Everyone expected the Yankees to lose tonight to one of the best regular season pitchers in the American League over the past decade. The fact that Sir Ponson of Aruba got clocked does not change the fact that they lost to a great pitcher. Move on to tomorrow night's game (which the Yankees better win, as I explained in one of yesterday's posts) and continue the chase of the Beckett-less Sox.
Note: Luis Ayala pitched well for the second straight outing! Impressive outings may win him the closer job until Billy Wagner comes back.
If there a question who the Cy Young Award winners in each league will be this year. Brandon Webb may finish with 24/25 wins! Cliff Lee will have the best winning percentage of any pitcher with at least 20 decisions since 1900 if he does not lose again. Some may argue K-rod, but closers have not won a Cy Young Award in a year that a starter could have easily won the award (with the exception of Eric Gagne's CYA in a ridiculous season with no blown saves) in the last 30 years. So, it is clearly Cliff Lee and Brandon Webb who will win the awards unless something wacko happens. Note that C.C. Sabathia may finish third behind Webb and Tim Lincecum if he gets to 13 wins!
Yaros
all this game does is make damons errors in the first game look even worse. just because halladay is pitching doesnt mean u dont show up. the good thing is that the red sox still have 10 games witht the jays so hopefully theyll face burnett and halladay a few more times.
ReplyDeleteas far as im concerned the yanks are done so any big finish here would be a pleasant surprise.
in other news i read that peter nedved is in rangers camp...wtf...are they really trying to create stonehenge on ice?!!
The Sox miss Halladay during their next series but catch Burnett and another very solid pitcher, Shawn Marcum. Damon's error makes me queasy - so don't mention it to me. It was brutal to watch during highlights on Baseball Tonight as well.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Rangers and old man Nedved, teams do this all the time. Take a flyer on a former player, or perhaps they brought him in to help with the young guys and teach them a thing or two about being a Ranger. It won't kill the team that's for sure. The loss of Jagr will hurt though - regardless of his numbers, he is always a threat.
Yaros
Yanks look done to me.
ReplyDeleteAs to the CY, agree with Webb, but if Boston reaches playoffs, Lee falters a bit and DaisK continues winning, I think DM may take it.
Couple Cy Young comments:
ReplyDeleteSabathia is ridiculous. He really might get 3rd place in Cy Young, and top 7 in MVP even.
K-rod doesnt deserve Cy Young at all. He's blown a few saves - he's not Steroids Gagne of 2003; just fortunate that the Angels play a lot of close games.
As for Dice-K, as someone on ESPN pointed out yesterday, he's the worst 15-2 pitcher of all time. He gives up a ton of baserunners, and has gotten somewhat lucky - he's a very good pitcher - no doubt, but I'd even give it to Mussina over him
A few notes on Dice-K v. Lee:
ReplyDeleteDM'a BAA is .216 v .249 for CL
CL has better ERA and more strikeouts, but their stats are pretty comparable. Dont see why he's regarded by sussman as such a poor chice if CL falters and DM continues winning.
I think it is hard to win a CYA if you were injured. He will finish in the top 5 but likely not beat out Cliff Lee. Also, Mariano Rivera will likely finish in the top 5 for the 5th time in his career.
ReplyDeleteThis is all dependant on Cliff Lee faultering which is very unlikely!
Yaros
I've had Dice-K on my fantasy team this year- he walks the ballpark and never lasts very deep into games. He's Roger Clemens, 2001. Take away a superstar closer, and a great offense and he's just not that good.
ReplyDelete