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August 17, 2005
August 17th @ The Devil Rays
What the Sam Hill is going on here?
The only thing that I can figure tonight is that this is The Curse of Hurricane Frances at work.
During the series in New York which followed Hurricane Frances last year, from September 6th through the 9th, the Yankees came out looking like bad guys (not having a heart for the D-Rays "situation") to many in the world - even though it was not warranted.
That was the last time that Tampa Bay and the Yankees faced each other last season. And, now, this season, Tampa Bay has defeated New York in nine of the thirteen games that they have played so far this year - including these stunning losses the past two nights.
Yes, that is correct - the Yankees have played four series so far this year against the Devil Rays and they have not won a single one of those sets - nada, zip, zero, zilch.
And, Team Torre still has to face Piniella's Posse six more times this season. New York would need to win all six of those games to finish one game over .500 for the season against Tampa Bay.
The 2005 New York Yankees, looking back, looking forward, .... and out-played by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at August 17, 2005 10:19 PM
Comments
A painful loss, to put it mildly. Make that two in a row with blown late-inning leads. Sports radio in Boston this AM is playing the Sturtze WP over and over again and chuckling. So funny.
But back to baseball rather than stupid rivalries: Needless to say I watch quite a few Red Sox games up here. And I must say the difference between the teams has become quite striking. The quality of the at bats in the lower part of the Yankee order just pales in comparison. So many first-pitch swings from the Yanks in this series!
Posted by: Paul in Boston at August 18, 2005 07:08 AM
The bottom third of the Yankees line-up basically means they're playing a 6 inning game on "O" because they're giving the other team 9 free outs a contest with that crew.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at August 18, 2005 09:48 AM
You can't pull Leiter after one base hit in the sixth and with a three run lead.
If Al Leiter is truly part of this rotation, then he has to be given a chance to work out of minor truoble--especially with an 85-pitch count. If the Yankees view him as only a 5 inning pitcher then he can't be a part of this rotation because his starts put tremendous strain on the bullpen. Joe would have let all of our other starters (including Small) try to work out of the sixth with such a low pitch count.
The bullpen still imploded. But you lower the chances for disaster by getting as much as you can from a starter who is pitching decently.
Posted by: Joel at August 18, 2005 10:10 AM
Joel, I'm exhausted from pointing out these...inconsistencies...on the part of Torre. But you made my point for me. Even more galling is Torre's claim that he planned to have Small pitch to that hitter all along, regardless of the base hit, because Leiter has been "struggling." Kripes! Torre calls THAT performance "struggling" in light of Leiter's previous 125 pitch performance which Torre had all of us dutifully suffer through? Torre is not only speaking in riddles but acting in riddles. Seems to be so many hidden agendas. Is he trying to take Leiter out of the rotation? Well, then just do it. Don't set up Small so he can "come to the rescue" and show Leiter the error of his ways. That completely back-fired and Torre is caught with his pants down...again!
Posted by: JohnnyC at August 18, 2005 10:33 AM