the red sox need to trade for some pinch hitters. The efforts by Crisp, Varitek, and Lugo was beyond brutal vs. Rivera in the 9th inning today (with the bases loaded)

Interesting game today. I was in and out of the office, but good to see Mussina pull off a quality start.

Damon on the DL. Time to salvage some face tomorrow.

I'm making habits out the DDP's lately.

[This message has been edited by Captain Insano (edited 7/5/2008 7:17p).]

great win today. Mo was shaky but dominated the bottom of the order to seal the deal

"An A-Bomb, From A-Rod"

W -- definately agree. Sean Casey is pretty decent but the bottom of the order is just about useless when the game is on the line. Just need to get Papi back to correct that issue. If he was back in the lineup, Ramirez goes back to left field and then Ellsbury plays Center field. It gets rid of one of the weak links at least.

Joba on the mound tonight!

damon on the DL for the first time in his career... man this injury bug will not go away.

"An A-Bomb, From A-Rod"

GREAT WIN AGAINST THE RED SOX. I WAS SO HAPPY FOR GARDNER TO GET A GAME WINNING HIT. I AM SOOOO HAPPY RIGHT NOW...

"An A-Bomb, From A-Rod"

Tampa in for two starting on Tuesday.

I'm going to go ahead and call it 2 must wins for the yankees. the rays would be thrilled with a split to keep a 10-game margin in the loss column.

Good to see the Yanks actually show a little heart. Girardi getting tossed in the 6th seemed to work a little to motivate this team.

The Damon injury hurts, but hopefully he'll be able to be activated from the DL right at 15 days. With him and Matsui nursing injuries, Melky and Cano need to step it up at the plate to make up for it. Gardner leading off is interesting too. Curious as to the lineup against Kazmir.

The Red Sox are back in Fenway. This road trip was obviously less than supurb.

The rest of the season looks to be favorable to them. They only have one more extended road trip and the majority of them are short and close to home rather than all across the US.

It is also great to see all the Sox on the All Star team. Especially Tek. Because he deserves it so much.

[This message has been edited by Say Chowdah (edited 7/8/2008 3:37p).]

Incredible game tonight by Pettitte. 8 innings, 4 hits, 5 K's, including three inning ending crucial ones. Cabrera bats leadoff and hits an insurance HR in the 8th. Jeter drives in two, has a great play defensively. We're 7.5 out, which is much better than 9.5 out.

Short series ends tomorrow with a matinee in the cathedral with Ponson going against Edwin Jackson.

another comeback win at home for the sawx!

it makes me a little bit sick to my stomach but I was actually rooting for the evil empire tonight against the upstart rays. Hopefully they win again tomorrow then start a nice losing streak.

Go Sox!

Cap and Yankees -- thanks for doing what we didn't. Keep beating up on the Rays (and as Hernandez requested, go on a 5 game skid). Thanks.

Gonna go out on a limb and say that the Sox are now 2 games out of first again. They are up 14-5 in the 8th. I have faith that they'll hang on and the Yanks beat the Rays again.

Sorry Aggie Kid. I think the inevitable is almost here.

[This message has been edited by Say Chowdah (edited 7/9/2008 3:37p).]

Outstanding pitching duel today. The Yankees are showing a little heart for once - maybe it's the curse of A-Rod's wife.

Abreu doubles in Jeter in the 10th to win their 4th in a row in matinee in the cathedral. Ponson pitches well for 7, Farnsworth and Rivera close the deal. As Jeter said, we've been consistently inconsistent.

Yanks are 6.5 out.

wow what another great late inning win! i was so happy to be able to catch the late innings after class. Let's hope they can keep it up.

"An A-Bomb, From A-Rod"

Chowdah, I'm confident that the Rays will still be in first when the All Star break comes.

all right, the big boys have flexed their muscles this week and both picked up 2 games in the standings on the Rays in 2 days.

sidenote...has anyone seen Tampa's September schedule? yikes

6 games vs yankees
6 games vs red sox
4 games vs twins
4 games vs tigers
and the 7 games vs non-contenders (orioles, bluejays) are on the road

the rays finish the season with an 8-game road trip

Did not realize that about the Rays schedule. Ouch. However, those 12 games with the heavyweights could seal the deal for them if they play well. I'm thinking of the Atlanta Braves in 1991 - they had a lot of games with the Reds and Dodgers, the NL West heavyweights back then, and everyone said they would falter. They did not because they played so well within the division. The Rays can do the same thing. I don't think it will happen, though. I think the Red Sox, unfortunately, are the best team in baseball, and it will show in August and September.

Yanks go to Pittsburgh tomorrow with Moose on the mound before heading north of the border.

quote:

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Chowdah, I'm confident that the Rays will still be in first when the All Star break comes.

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Well the Rays have three on the road against the tribe. Who knew that they would be that terrible this year??? But they've lost 10 in a row so the law of averages states that they have to win again. Lets hope they win 2 (or 3) in a row.

The Sox have 3 at home against the terrifying Orioles and their bats have come alive again. So we shall see.

It has been an exciting first half of the season! Gotta give the Rays that! They've definately made things a little more interesting.

Ah, but I have a secret weapon. A friend of mine has, this summer, gone to see the following games:
Orioles at Rays
Astros at Braves
*somebody* at Indians
Cardinals at Phillies

In every game, the team she has cheered for has lost. So, as she's driving back to the Cleveland tonight for that game, I'm trying to convince her that she should cheer for the Tribe.

Of course, this could be like a no-hitter. Now that I've acknowledged her (im)perfection, I'm almost sure that the Indians will score 5 runs in the first, and not look back all series.

Yankees lose to the lowly Pirates, 4-2. Maholm is a pretty good pitcher for them...or at least he was tonight.

Moose did not pitch poorly - the bullpen is still suspect before Farns and Mo, IMO.

Headed north of the border for the Jays before All Star weekend in the greatest city in the world.

On the plus side, I think it might mean she actually likes me and couldn't help but root for the Rays. If I successfully jinxed the jinx, does that mean she can root for anyone?

But I actually blame the old man for this one. I got up in between the top and bottom of the 5th inning to go to the bathroom, and while I was out, my father started channel surfing. By the time I got back, it was still 2-0, but the damage had been done. Sonnanstine lost his concentration, and then the Tribe blew up for 5 in the 5th inning.

Geez Kid, maybe you have can have your bff slip her bff a note for you to pass on between gym class and Algebra?

Seriously though, Sox gain 1/2 a game and the Yanks dropped one as well. 3 games in Fenway against the O holes coming up. Hopefully Cleveland will realize that they were the AL runners up last season and not the effing Nationals for the rest of this series. Sox return to their proper position on top of the AL East.

I had 4 tickets to Sunday's game in Fenway. 7th row behind the Sox dugout. But I gave them to an employee, his gf and a customer.

I can one up you, Chowdah.
A group of 15 West Point cadets are going to the All Star Game on Tuesday, and they needed an OIC (basically a chaperone). I never replied because of commitments to my own cadets. Although arrangements could certainly have been made to cover my cadets training, I know some Colonel would have knocked me out of the tasking anyway.
Still, every time I see a commercial, I get angry. This would probably be the closest I ever come to an All Star game (unless I'm still here when it goes to the new Shea)

Chowdah, that HS stuff never worked for me. Perhaps if I'd actually gone on a more consistent basis, stayed awake more often, and paid a little bit of attention...maybe.

If only I knew 14 years ago what I know now...

Cap -- You've lost major points with me. At least I am sending a client and some employees who make me money.

Furthermore don't let the Commandant find out about your ill decision. Your next OER would come back very disappointing.

Makes sound judgements?: WAAAAHHH "Not just no but hell no!!!"

quote:

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Chowdah, that HS stuff never worked for me.

If only I knew 14 years ago what I know now...

---

Don't take it too hard, I just returned from my 20th HS reunion. My ex was there (she was the reason I went as I hadn't seen her since HS). I had about 15 different fellas come up to me and say "Wow! Did you eff up or what???" She is absolutely stunning. Ah well. Live and hopefully learn and grow.

Had my 10 year reunion about 2-3 weeks ago.

Ended up being in Houston for a wedding that weekend anyway, but there was almost no doubt that I was going to skip it in the first place.

Got one close friend here in town, and he and I hang out almost weekly as is. My best HS buddy is somewhere on the Pacific Ocean as the Weps officer on the USCGC Boutwell. There's a couple of other peripheral friends that I'm in contact with and am reasonably knowledgeable of what they're doing.

The other 435 people in my HS class? Might be rude to say it, but I'm not particularly concerned about where they are and what they're up to these days. And that includes the "high school sweetheart." I was stupid about her for a few years, and decided one day that it had to stop--told her good bye and good luck. Haven't talked to her in about 6 years.

Nice pointless drive down Memory Lane, thanks :-P

Go Rays!

[This message has been edited by aggie kid (edited 7/11/2008 11:35a).]

great win today for the yanks. A-rod and Jeter Carried the team, and the rookie was an onbase machine.

let's keep it going tomorrow against marcum

"An A-Bomb, From A-Rod"

Milestones:
1. A-Rod passes Mantle on the Home Run List with 537.
2. Jeter hits #200.
3. Rasner makes it to five innings.

A couple of thoughts here. One, the Yankees were mowed down last night by Halladay despite a solid game from Chamberlain, but the offense carries Rasner today.
Gardner continues to impress in the absence of Matsui and Damon. Got himself 3 RBI today.
Bullpen allows one baserunner after the 6th. David Cone was saying during the broadcast that the Yankees have more innings from the bullpen than any other team, yet have no one in the top 15 in appearances. That's the kind of stats that I like.

def agree captain, the individuals in the bullpen not being overworked is a great sign compared to the old torre days. No more scott proctor with nearly 90-100 innings. its a great sight to see

Finally got my biz trip to NJ arranged and it is on Aug 6th and 7th. As bad luck has it, the Yanks are on the road. Looks like I may have to make a special trip to see Yankee Stadium before it is gone. As good luck would have it one of the people in my NYC office has a summer home in Maine. He stopped my my office on Friday to grab some Sea Dogs tix and lunch. He offered up some Yanks tix in return. Pretty good trade on my part don't ya think?

[This message has been edited by Say Chowdah (edited 7/12/2008 4:21p).]

lucky you chowdah, workin those connects