we will all get together at a bar to watch, (Professor Thom’s? I think not) but then Kasey was planning to come to the city that day. So I was thinking, depending on when she went home would determine what I did, since she is pretty hard core and gives a look whenever I mention Red Sox fans. Then her husband was going to come, so I told my friends I was available that day if they wanted. They were nice enough to consider an ‘agnostic’ bar. As I was waiting to hear where they were thinking of going, I got an e-mail from a friend (who I had told I was going to the game) asking me if he would see me there. “No couldn’t get tickets.” He sent me an e-mail saying he might have an extra ticket, so then I was going to the game. And that is how I ended up waiting out a 2 hour rain delay in the Audi Club drinking beer and eating Jalapeño poppers and chicken fingers.

~~ Red Sox 8, Yankees 6 ~~

After taking a beating the night before, the Sox came out strong with a 3 run first inning, in the 5th inning they added 3 more runs and were now ahead by 2 runs. They held that lead until the 8th inning when Mark Teixeira tied the score with a 2 run home run. Rafael Soriano came in to close and proceeded to give up 2 runs. Alfredo Aceves (would it be sour grapes for me to call him a traitor? Ah who cares!) [TRAITOR!] and closed the game out, ballgame over, Red Sox win, which makes my record for win vs losses when attending Yankees vs Red Sox 1-4.

Before anyone gets too hyper, Yankees are still in first place, Red Sox are still in last place, and it’s now time to PLAY BALL!

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

Red Sox Lose

On Twitter I tweeted that one of my favorite things is hearing “Saltalamacchia strikes out.” Not just because he’s a Red Sox, but also because I love saying his name, it’s kind of musical. Saltalamacchia gets a hit, isn’t nearly as musical a phrase.

One of my other favorite things is hearing, the Red Sox Lose. Doesn’t matter who they are playing. Today it was the Tigers. Red Sox tied the game in the top of the ninth (thank you very much Valverde you fat clown) and then the Tigers loaded the bases (thank you Aceves for hitting a batter) and got a man in.

This brings up a rule about baseball that I never understand, I mean I understand the rule, I don’t understand the reasoning behind it and it seems blatantly unfair to me. It is also one of the reasons that wins are not a true measure of a pitchers greatness, or lack thereof.

Justin Verlander started the game, he pitched 8 innings of shut-out ball, 2 hits, 7 strikeouts. Then Valverde comes in top of the 9th, 3 hits, 2 runs, blows the save and since the game is tied Verlander no longer gets the win. Then the Tigers get a run in the bottom of the ninth, and …. wait for it …. Valverde gets the win. Not only did he not ‘win’ this game, he tied it and is the reason the Tigers had to play the ninth inning! He almost lost the game and he gets a win on his record. I wonder if he danced off the mound when he got the last out.

Rant over. Yankees opening day is tomorrow, home opener a week from tomorrow.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ 😛

No such thing as a sure thing in baseball

~~ Red Sox 7, Yankees 4 ~~

With Nova pitching versus Lackey, I was sure we’d win it. Then when the Yankees jumped ahead with 3 runs, I was doubly sure the Yankees would win. Even when they went ahead in the 7th, I was still sure Yanks would win, it was only one run and in the bottom of the 7th the Yankees tied it up. So no problem right? RIGHT?

Seven innings later that bad boy Jacoby hits a 3 run home run off Scott Proctor. I don’t know why he was pitching.

Once again there were bad calls against the Yankees. You would think they would get the edge since it is their stadium. Of course you never know if it affected the outcome of the game. It did affect Swisher’s numbers. What was cute was the last time, Swish was hot so Joe comes running out and Cano wraps his arm around Swish’s shoulder and drags him away. Couldn’t afford to lose a player, then Joe got thrown out.

Even though I really wanted the Yankees to sweep the Sox, (possibly out of the post season) Yankees are still number one. This Saturday will still be me and Kasey’s first trip to the post season. So I’m trying not to put too much energy into being angry about this.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ Sunday, September 25, 2011 😛

Another double-header because of the stupid freaking rain!

~~ Yankees 6, Red Sox 2 ~~

The pitchers for the first game of this double-header are Wakefield for the Red Sox and A.J. Burnett for NYY. Someone shoot me now.

Gardner and Jeter bunted, both came around to score. Then in the third inning Jorge hits a two run home run, 4-0 Yankees. And the Rays are leading in their game. Since this won’t be posted until after the game and no one is here to read it, “Please don’t melt down, implode, fall apart, or anything else. OK AJ? Please hold it together for your devoted fan (I might be the only one left).”

Oh Captain! My captain. And no, I don’t think he did touch home plate. Until he reached back and tagged AFTER he was called safe. I almost feel sorry for Tim Wakefield, almost.

Hate Ellsbury, all three hits have come off Ellsbury. If it wasn’t for him AJ would have a no-hitter. I will hate him more if he’s gets MVP instead of a Yankee.

And with that hit Derek is now hitting 300 and the Yankees lead 6-2.

Guess Big Sloppy was tired of walking. AJ doesn’t usually melt down this late in the game does he? OH NICE PLAY! Good fielding by Laird and AJ, 3-6-1 double-play.

AJ pitched into the 8th, D-Rob came in to pitch to Ellsbury, who hit two home runs off AJ, and struck him out. Then D-Rob pitched a scoreless ninth saving Mo and Soriano for tonight’s game if needed.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ Sunday September 25, 2011 😛

Red Sox are slip sliding away

~~ Yankees 9, Red Sox 1 ~~

This is probably the last regular season game I will be at. I have tickets for Game 2 of the ALDS, so I am hoping the Yankees get home field advantage.

Garcia pitched 6 innings of shut-out baseball. This was such a fun game to be at. I always worry when I go to Yankees vs Red Sox because my record is not good. More games lost by the Yankees then won. In fact, this might be the first win thus breaking my streak. Raul Valdes gave up the only run and when he did, the Red Sox fans cheered like it was the go ahead run. People, they are still down 8 runs.

Going into the bottom of the second the Red Sox had 0 runs, 1 hit. When Cano got a single I thought, Oh good we’re even now. Then the next two batters got on, all of a sudden it was bases loaded, one out. Jesus Montero comes up to bat. I wondered if he would get his first major league grand slam, he didn’t, he did get a RBI, the first of the game. Russell Martin then hits a single to left field, Carl Crawford bobbles it, the ball kind of just popped out of his glove, 2 more runs. Then the Captain comes up to bat, my man the captain, hits home run number 6, to bring the total of runs in the inning to 6. Mark struck out, but the Yankee bats were not done. In the bottom of the third Jesus Montero hit a two run double and Jon Lester was done. Jesus Montero >> Jon Lester

The Yankees last run of the game was a home run, hit by Jesus Montero.

Since last nights game was rained out tomorrow is a day night double header. I’ll see you then.

~~ Questo è tutto, dice la principessa ~~ Saturday, September 24, 2011 😛