Game 162: Yanks vs. Red Sox

Regular Season Game 162
Yankees (89-72) vs. Red Sox (94-67)
Fenway Park - Boston, MA
Game Time: 7:35 p.m.
TV: YES - MLB.TV Radio: WCBS 880

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Jason Giambi DH
Xavier Nady LF
Ivan Rodriguez C
Wilson Betemit 3B
Cody Ransom SS
Melky Cabrera RF
Juan Miranda 1B

Sidney Ponson RHP (8-5, 5.21 ERA)

RED SOX
Coco Crisp CF
Alex Cora SS
Chris Carter DH
Jeff Bailey LF
Sean Casey 1B
Jed Lowrie 3B
Jonathan Van Every RF
Kevin Cash C
Gil Velazquez 2B

Tim Wakefield RHP (10-11, 4.24 ERA)

Notes: This season Sidney Ponson is 0-2 with an 11.42 in two starts against the Sox. In his career he is 3-13 with a 6.95 ERA in 22 starts.

Yanks vs. Wakefield:

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
D. Jeter	99	31	2	1	3	10	5	15	.313	.343	.444	.787
J. Giambi	90	15	4	1	4	9	19	20	.167	.309	.367	.676
A.Rodriguez	76	21	1	0	7	10	11	20	.276	.382	.566	.948
J. Posada	63	14	4	0	3	14	13	12	.222	.351	.429	.779
J.Damon	60	19	3	1	4	9	7	9	.317	.382	.600	.982
I. Rodriguez	47	14	2	1	2	8	2	7	.298	.346	.511	.857
H. Matsui	47	8	1	0	2	3	6	7	.170	.264	.319	.583
R. Cano	35	12	3	1	3	9	1	4	.343	.361	.743	1.104
B.Abreu	28	9	2	0	0	1	3	4	.321	.387	.393	.780
J. Molina	14	3	0	0	0	2	2	1	.214	.353	.214	.567
M. Cabrera	9	4	2	0	0	2	1	2	.444	.500	.667	1.167
X. Nady	4	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	.000	.333	.000	.333
B.Gardner	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.667
Totals	575	151	24	5	28	78	72	101	.263	.347	.468	.815

Sox vs. Ponson:

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
J. Varitek	45	15	5	0	2	6	3	6	.333	.375	.578	.953
D. Ortiz	40	19	5	0	3	10	12	4	.475	.593	.825	1.418
K. Youkilis	14	4	1	0	0	3	1	2	.286	.333	.357	.690
M.Kotsay	13	6	2	0	0	2	1	0	.462	.500	.615	1.115
J. Lugo	12	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	.167	.286	.167	.452
A. Cora	10	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.300	.417	.300	.717
C.Crisp	10	4	0	0	0	1	0	2	.400	.400	.400	.800
M. Lowell	9	1	0	0	0	2	1	2	.111	.200	.111	.311
J.D. Drew	8	3	1	0	0	2	1	0	.375	.444	.500	.944
D. Pedroia	8	7	3	0	0	1	0	0	.875	.778	1.250	2.028
S.Casey	7	2	0	0	0	1	0	2	.286	.286	.286	.571
J.Bay	7	2	1	0	0	3	0	2	.286	.250	.429	.679
J. Ellsbury	5	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	.400	.400	.600	1.000
C. Schilling	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
K. Cash	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
J.Lowrie	1	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	1.000	1.000	2.000	3.000
Totals	195	71	20	0	5	31	23	23	.364	.430	.544	.974

Stick around and discuss the game
as it happens in the comments section.

Game 161: Yanks @ Red Sox

Regular Season Game 161
Yankees (88-72) vs. Red Sox (94-66)
Fenway Park - Boston, MA
Game Time: 1:35 p.m.
TV: YES - MLB.TV | Radio: WCBS 880

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Brett Gardner CF
Johnny Damon LF
Bobby Abreu RF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Jason Giambi 1B
Xavier Nady DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Cody Ransom SS
Jose Molina C

Mike Mussina RHP (19-9, 3.47 ERA)

RED SOX

Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (18-2, 2.80 ERA)

Notes: Mike Mussina is 20-17, with a 3.71 ERA in 56 career starts against the Red Sox. This season he's 1-2, with a 4.57 ERA in four starts. Mussina is going for his 20th win of the season, it would be the first time in his career that he'd have 20 wins in a season. ... In five starts against the Yankees in his career Daisuke Matsuzaka is 3-1 with a 6.30 ERA. This season he's 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA in one start. ... The Yankees and Red Sox have played 16 times so far this year, both teams have won eight games.

Yanks vs. Matsuzaka:

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
R. Cano	15	1	0	0	0	0	0	7	.067	.067	.067	.133
J. Damon	13	5	0	0	1	5	3	3	.385	.471	.615	1.086
D. Jeter	12	4	0	0	2	3	1	1	.333	.429	.833	1.262
J. Posada	12	6	3	0	0	2	0	1	.500	.500	.750	1.250
B. Abreu	12	1	1	0	0	1	4	5	.083	.313	.167	.479
A. Rodriguez	11	1	0	0	0	0	2	5	.091	.375	.091	.466
H. Matsui	8	2	1	1	0	2	4	0	.250	.500	.625	1.125
I. Rodriguez	8	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.125	.222	.125	.347
J. Giambi	8	3	1	0	0	3	4	1	.375	.583	.500	1.083
M. Cabrera	7	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.125	.000	.125
J. Molina	2	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	.500	.500	1.000	1.500
Totals	108	25	7	1	3	17	20	25	.231	.368	.398	.767

Red Sox vs. Mussina:

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
J. Varitek	69	12	0	0	1	4	4	27	.174	.219	.217	.437
D. Ortiz	60	14	0	0	3	7	8	21	.233	.324	.383	.707
J. Lugo	33	8	2	0	1	5	0	5	.242	.242	.394	.636
M. Kotsay	30	7	2	0	0	2	2	7	.233	.281	.300	.581
C. Crisp	26	8	3	0	0	1	0	6	.308	.308	.423	.731
K. Youkilis	23	6	1	0	0	2	1	2	.261	.320	.304	.624
M. Lowell	22	11	2	0	3	8	1	2	.500	.522	1.000	1.522
D. Pedroia	19	9	1	0	0	1	0	2	.474	.474	.526	1.000
J.D. Drew	13	2	1	0	0	0	1	2	.154	.214	.231	.445
S. Casey	12	3	0	0	1	3	0	0	.250	.250	.500	.750
J. Bay	10	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	.300	.300	.400	.700
J. Ellsbury	10	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.300	.417	.300	.717
A. Cora	6	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.167	.286	.167	.452
C. Schilling	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
J. Lowrie	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333	.333	.333	.667
P. Byrd	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Totals	340	88	13	0	9	34	17	82	.259	.302	.376	.678

Stick around and discuss the game

as it happens in the comments section.

Kernan's Three Moves To Return Yanks To Glory

From Kevin Kernan:

Three moves.

That's what the Yankees have to make this winter and they will be back in the postseason and probably the World Series again next season.

Three mighty moves.

The Rays and Red Sox are ahead of the Yankees because of pitching and defense. That's why these three moves will put the Yankees back on top. Brian Cashman has brought along some good young players and that enables the Yankees to make these moves. These moves are the key pieces of the puzzle.

* Do whatever it takes to sign free agent CC Sabathia. It will be expensive, but it will be worth it to grab the most powerful of the available power pitchers.

* Ditto A.J. Burnett. Four initials will make the difference. Add CC and A.J. and the tides change in the AL East.

* Package a couple good young players - and the Yankees have them, especially on their South Atlantic League team, and trade for the Braves' Casey Kotchman. He's a solid hitter and more importantly, he is a tremendous first baseman, something the Yankees have lacked since the Glory Days with Tino Martinez. Current defensive statistics are misleading - the Yankees (only 81 errors) don't get to enough balls. A defensive-minded first baseman, who can handle the bat, is invaluable.

There you have it. Three moves and the Yankees are back to being the Yankees.

I completely agree about Sabathia, the Yankees need a guy who can take the ball every fifth day and be their stopper, their ace. The same kind of ace Johan Santana has been for the Mets down the stretch this season. And at least this time around they only have to give up money (a lot of it) to get that ace. Hopefully all that money can convince CC that he actually doesn't want to play on the West Coast or in the National League after all.

However I'm not as convinced about A.J. Burnett, and I especially wouldn't "do whatever it takes" to sign him. He did have a very good season, and especially turned things on down the stretch. But he's only thrown 200+ innings three times in his career, and he's been injury-prone in the past. I wouldn't mind if the Yankees signed him, but I wouldn't mind if they didn't either.

Not sure what it would take to get him here, but Casey Kotchman would be a nice pick up. He's still just 25, plays great defense, and besides his 40 games in Atlanta, has shown he can hit the ball. But I still think the Yankees' best option for first base is Mark Teixeira. He's a much better hitter, and a better fielder than Kotchman, and if they can sign him to a reasonable deal, that's the move they should make for first base.

Cash To Steinbrenners: I want to return

From George A. King III:

New York Yankees While Brian Cashman remained mum about his future, the buzz smothering the Yankees' universe yesterday focused on the GM telling the Steinbrenner family he wants to return.

An announcement could come as soon as tomorrow.

"Sooner than later," Cashman said with a smile when asked about reaching a decision.

Hal Steinbrenner, who wants Cashman back, hasn't made an offer. However, there are indications Cashman could tell Steinbrenner he wants to return and negotiate later.

I don't know what to make of this, I guess we should take it with a grain of salt. I mean I'm not saying George King is lying, but this is coming from the NY Post, so you never know.

Either way, I guess we'll know soon enough. Cashman has said he will make a decision in the next few days.

UPDATE 11:24 a.m.: Peter Abraham just posted this on his blog: "The Post reported today that “the buzz” is Cashman will return. But in speaking one-on-one to Cashman yesterday, he said that nobody knows what he wants to do because he hasn’t decided yet."

So maybe George King did make this up.

Moose, Please Don't Retire

From Ed Price:

It has been 105 years since a pitcher won 19 or more games and voluntarily retired healthy.

Mike Mussina seems to be considering it.

Mussina on Sunday will attempt to become a 20-game winner for the first time in his career, starting for the Yankees in the first game of a season-ending, day-night doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox.

"It's a significant number," he said, "but after playing this long and winning all these games, if I don't win (today), then has it been bad, has it been lousy, has it been unsuccessful? No.

"It'd be a lot of fun to win it."

Mussina, who turns 40 on Dec. 8, must then decide if he wants to keep playing, and he sounds torn. Earlier this year, he told at least one confidante that this would be his final season.

He said yesterday the Yankees are his first choice, but his decision will rest on his family's concerns and whether he feels he can play three more seasons.

"If I'm in for one, I'm in for three," Mussina said.

His reasoning: He could retire with 269 or 270 career wins. But if he gets significantly closer to the 300-win milestone, it would be difficult to stop without pursuing that.

But Mussina also likes his quiet life in Montoursville, Pa., with his wife and three children.

"They're probably leaning toward me going home," he said. "My wife would have liked me to retire about five years ago. But ultimately, it's still up to me.

Mike Mussina, I know earlier in the year I doubted you, I thought you had nothing left. Well, I was wrong - dead wrong. You've proven that not only do you have something left, but that you can still be one of the better pitchers in the sport.

I know it's not about one year for you, but the Yankees are really going to need you next season. Without you, the Yankees may be screwed. So please come back. Hey, it may mean a trip to Cooperstown for you, that's worth something isn't it? And what about pitching in that brand new stadium? That's has to mean something, doesn't it?

And to the Yankees, is Mussina really not worth a two or three year deal? Like I just said, he's proven that he can still be one of the better pitchers in the league. Just lock him up. How about a two year deal with a player option for the third year? That should work. Money isn't an issue, and as we all know you can never have too much pitching.

Also I know there are some who don't want to bring him back. But I must ask those fans, why? Do you feel that this year was a fluke for Mussina? If so, please tell me why. How is anything he did this year not going to carry over into next season, or the season after that?

Brackman gets pounded in first game in 16 months

As I mentioned yesterday, Andrew Brackman was going to make his first appearance on the mound since having Tommy John surgery. Well tonight he started for the Waikiki BeachBoys in the Hawaii Winter League and as you might expect, it wasn't a great start. In 2.1 innings pitched, Brackman allowed 7 runs (6 earned) on 7 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 3. The results aren't a big deal, you would expect a kid to be rusty after not getting on a mound against real competition in 16 months, it's just good that he got back on the mound.

Rookie Hazing

Last year it was the Wizard of Oz, this year the Yankees had their rookies dress up as the Village People. Alfredo Aceves is the indian, Humberto Sanchez is the navy guy, Juan Miranda is the policeman, Francisco Cervelli as the biker, Brett Gardner was the construction worker and Dave Robertson was the cowboy. Both Robertson and Gardner are not in this picture. As the rookies were dressing up in their costumes, the Village People's greatest hits was blasting from the locker room stereo while the veterans were taking pictures. (more pics will be added as I find them)

Game 161: Yanks @ Red Sox

***TODAY'S GAME HAS BEEN RAINED OUT***

There will be a day-night doubleheader tomorrow,
the first game is at 1:35 p.m., and the second game will start at 7:35 p.m.

Here are the starting pitchers for tomorrow:

Game 1: Mussina vs. Matsuzaka
Game 2: Ponson vs. Wakefield

Regular Season Game 161
Yankees (88-72) vs. Red Sox (94-66)
Fenway Park - Boston, MA
Game Time: 3:55 p.m.
TV: FOX - MLB.TV | Radio: WCBS 880

Here are the lineups:

YANKEES
Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Jason Giambi DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Xavier Nady LF
Ivan Rodriguez C
Cody Ransom SS
Juan Miranda 1B
Melky Cabrera RF

Sidney Ponson RHP (8-5, 5.21 ERA)

RED SOX
Mark Kotsay 1B
Jed Lowrie 3B
David Ortiz DH
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Kevin Cash LF
Jason Varitek C
Jeff Bailey RF
Jonathan Van Every CF
Gil Velazquez SS

Daisuke Matsuzaka RHP (18-2, 2.80 ERA)

Notes: This season Sidney Ponson is 0-2 with an 11.42 in two starts against the Sox. In his career he is 3-13 with a 6.95 ERA in 22 starts. ... In five starts against the Yankees in his career Daisuke Matsuzaka is 3-1 with a 6.30 ERA. This season he's 1-0 with a 7.20 ERA in one start. ... The Yankees and Red Sox have played 16 times so far this year, both teams have won eight games. ... Derek Jeter's left hand is bothering him too much and he's been shut down for the year.

Yanks vs. Matsuzaka:

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
R. Cano	15	1	0	0	0	0	0	7	.067	.067	.067	.133
J. Damon	13	5	0	0	1	5	3	3	.385	.471	.615	1.086
D. Jeter	12	4	0	0	2	3	1	1	.333	.429	.833	1.262
J. Posada	12	6	3	0	0	2	0	1	.500	.500	.750	1.250
B. Abreu	12	1	1	0	0	1	4	5	.083	.313	.167	.479
A. Rodriguez	11	1	0	0	0	0	2	5	.091	.375	.091	.466
H. Matsui	8	2	1	1	0	2	4	0	.250	.500	.625	1.125
I. Rodriguez	8	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	.125	.222	.125	.347
J. Giambi	8	3	1	0	0	3	4	1	.375	.583	.500	1.083
M. Cabrera	7	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.125	.000	.125
J. Molina	2	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	.500	.500	1.000	1.500
Totals	108	25	7	1	3	17	20	25	.231	.368	.398	.767

Red Sox vs. Ponson:

	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
J. Varitek	45	15	5	0	2	6	3	6	.333	.375	.578	.953
D. Ortiz	40	19	5	0	3	10	12	4	.475	.593	.825	1.418
K. Youkilis	14	4	1	0	0	3	1	2	.286	.333	.357	.690
M. Kotsay	13	6	2	0	0	2	1	0	.462	.500	.615	1.115
J. Lugo	12	2	0	0	0	0	2	1	.167	.286	.167	.452
A. Cora	10	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.300	.417	.300	.717
C. Crisp	10	4	0	0	0	1	0	2	.400	.400	.400	.800
M. Lowell	9	1	0	0	0	2	1	2	.111	.200	.111	.311
J.D. Drew	8	3	1	0	0	2	1	0	.375	.444	.500	.944
D. Pedroia	8	7	3	0	0	1	0	0	.875	.778	1.250	2.028
S. Casey	7	2	0	0	0	1	0	2	.286	.286	.286	.571
J. Bay	7	2	1	0	0	3	0	2	.286	.250	.429	.679
J. Ellsbury	5	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	.400	.400	.600	1.000
K. Cash	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
C. Schilling	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
J. Lowrie	1	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	1.000	1.000	2.000	3.000
Totals	195	71	20	0	5	31	23	23	.364	.430	.544	.974

Stick around and discuss the game

as it happens in the comments section.