Along Yawkey Way: 2010 Begins with a Bang

by BerkshireFan on Apr 5, 2010 2:53 AM EDT in Daily Links

Welcome to the first addition of "Along Yawkey Way", where we will be taking a stroll looking at some of the most recent news out of Red Sox nation as well as a look at the history of our storied club along the way.

First up is a little schadenfreude:

Red Sox Strike First, but Stay Tuned

There is nothing like hearing a Yankees fan whining to start the day, especially when they are whining about our Sox whooping up on them.

Looks like the mainstream media is starting to realize that our offense is not nearly as much a worry as previously thought:

WEEI: About that Red Sox Offense

Nashua Telegraph: For Defensive Team Plenty of Offense

While I`ll keep holding my breath until Big Papi`s OPS is closer to .900, this first game certainly eased some of the offensive concerns of this Sox fan`s heart.

And how about Youk and Pedrioa?

Pedroia, Youkilis carry Sox Past Yankees

Pedroia`s Blast Helps Lift Red Sox Over Yankees

Both of them were simply on fire last night, with Youkilis (3-for-4, 2 2B, 3B, 2 RBIs, 3 R) doing something not done since Carlton Fisk hit 3 extra base hits in the opening game of 1973 (with Fisk going 3 for 4 with 6 RBIs). An interesting historical fact about that same 1973 opening game, which was also played against the Yankees:

This was the first game played with a designated hitter, with Red Sox DH Orlando Cepeda going 0-6! (Big Papi`s night doesn’t seem so bad now does it?) The Red Sox also won this game, 15-6

Baseball Almanac: 1973 Red Sox Opener against New York Yankees

And as a final link for today I leave you with a heartfelt tribute to one of my favorite Red Sox players of the modern era.. Nomahhhhhhhhhh

Welcome Back and Goodbye Nomahhh

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Comments

"consider the bullepn a strength"

Really…I just don’t get it. Rivera – yes, he’s the best in the business in the 9th inning but Chan-Ho Park? Damaso Marte?….Relying on Joba in the 8th??

by BobZupcic on Apr 5, 2010 9:30 AM EDT reply actions

Yankee fans always seem to have an inflated idea of their pen

Not long ago it was Coke and Bruney who were the next worldbeaters. Hughes admittedly worked out very well for them last year, but Joba seems to be fast becoming an example of the Yanks’ inability to develop much talent. He’s by no means dine yet, but you get the feeling they really screwed this one up.

USG

by Ben Buchanan on Apr 5, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Joba was a headcase before

The Yankees mismanagement only amplified it. He will be out of the majors in 2 years (prediction).

"I think about baseball when I wake up in the morning. I think about it all day. And I dream about it at night. The only time I don't think about it is when I'm playing it."

Carl "Yaz" Yastrzemski

by BerkshireFan on Apr 5, 2010 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

the word "dine" (vs "done")

might be the operative word. Didn’t Joba look big & fat out there?

He’s always been big. But he looked out of shape to me.

So did C.C.

Yankee training regimen issues?

Note -that does leave room for improvement if they play themselves into shape so I’m not going to take this game as a season predictor by any stretch.

by mmmmm on Apr 5, 2010 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

the fat life of last year's champs

cc & joba played fat, too. cc ran out of gas

by Mick Lowe on Apr 5, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Why do Yankee fans have an "inflated view of the pen"?

Let’s look at some 2009 statistics just for comparison sake.-

ERA
Red Sox: 3.80 (8th in MLB)
Yankees 3.91(12th)

xFIP
Red Sox -4.59 (26h)
Yankees-4.10 (6th)

K/9
Red Sox 8.25 (6th)
Yankees 8.44 (2nd)

BB/9
Red Sox – 3.96(17th)
Yankees- 3.46 (3rd)

HR/9
Red Sox- .96 (14th)
Yankees- 1.26 (LAAAAST)

WHIP

Red Sox – 1.40 (17th)
Yankees -1.25 (1st)

BAA
Red Sox- .254 (20th)
Yankees -.235 (2nd)

Now I’m not saying whose is better than whose. The Yanks had the better peripherals but were way too prone to the longball, while the Sox put more guys on but were a tad bit more successful keeping them from coming home. The purpose was just to show that Yankee fans and writer’s aren’t wildly off base when considering their own bullpen a strength. I would hardly classify it an “inflated view of the pen”.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Apr 5, 2010 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Watching the replay of that last out

If Beltre hadn’t reached that ball, Scutaro was standing right behind him and would’ve gotten the out instead. Watching this infield is going to be awesome fun.