September 2011

Red Sox record

So after the Red Sox went out and got Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford I wrote in my blog that I didn’t believe that it made them that much better.   I shared the offensive statistics for Crawford and Gonzalez compared to Adrian Beltre and Victor Martinez and concluded that it was kind of a wash.  They were a good offensive team that lost two big bats and added two more.   To me that made them about the same.   So now that the season is over, how much better were they?  Exactly one win.   In 2010 they finished with a record of  89-73 and missed the playoffs.  In 2011, they finished at 90-72 and missed the playoffs.   Although nobody, including myself could have predicted what happened in September, but still they won one more game this year than last.   That was the point of my original post.   The Sox, as has been the case in a lot of their history,  lacked pitching depth.    That was their Achilles heel.   As a Yankee fan, I couldn’t be happier that they didn’t make it and that my prediction came true.

Wow! Can’t wait to hear the ESPN guys crying.

I went to bed last night with the Yankees up 7-0 and Boston leading.  I woke up to find that not only did Tampa come all the way back, but Boston lost.  I couldn’t be happier.   Now I can’t wait to hear all the Red Sox cheerleaders over at ESPN crying in their beer.   Nothing could be sweeter.   I don’t even care if the Yankees make it to the World Series.   This night made my season.   To see the Sox collapse and not even make the playoffs after almost everyone handed them the crown before the season began is just too good for words.   Now my Yankees have their work cut out for them as Detroit is for real.  Verlander and that pitching staff has been extremely good, particularly in the second half.   It doesn’t really matter though.  Although another title would be sweet,  just winning the division and watching the Sox and their obnoxious fans crying is reward enough for one season.

Take that ESPN

After listening to the talking heads at ESPN openly root for the Red Sox all year long, it was extra sweet watching the Yankees sweep Tampa Bay to clinch the division yesterday.   I wrote yesterday how everyone wanted to award the AL East to Boston before a game was even played.  I was one who wrote that I didn’t think they had improved that much.   They were already a good offensive club and they lost two really good offensive players and added two more.  To me, that was a wash.  Not to the so called experts though.   Even earlier this year when Boston was on top and the Yankees were struggling,  the ESPN guys continued to talk about how Colon and Garcia wouldn’t make it through the year and that the Yankees would be lucky to make the wild card.  Well guess what?   This team wasn’t listening.  They just went about their business and won the division with a week left to go.  Now they can rest some guys and relax until the ALDS, while Boston has to battle to see if they can hold onto the Wild Card.   Personally, I hope they don’t.  Nothing against the Red Sox players, I think they are a very good team.  Their fans on the other hand?  Well that’s another story for another day.

Today we clinch the playoffs

Wow!  The Yankees are 5-6 in their last 11 games and have increased their lead in the division from 2 to 6 games.   With a split of today’s doubleheader, they clinch a playoff birth.   And by winning just three of their last 9 games they can clinch the division.  Absolutely nobody picked the Yankees to win this division.  Everyone jumped on the Boston bandwagon after they signed Crawford and traded for Gonzales.  If you look back at my posts from the off season you will see that I predicted that the Boston offense would be very good, but that they would not win many more games than they did last year.  Their offense was already pretty good and they lost two good players in Martinez and Beltre, while adding two other good ones.  To me, that was a wash and I predicted they would not be much better this year than last.  I took a lot of heat for that, but it has proven to be true.   Congratulations to the Yankees on being solid all year and battling to the division crown.  Even though they haven’t won it yet, it sure looks like a lock at this point.

September to Remember

I haven’t had much to say lately as the team has been cruising and really nothing has happened that I felt warranted a new post.  Now it’s Labor Day and the Yanks are 1.5 games up on Boston.   Still 4 more games to play in the Bronx, so this should be a fun month of September.  I think the rotation situation will sort itself out, with Burnett staying and Hughes going to the pen.   Funny how there is not much news on ESPN when the Yankees are winning and in first place, but as soon as they lose one to Boston or anyone else for that matter it is big news.  Those guys are so transparent it’s pathetic.

Oh yeah, and one more thing.  Can someone please tell Buck Martinez to stop complaining about how small Yankee stadium is?  The fact is that both teams play in the same ballpark and have the same opportunities to hit home runs.  And check the numbers since the new Yankee Stadium has opened Buck.  Rogers Centre has yielded more home runs than Yankee stadium.  So you tell me, which one is a better hitter’s park?   And what difference does it make anyway, as long as they don’t move the fences in or back for one team or the other?

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