ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO

***HEROES AND GOATS***
When the final score is 3-2, you usually don't have to point too many fingers afterward, and that's true here. This game came down to two decisions: one by Girardi and one by Francona. I wrote previously that I thought the difference would be in the bullpens and it turned out that way, at least for this game.
##THE HERO## Girardi, trusting his bullpen, made a very gutsy, unlikely move by bringing in left-hander Boone Logan to face the lefty hitting Adrian Gonzales in the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, two outs and the Sox poised to put the game away. As the song goes, it was one, two three strikes, you're out... and the threat was A-Gon, so to speak. Logan has been shaky at best all year, but he was on point last night. It was probably the inspiration the Yanks needed to scratch together what proved to be the winning rally.
##THE GOAT## In the top of the sixth, you could sense that Lester was tiring, but it appeared that Francona did not have the trust in his bullpen that Girardi had. Even though Lester induced Cano to bounce into a bases loaded double play, Swisher followed with a clutch double past a diving Youkilis, driving in what proved to be the winning run. With Soriano, Robertson and Rivera taking turns out of the pen, it was game over.

***AROUND THE LEAGUE***
In an effort to spark some interest in their league, the Phillies and Giants instigated a full two-team brawl after Shane Victorino was intentionally hit with a pitch. Fun little melee, but I doubt it will result in a NY-Boston like feud.

The Giants continue to falter, losing 7 of their last 10, and only Seattle has scored less runs. Pittsburgh's losing streak has reached 8 games while Milwaukee has won 9 or their last 10.

Atlanta's Dan Uggla has now hit in 26 straight games, which is getting national attention. Keep in mind, however, he is not even half-way to Dimaggio's record.

***WHY RUIN A GOOD THING?***
Now, even NY writers are advocating a playoff system that would make finishing first in the AL East almost mandatory. If the wild card team has to win a one-game playoff to get into the postseason, they would fight harder to win their division. Mike Vacarro says that as interesting as this Yankee-Red Sox series is, it really means nothing because no doubt they will both make the playoffs. But if one of them has to use their ace to win one game to proceed, that would put them at a distinct disadvantage, so winning the division becomes all important. Games between Boston and New York are already played at such a high level of intensity, does it really need another incentive. What more do they want? Beheadings?
If the these two teams are so much better thatn everyone else, why haven't they won every single World Series since 1990? They haven't even been IN every WS since then.
How about if the city whose team that loses the division, has to permanently fire a sportswriter from that city? Not such a good idea now, eh Mike?

***THEY SAID IT***
"After the opening round of the Bridgestone Invitational, an ESPN analyst said Tiger's putter was outstanding. Isn't that what got Woods into trouble in the first place?" -- RJ Currie
Speaking of asses:
"House Speaker John Boehner is urging Republicans to support his bill by telling them to get their asses in line. That's what he said -- get their asses in line. This is typical Washington -- if it's not Obama kissing Wall Street's ass, it's Boehner kicking ass, or it's Congressman David Wu grabbing ass. They're all a bunch of asses." -- Jay Leno
It isn't sports, but...
"A peacock escaped from the Central Park Zoo and wandered around the city. Either that or I just saw a pigeon on his way to a gay pride parade." -- Jimmy Fallon

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