Yanks

So that was a nice and comforting series with the Yankees. Good to know that the Sox can show a pulse against their stiffest competition. Each one of those games definitely had a playoff feel to it...ordinarily in a baseball game, there are several at-bats where the intensity level is very low. In these games, every pitch felt like the game was on the line...

While the sweep was well earned, it is a little worrisome that the Sox fell behind in every game, even though the pitching matchups were in Boston's favor. If Schilling, Beckett, and Matsuzaka give up 5+ runs/game, I can just imagine what would have happened if the Sox had thrown Timmy or Tavarez out there, and this was an injury-depleted Yankee lineup. Depending on the pitching matchups, I think this weekend's series in the Bronx will be a truer barometer of where these teams are competitively.

That being said, I think the key to this series was the ability of the Sox starters to limit the damage done to them. With the exception of Schilling in game 1, the Yankees weren't able to really put together a big inning. They were able to consistently wriggle out of trouble, which really spared the bullpen. The pen has been excellent so far, but that is due, in part, to the fact that they haven't been needed that much. The Boston pen has thrown the fewest innings in the American League so far this year...if the starters can keep eating innnigs while keeping their team in the game, the Sox have a real chance to finally win the East this season.

Meanwhile, is there much doubt that Joe Torre should be done after this season? His amazing ability to utterly mismanage his bullpen is undoubtedly one of the major factors in New York's failure to win a World Series since 2000. Yes, the Yankees have had more than their fair share of injuries over the years to their pitchers, but Torre has made a career out of overusing his middle relief guys...calling Paul Quantrill! Just look at last night's game; he brings Pettite in from the pen on his scheduled throw day, and Andy looks great, getting through his inning of work in just 9 pitches. The Yanks have the lead at this point...why wouldn't Joe just keep Pettite in for another inning? He had only thrown a few pitches...what was the point in bringing in an obviously overworked and tired Scott Proctor? A few batters later, and the lead was gone and Torre had to bring in Sean Henn to finish the game out. It wouldn't surprise anyone, I don't think, if Joe Giradi was calling the shots in the Big Apple next season...