Conflicted
| Game 104: July 25, 2008 | |||
 Yankees |
1 | W: Joba Chamberlain (3-3) H: Kyle Farnsworth (11) S: Mariano Rivera (26) |
57-45, 7 game winning streak |
| Red Sox | 0 | L: Josh Beckett (9-7) | 60-44, 1 game losing streak |
| Highlights: The two starters from last night game are inextricably linked; they are both right-handed fireballers possessed of immense talent and intense personalities. Beckett reacted strongly to Chamberlain’s headhunting of Kevin Youkilis in last year's tilt on August 30. The Red Sox were blanked in that game just as they were last night, but this time Chamberlain started the game rather than relieved. | |||
Joba Chamberlain’s aggressive tendencies manifested themselves in the bottom of the seventh against his favorite target Kevin Youkilis. Jerry Remy was adamant that Chamberlain’s high and inside fastball that seemed destined for Youkilis’s noggin was not a purpose pitch. With the score 1-0, the bases empty, and none out, Chamberlain ensured that all the circumstances supported his profession that he had no intention of beaning his quarry.
Remy is usually on target with his analysis but I think he was off base in this instance. He said Chamberlain would have to be incredibly dumb to pull such a stunt, and I believe that the pitcher is capable of such a stunning combination of idiocy and hubris. At least he is not as stupid of James Shields and actually state for the record what his intentions were.
Not only did Chamberlain risk the game to exercise his petty piece of spite, he exhibited typical Yankee cowardice in doing so. He waited until Josh Beckett was out of the game and selected a recipient with whom he had history. As home plate umpire Marty Foster was obligated to warn the dugouts after the attempt, Red Sox pitchers were handcuffed from retaliation because of Foster’s injunction.
Meanwhile, the Yankees front office made a move to bolster their outfield and bullpen by acquiring Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates for pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, George Kontos, and Phil Coke and outfielder Jose Tabata. Tabata, the 37th best prospect in baseball according to Baseball America, is the jewel of the deal for Pittsburgh.
David Ortiz made a triumphant return in terms of spirit if not results: the designated hitter went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. His return was dampened by Manny Ramirez’s last minute scratch from the lineup. This blandly-stated Associated Press clipping belies the turmoil that the left fielder has been causing if not in the clubhouse at least in media outlets and the Boston front office.
Perhaps, like Nady, Ramirez will be wearing a different uniform than the one he started the season with by the end of this weekend.
I’ll be going to today’s game thanks to Jere from A Red Sox Fan from Pinstripe Territory. I thank him for the ticket and for sparing me from the Fox broadcast.
