May 27, 2007
Dustin off the AL East
The Red Sox and Yankees each played one run games today. The Yankees had the tying run on third with two outs and Jeter up, but despite a great battle against Francisco Rodriguez, the captain could not deliver, and the Yankees go down 4-3. Mike Mussina pitched a good game, but Scott Proctor gave away the 2-1 lead that was his to hold.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox score three runs over the last two innings, including a ninth inning solo shot by Dustin Pedroia. That made the score 6-4, and Boston needed the insurance as Texas mounted a threat in the ninth, scoring one run but leaving the tying run at first. Boston now holds an 11 1/2 game lead over the second place Orioles and 12 1/2 over the fourth place Yankees. All the hope gained in New York by taking 2 out of 3 from Boston is gone. The Yankees are now two games farther back than when they started that series. Sure, nothing is set yet, but a big difference between now and 1978 is that New York was a lot of games back, but they were still a winning team. Today, the Yankees are much closer to Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Texas than they are to either Boston or wild card leader Detroit.
Nobody in Red Sox Nation will ever feel like this is a safe lead.
1978 proved it.
2004 proved it.
2006 proved it.
I don't see how this team can catch the Red Sox this year.
It would take a miracle of gargantuam proportions for it to happen.
The Wild Card is a possiblity, especially if all the AL Central teams beat each other up evenly.
Even then, it is quite a long shot, unless the Yankees' rotation of Wang, Pettitte, Mussina, Clemens and Hughes does what it is supposed to, i.e. 7 IP per game of 3 runs or less time after time after time.
All the Yanks need is a repeat managerial performance by Red Sox Terry Francona to match Don Zimmer's 1978 run which will always be the worst one season managerial run of all time in blowing a 14 game lead. To this day, Zimmer acts like it wasn't him and passes over 1978 in his book like it never happened.
The Yankees will get an awful managerial performance down the stretch. Unfortunately it will be from Joe Torre who got booed at Yankee Stadium today which has to be a first since 1996.
