America's team cruises to win

[franksolich]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090513&content_id=4713274&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

We can all heave a sigh of relief; America's team is back.

Early outburst helps Yanks cruise to win
Gardner's first career tater highlights five-run second inning

TORONTO -- The Yankees waited later than usual to post their lineup card on Thursday, hoping for better news with ailing stars Derek Jeter and Hideki Matsui likely to be absent for the evening.

It was the last inserts that proved most productive for the Yankees, as rookies Brett Gardner, Ramiro Pena and Francisco Cervelli helped carry the offense to an 8-2 victory over the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.

Gardner led that charge, belting his first Major League homer and driving in three runs in support of starter Andy Pettitte, who hurled six solid innings of two-run ball to win for the first time in four starts.

"Hopefully it gives us a little boost," Gardner said. "We've got a lot of interchangeable parts here, and I think those guys are definitely part of it. Hopefully they'll continue to contribute, along with myself. Everybody can pitch in.".....

[formerlurker]

They're back?   Need an explanation of "back."

[NHSparky]

They're back?   Need an explanation of "back."

Kinda like winning a Wild Card berth and going nowhere with it.  That kind of "back". 

Kinda like Papi is "back".

[formerlurker]

Kinda like winning a Wild Card berth and going nowhere with it.  That kind of "back". 

Kinda like Papi is "back".

Ah, the "we got injuries, but we still kicked the shit out of the AL West it's-different-this-year pansies?" -- that kind of back? 

No Frank, they aren't "back."  The only thing they are "back" of is the line.   

[NHSparky]

Ah, the "we got injuries, but we still kicked the shit out of the AL West it's-different-this-year pansies?" -- that kind of back? 

No Frank, they aren't "back."  The only thing they are "back" of is the line.   

And how is the RSN doing against those "weak-assed" Angels so far this year?  You want to use today's game as an example?

BTW--my die-hard Sox fan boss is wearing my Vlad jersey tomorrow, if that gives you any idea.

[formerlurker]

And how is the RSN doing against those "weak-assed" Angels so far this year?  You want to use today's game as an example?

BTW--my die-hard Sox fan boss is wearing my Vlad jersey tomorrow, if that gives you any idea.

12 innings at home?   Are you kidding me right now?   

 

Yeah, let's use that as an example.  We will also use the ump spoting you the damn game with his every changing strike zone.   PATHETIC.

[NHSparky]

12 innings at home?   Are you kidding me right now?   

 

Yeah, let's use that as an example.  We will also use the ump spoting you the damn game with his every changing strike zone.   PATHETIC.

Oh, since when is a win not a win?

BTW--how many HR's does Papi have now?

And for good measure--BOSTON MASSACRE.
Good girl.  Now just slink away and admit I was right.

[formerlurker]

Oh, since when is a win not a win?

BTW--how many HR's does Papi have now?

And for good measure--BOSTON MASSACRE.
Good girl.  Now just slink away and admit I was right.

Not defending Ortiz.  You were the one who wanted to use this game where you barely pulled it out of your ass AT HOME IN EXTRA INNINGS as some kind of example.

Boston Massacre means something only to Angel fans who won't see a pennant win, never mind a a WS win, anytime again this millenium.   It's kind of all you have.

[BlueStateSaint]

Coach, Gardner had his first inside-the-park HR last night.  It was something to watch.  The kid's got some wheels.

[NHSparky]

Not defending Ortiz.  You were the one who wanted to use this game where you barely pulled it out of your ass AT HOME IN EXTRA INNINGS as some kind of example.

Boston Massacre means something only to Angel fans who won't see a pennant win, never mind a a WS win, anytime again this millenium.   It's kind of all you have.

You were defending him earlier.  When I (correctly, I might add) cited Massarotti that his KNEES where what was keeping him from using a proper batting stance and that he had to "cheat" to get the bat around.  Yeah, he might be able to hit the fastball, but if the pitchers put any sort of movement on the ball he was going to miss, and miss badly.  So how close was he/were we?  He was 0-for-freakin-7 in that game, and only got the ball out of the infield twice.  So while you can blame Tito all you want, and he certainly deserves his share, some of the PLAYERS certainly aren't living up to expectations.  How's that hunt for a catcher going, BTW?

And a win is a win is a win...doesn't matter if it's by 10 runs in the first inning or a blooper out of the shortstop's glove in the 16th.  Still goes down the same way.  Maybe your defeat tastes a little more bitter, but that's your problem.

Tell ya what--go down to any bar on Boylston Street any given game night, mention Boston Massacre (either 1978 or 2006--take your pick) and tell me the fans don't care.  Just try.

Like I said--wave that Wild Card banner with pride.  I'll betcha Papelbon won't be jumping up and down like a retarded howler monkey like THAT again anytime soon.

[formerlurker]

You were defending him earlier.  When I (correctly, I might add) cited Massarotti that his KNEES where what was keeping him from using a proper batting stance and that he had to "cheat" to get the bat around.  Yeah, he might be able to hit the fastball, but if the pitchers put any sort of movement on the ball he was going to miss, and miss badly.  So how close was he/were we?  He was 0-for-freakin-7 in that game, and only got the ball out of the infield twice.  So while you can blame Tito all you want, and he certainly deserves his share, some of the PLAYERS certainly aren't living up to expectations.  How's that hunt for a catcher going, BTW?

And a win is a win is a win...doesn't matter if it's by 10 runs in the first inning or a blooper out of the shortstop's glove in the 16th.  Still goes down the same way.  Maybe your defeat tastes a little more bitter, but that's your problem.

Tell ya what--go down to any bar on Boylston Street any given game night, mention Boston Massacre (either 1978 or 2006--take your pick) and tell me the fans don't care.  Just try.

Like I said--wave that Wild Card banner with pride.  I'll betcha Papelbon won't be jumping up and down like a retarded howler monkey like THAT again anytime soon.

Uh, where did I defend Ortiz? 

Boston Massacre means nothing now - two WS wins wipes out a lot of painful memories, 2006 was not a massacre (we been down that path before).   

A win is a win, an ugly win is not anything you prop up as an example as you did.   

We had injuries last year.  What was your excuse again?    [snicker]

[NHSparky]

I'm sorry, your main rival coming into YOUR crib and SWEEPING YOU IN A FIVE GAME SERIES wouldn't be painful?

Oh, that's rich.  Really.

And you've got fewer injuries now than you did last year, 2007, or 2006.  Deal with it.

[formerlurker]

I'm sorry, your main rival coming into YOUR crib and SWEEPING YOU IN A FIVE GAME SERIES wouldn't be painful?

Oh, that's rich.  Really.

And you've got fewer injuries now than you did last year, 2007, or 2006.  Deal with it.

Angels running on all cylinders last year -- everyone healthy, even K-rod didn't choke as badly as we come to expect from him, and you lose.  Why?  Because you played the Red Sox.  In post season.  And you always lose.   

What the hell does May baseball have to do with anything?   Are you kidding me right now?

[NHSparky]

Uh, try again.

Key Angels injuries last year:
--Howie Kendrick (hamstring)
--Kelvim Escobar (missed entire year)
--Erick Aybar (missed 42 games between hamstring and hand injuries)
--Chone Figgins (missed 34 games...DL X2)
--John Lackey (missed first six weeks of season, elbow injury)
--Mike Napoli (26 games, shoulder)

You really wanna go there?

[formerlurker]

Do I want to go there...... hmmmm, yes Alex, I will go there.

Ya better damned well believe it.  Even your own sportswriters are running scared:

LINK

<excerpt>

As most every Red Sox follower is certain to point out in the next 24-36 hours, there are more than just five months difference between April and October; the games now are entirely different. The Angels had home field advantage against the Red Sox in 2004 only to be unceremoniously swept from the first round of the playoffs in three lopsided games. Last year, the series opened in Boston and the Angels similarly were blown off the field.

In such cases, history is a convenient crutch, though we all know the truth: Those games mean nothing now. The Los Angeles lineups encountered by the Sox in 2004 and 2007 were quite different from the one the Sox will encounter now, and not solely because of Teixeira's arrival. Torii Hunter has since joined these Angels, arriving as a free agent in the offseason. Garret Anderson is healthy this year (unlike last) and someone like Jose Guillen has not been suspended (as he was in 2004), which means that Red Sox pitchers are going to have a far more difficult time pitching to the Angels in 2008 than they did in either '04 or '07.

Please, don't rely on history as a factor in this series. Of all people, Boston fans should know better. If the Red Sox win Game 1 and doubts start creeping into the heads of Angels players, it has a great deal more to do with mental toughness (or lack thereof) than it does with anything that took place on the field last year or in '04.

Relative to '04 and '07, Red Sox pitchers are going to have their hands full in this series because the Angels can score in more ways now. Since joining the Angels, Teixeira has batted .358 with 13 home runs, 43 RBIs, 39 runs scored and 32 walks (against just 23 strikeouts) in 54 games; he has slugged .632 and has an OPS of 1.081. During that same period of time, Garret Anderson has been all but reborn, batting .335. (He went 8 for 10 in his first two games with Teixeira in the lineup.) Meanwhile, Vladimir Guerrero went from batting .284 and slugging .478 (before Teixeira) to hitting .345 and slugging .614 (after Teixeira).

=================================================================================

It's a very different team than the one you faced even last year, toots.  Fly that 2008 Wild Card banner with pride.  It's the only one you're going to get.

Actually, I do.  And I've no doubt you'll soon find out.

Like I said, don't go buying those WS tickets yet unless you have a hotel in Anaheim set up.

There.   Back.   There again.   

[NHSparky]

And while you're getting punked (again) by the likes of the Rays, just remember this:

Second place is first loser.

[NHSparky]

BTW--not only do the Sox have the most expensive seats in baseball, when's the last time ANYBODY paid face value for them?  Seriously?