Running Diary: Yankees/Red Sox Round 3

*It is a frigid, windy night at Fenway Park and the Red Sox and Yankees are set to play the rubber game of their first series of 2008. The Yankees are Jeter-less and Boston is without Mike Lowell or David Ortiz; that will not upset the excitement. It's Phil Hughes vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka. It's baseball's best rivalry. It's next on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.



TOP 1: Matsuzaka works around two walks to get Alex Rodriguez to ground into an inning ending 5-4-3 double play. This has been the story with Matsuzaka for the most part during his short time in the big leagues. He has great stuff but sometimes falls into trouble by walking people and falling behind in the count. If this trend continues, the Yankees will pounce on him at some point and/or the Boston bullpen will be in action by the 6th inning.

Rodriguez was welcomed with a swarm of boos from Red Sox Nation, and looked utterly eager at the plate, hacking at the first pitch-- a sinker diving down and in that he really couldn't do anything with. Easier said that done, but with a runner in scoring position and less than 2 outs-- and A-Rod up, no less -- how can you possibly swing at the first pitch when it isn't something that can be driven? Emotions get even the best big leaguers sometimes.

BOT 1: Manny Ramirez showed why he is one of the best hitters in the game. With runners on first and third and 1 out, Hughes attacked Ramirez relentlessly with his fastball. Manny worked the at-bat to a full count and then sat back on a breaking ball, after seeing nothing but fastballs prior to the full count, and pounded it over the second baseman. This hit drove in Jacoby Ellsbury who led off the inning with a walk, making the score 1-0 Boston.

Hughes came out of the gate with good stuff-- the problem is that he worked behind in the count, much like Dice-K did in the first. Working behind in the count is death to a pitcher, especially when the hitters can simply take the breaking ball and wait for the fastball over the plate. Hughes left a fastball over the plate to Youkilis who drove it to center for a sacrifice fly, and Sean Casey drilled a gorund rule double to left off of a fastball left middle in. This is a monumental inning for Hughes in terms of his pitch count, as he spent 39 pitches. Of course, not being on the same page with catcher Jose Molina-- he crossed him up twice, the second one leading to a run -- doesn't help. Red Sox 3-0 after the first.

TOP 2: Dice-K continues his walking ways but survives the inning with no damage. 3-0 Boston.

On a side note, I get a kick out of the infatuation cameramen have with superstars. Maybe they are ordered to spend every second in between pitches on Derek Jeter, I don't know. We know Jeter is nursing an injury and is not going to play tonight, yet the biggest story so far is Jeter standing up at the rail of the dugout with a thick Yankee jacket zipped all the way up and his collar pulled up to protect his neck from the wind chill. Seriously? I know the women of America would rather watch Jeter stand still than the actual game, but how about mixing it up one time, huh? Maybe, just maybe, one of these days we will be able to see the pre-pitch routine of a great hitter or great fielder while the action is suddenly halted. Until then, hey, guess we have to enjoy picking apart the attire and facial expressions of people who wll play no part in the game. So, back to the beloved Mr. Jeter...

BOT 2: The most impressive stretch thus far from Phil Hughes came in the bottom of the second. The Red Sox were sniffing another run after Coco Crisp got on with an infield single, stole second, and reached third with one out. Hughes made his best pitches of the night in the next two at-bats. The right hander pound Ellsbury inside with fastballs, getting him to pop up to shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. Then Hughes absolutely exposed Dustin Pedroia as he threw him two curveballs in a row before getting him to swing and miss on a 93-mph fastball down and in. Boston 3, Yankees 0.

Another snipet I get a great laugh from-- the volatile reaction of some players. Pedroia screamed his favorite four-letter expletive after striking out to end the inning, which then prompted him to show off his arm by slamming his bat into the ground. Bad Bat! Seriously, I cannot laugh enough when I see these things from big leaguers. This certainly is no example for youth baseball players, but I am not here to criticize these guys for not being models all of the time. I understand the emotions and frustrations of the game, and sometimes they happen to boil over. I just find it ironic that players at the highest level get away with showing this type of emotion when high school players are thrown out for such actions. Maybe it has something to do with having money involved and this being the livelihood for these players? Anyways, anybody see Ted Lilly in the NLDS last year against Arizona after giving up a homerun (to Eric Byrnes if I remember correctly)? Classic powder keg.

TOP 3: Another inning, another walk for Matsuzaka-- that is four though three innings of work. But New Yokr finally cracked his armor, mustering 1 run on a Bobby Abreu double off of the Green Monster, scoring Johnny Damon who has two walks and two stolen bases thus far. Matsuzaka was let off the hook cheaply as A-Rod popped up to end the inning with Abreu standing on second base. It goes to show you that falling behind in the count-- Matsuzaka has thrown less than 50% of his pitches for strikes through three innings-- will inevitably lead to trouble and a stressed bullpen. Dice-K is getting by so far, but he sure is playing with fire.

BOT 3: The night is over for Phil Hughes as he did not get an out in the third inning, as he walked (that is seven total walks so far-- we gotta be on pace for some sort of record) J.D. Drew to lead off the inning, and then gave up three consecutive hits. All three of Hughes' walks scored, and he leaves the game losing 5-1 with runners on first and second, nobody out, and Jason Veritek at the plate. I was curious to see how Hughes would handle his first start ever at Fenway. This type of performance is not a huge surprise, even though big things are expected from Hughes, and I do expect him to pitch many great games in this rivalry before his career is over.

That being said, I thought it would be tougher for Hughes to control his emotions than Matsuzaka and that was evident as Hughes wasn't very sharp. Three walks in two plus innings is a problem, and that problem compounds when the majority of the strikes that he does throw get fat parts of the plate. Rough night for the rookie, but there will be another day.

PITCHING CHANGE: Ross Ohlendorf- NYY

Ohlendorf, another rookie, opened up on an impressive note but faltered at the end of the inning. Ohlendorf got two outs immediately, then threw a wild pitch that scored Youkilis, walked Lugo, and let Ellsbury off cheaply by hanging a changeup, which is promptly pounded into right field to score another run. Bost 7- 1 after three.

I don't understand the thinking behind some of these pitch selections, especially from a reliever who comes into a game with runners on and needs to get outs. When your team is already trailing by a substantial margin, that is not the time to try to fool the opposition. Throw your best stuff and get out of the jame. Ohlendorf has a 94-97 fastball that runs, and yet he came out throwing a bunch of sliders and gave a gift to Ellsbury in the form of a fat changeup. Is that not bewildering to anybody else? When you have 97-mph cheese that moves, you can tell the hitter it is coming and you will get him out if it is put in a good spot. I'd like to see all of these pitchers tonight be a little more aggressive with the fastball.

TOP 4: Good inning for the Yankees as the tacked on three runs to bring the score to 7-4. Matsuzaka may just ruin the lead the offense has given him and/or not make it through the required five full innings to be in line for the win. Matsuzaka is continuing to walk guys-- that is five -- and leave pitches over the middle of the plate. Alberto Gonzalez, who is filling in for Derek Jeter at shortstop, had a run-scoring sinlge which also set up a Johnny Damon sac fly by moving Jose Molina over to third.

This game is moving at a snails pace, which is typical for this rivalry. Tons of offense and tons of pitches being thrown. Not my type of ballgame, but at least we should probably be in store for a late inning pressure-cooker. Is that Julian Tavarez warming up in the bullpen? Yes it is; the Yankees are still in this game after all.

BOT 4: Six days later, we have completed four innings at Fenway. Ohlendorf contributed the eleventh walk of the ballgame and was in a bases loaded jam before he got Varitek to hit into an inning-ending double play. This game is full of the same recurring theme which is killing the fluidity of the ballgame, allowing for day dreaming throughout the inning. I mean seriously, games like this remind me of watching 8-year-old basketball or 3-hour movies that are 3 1/2 hours too long. Brutal. 7-4 Red Sox.

Side note-- interesting point in the ballgame when color man Joe Morgan talked about hitting when Manny Ramirez was at the plate. Morgan said that Ramirez is such a great hitter because he is able to maintain excellent balance throughout his swing, keeping his head still and allowing his hips and lower body to produce the power in his swing. Morgan talked about Youkilis when he came to the bat and showed the difference between Ramirez and Youkilis in their styles-- Youkilis does not put much emphasis on gaining power with his lower body, but rather trusts his hands to spray the ball all over the field. Morgan equated this more "handsy" approach that Youkilis uses to the reason why he does not hit for as much power as Ramirez or some of the other sluggers. Great commentary segment.

TOP 5: I was tremendously excited to report the first walkless frame of the night... until Matsuzaka walked Hideki Matsui with two outs in the fifth. Jorge Posada followed up that walk with a single to left before Matsuzaka got Giambi to fly out to center as he used 117 pitches to get through five innings of work-- yikes! His night is definitely over. 7-4 Boston.

Side note-- I raved about how Joe Morgan spewed on hitting for a few minutes last inning, but then it dawned-- well actually "dawned" is the wrong word because I already knew-- on me that ESPN needs to add another member to this telecast crew, one that is qualified to talk about pitching. I suspect that Orel, who already works ESPN games, would be happy to be that extra color man on Sunday Night to shed light on the pitching side of the game. Morgan is qualified to talk about hitting, but it is hard to really talk about pitching when you haven't been there. No disrespect to Morgan, but he just doesn't have the experience to really talk about that part. He talked about the great job that Varitek is doing hanging with Matsuzaka and calling the game-- this would be the perfect spot for a guy like Orel who has been in those shoes. A commentator like Jon Miller can learn a lot about the game, but there is something to be said for the knowledge that is gained by actually experiencing it first hand.

Miller could have never done the type of analysis that Morgan did when talking about Manny Ramirez, and to Miller's credit, he defers those insights to Morgan. On the flip side, Morgan really can't talk about game calling or what a pitcher is trying to do-- those questions should be left for a genuine pitching guy. I don't know why this hasn't been thought of or hasn't happened. Maybe ESPN doesn't want to intrude on the relationship that Jon Miller and Joe Morgan have on the Sunday night telecast, but it seems like a good idea, right? ESPN definitely needs to do this, I think.

BOT 5: Ta-da! No walks this half inning. 7-4 Boston.

TOP 6:

PITCHING CHANGE: David Aardsma-- BOS

Not sure what the single game record is for most walks by two teams, but we are now up to 14 total walks after David Aardsma added two more to the pot. The Yankees are not making the Red Sox pitchers pay for their mistakes, though. Bobby Abreu popped up a 2-0 fastball to left field with A-Rod on deck and runners on second and third. There have been chances for the Yankees to tie the ballgame or take the lead-- and there will undoubtedly be more, the way this has been going-- but they have yet to capitalize. Pretty sloppy so far. 7-4 Boston.

BOT 6:

PITCHING CHANGE: LaTroy Hawkins-- NYY

Quick work for Hawkins. Boston up 7-4 heading to the seventh.

Peter Gammons did some reporting on Dustin Pedroia, providing us with this gem: "He is more like 5-foot-5, doesn't run well, his hands are as big as mine, but he has a tremendous work ethic, he makes contact, and he is just a pure baseball player". Peter also provided the following Pedroia nugget: He has never had a season-- not highschool, college, or pro ball-- where he has struck out more times than he walked or had extra base hits. That is amazing. Gotta love Gammons.

TOP 7: Clean work for Aardsma, no walks, three up three down. Pedroia goes in the hole to make a great play to throw out Jorge Posada to send it to the seventh inning stretch. Quiet night for A-Rod as he is 0-for-4. There really is a hole in the lineup on nights when A-Rod does absolutely nothing because it seems like the Yankees do not get too many 2-out hits with runners in scoring position. Now they are a great offense so they may actually be good in those situations and I could eat my words-- more than likely it is just this game that is making me feel that way. Tons of runners left on base and plenty of wasted opportunities. 7-4 Boston.

BOT 7: Hawkins continues to do a job for the Yankees, retiring the Red Sox in order in his second inning of work. He is a valuable arm, but may not be the shut down guy he was for the Rockies late last year. That stretch seemed to me like he was playing beyond his limits for a little while, and I don't think he is capable of coming in and slamming doors. He can be a serviceable 7th inning guy, but if the Yankees are in a jam in the seventh and they really want to win the ballgame, Joba Chamberlain will be handed the ball. Still 7-4 Boston.

TOP 8:

PITCHING CHANGE: Mike Timlin-- BOS

Jason Giambi greeted Timlin with a solo shot to right. Jose Molina and pinch hitter Melky Cabrera followed with singles to knock Timlin out of the ballgame. Wilson Betemit on to pinch run for Molina. Runners on first and second, 7-5 Red Sox. We've got some more steroid/Mitchell Report talk by Morgan and Miller to fill the time during warm up pitches. Beautiful.

PITCHING CHANGE: Javier Lopez-- BOS

Timlin should be buying Lopez dinner for the entire road trip after he way he just bailed him out. Lopez got Johnny Damon to ground into a double play, and then got Robinson Cano to ground weakly to second base to end the threat. It is amazing for such a great lineup like the Yankees to strand so many baserunners and not take advantage of a number of opportunities. The Yankees flat out do not look like the Yankees tonight. Known for working counts and being patient, forcing the pitcher to come over the plate and then hammering the mistake, New York is chasing the pitcher's pitch in hitters counts and are flailing anxiously when they need to sit on pitches to drive. 7-5 Boston.

BOT 8:

PITCHING CHANGE: Kyle Farnsworth-- NYY

Boston manufactures another to push their lead to 8-5 heading to the ninth. It has been reported that Jonathan Papelbon is not available tonight due to a manager's decision. Guess Francona thinks all of that throwing and stopping due to the rain delay last night warranted a day off for his closer.

TOP 9: Lopez and Manny Delcarmen combine to set the Yankees down in order and put the nail in the coffin of a sluggish, walk-filled ballgame. Time to put this one to bed from Fenway Park. FINAL: Boston 8, New York 5.