Frustrating Night At The Fens

Tough night at Fenway Park last night. Judas led off the game for the Yankees with a home run, and it just seemed to get worse from there. Tim Wakefield had spurts when he looked good, but he was just too hot and cold all night. Terry Francona blew it in the seventh by leaving him in to face to Alex Rodriguez, after Wake had clearly lost it by walking two straight hitters on four pitches. The score was 4-1 at the time, and Slappy's homer was the eventual difference as the Yankees won, 7-5. I generally like Tito and his managerial ability, but that wasn't one of his better decisions.

Manny Ramirez continued his mastery of the Yankees by hitting a monster home run to center in the seventh off Scott Proctor with two on. But I guess I maybe in the minority by saying this, but I do not like it when Manny just stands there at home plate admiring the ball after hitting a home run, as he did last night. Manny is one of the worst offenders in this area, along with Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey. Reggie Jackson was the one who popularized this crap, back in the early 1970s in Oakland. I find it unprofessional and it shows up the pitcher.

I remember when Bonds pulled that crap in the 1991 NLCS in Pittsburgh and the ball hit the top of the wall and he ended up with just a double (it could have easily been a triple if he ran hard out of the box). He wound up stranded at second (the next hitter flied out for the second out, negating a possible sacrifice fly if he'd been at third). The Pirates lost that game by a run, and the ultimately the series.

I know Manny's not Mr. Hustle, but I wish he'd knock the nonsense off. I only hope one of his "admiration acts" doesn't come back to bite him, and ultimately cost the Red Sox an important game.

Last night's loss was ultimately on the offense, who left 13 men on base, and had Jaret Wright on the ropes for a good part of the five innings he pitched. I think it's also time to relegate Willie Harris to the bench, for pinch-running and late inning defense. Dustan Mohr seems to have been left to rot on the bench, and I don't understand why Francona hasn't started him in Wily Mo Pena's absence.

Wily Mo should be back tomorrow, and Coco Crisp should be back on Monday in Toronto. David Wells will start Friday against Tampa Bay, so at least the Sox are getting healthier.

Great comeback by the Mets last night, as they were down 6-2 and 8-5 before tying the Phillies 8-8 on Jose Reyes' homer in the eighth, and eventually winning in 16 innings on Carlos Beltran's home run. Ryan Madson pitched an amazing seven shutout innings in relief for the Phillies, but ruined it all by throwing one bad pitch to Beltran.