Thursday, September 22, 2011

RESPECT FOR THE GAME

Why are broadcasters asking their partners in the booth, "Do teams have an obligation to play their best players when playing teams that are fighting for playoff spots, when their own club is out of it?" Just to give them the benefit of the doubt, I will assume they are just trying to start a dialogue and aren't seriously suggesting that a team back off against one team and not another.

Now that the Yanks have clinched the pennant, I'm sure Girardi will rest certain 'older' players, but he's done that all year. In fact, take a look at the lineup the Yanks put on the field for the 2nd game last night. If the Yanks have a one run lead in the ninth tonight, you can bet your bottom dollar we'll see Mariano on the mound. Look at what the Orioles have done to all the playoff contenders in the last 10 days. Baltimore has been the AL's most dangerous team during that time.

Annie-O didn't understand why I was rooting for Boston last night (stay calm; I have a reason). If Boston clinches, the Yanks can look at some young players, pull the regulars after one or two at bats,and get the team rested and healthy for the post season. If Boston doesn't clinch, the Yankee games will have an entirely different feel. That's why the Angels and the Rays can count on the Yanks to go hard after the Red Sox this weekend.

I think Boston has to sweep the Yanks this weekend. If they don't , they'll be on the outside looking in. Gonzales is playing well in spite of being hurt, Pedroia and Ellsbury are going all out, but that's where it ends. The biggest bust free-agent signing this year, Carl Crawford, has not produced at all. Michael Kay said he was surprised that Crawford hasn't at least stolen bases. Well, to do that, you have to get on base first. Crawford's on-base percentage stands at .295. That is embarassing low. Might as well not talk about Boston's pitching because...well, they don't have any.

We've seen a few occassions this year when ballplayers have forgotten how many outs there are, which leads to situations like Teixeira and Cano both standing on third base, but Posada has out done them all. He forgot what inning it was. It's a good thing the Yanks still give him a uniform, otherwise he might have ended up in the wrong dugout. Yeah, he knocked in the winning runs, and we thank him for that, but in the post-game interview, he seemed proud of the fact that he thought it was the ninth inning instead of the eighth. Maybe he was hungry for pie.

CP-

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