Let Your Outrage Be Known

On her campaign web site, Senator Hillary Clinton has a place where you can send a "virtual post card" to brain-dead Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, just to let him know you're thinking of him and the many landmarks and icons in New York City. I'm not a fan of Hillary's at all, but I'm with her on this.

If you'd like to send one to him, just follow this link. It's easy:

www.hillaryclinton.com/action/postcard

Rumor has it that Chertoff's reconsidering his position in cutting New York's federal anti-terrorism aid by 40%.

Golly, I wonder why??

Youk To The Rescue

For eight innings, it was a bad night for Kevin Youkilis on Friday in Detroit. He struck out twice, and he made a rather foolish error at first base in the eighth that fortunately didn't end up costing the Red Sox. But in the ninth, Youk saved his night and the Red Sox' bacon by hitting a two-run homer off Todd Jones that ultimately gave the Sox a 3-2 win. Youk continues to do a solid job both at the plate and in the field (despite the flub). He's proving he's a dependable major league hitter, no matter where in the lineup he bats.

Curt Schilling gave up 2 runs in six innings and struck out seven. Kenny Rogers was even better for the Tigers over seven innings, allowing just a Manny Ramirez RBI single. The bullpen, did another solid job, as David Riske and Rudy Seanez shut Detroit down before Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two, for his MLB-leading 20th save.

The Yankees won in Baltimore so the Red Sox remain 1/2 game up.

Terry Francona announced that David Pauley would get a second start next week, against the Yankees in New York on Tuesday night. I maybe attending that game that night. I hope the bullpen will be well-rested going into that game.

It Was 39 Years Ago Today

On this date in 1967, the greatest rock album in history was released, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by the Beatles. Sgt. Pepper simply completely wiped the slate clean and remade how albums are made. It shook the entire music world, and it still remains as fresh as when the Beatles made it 39 years ago.

Sgt. Pepper was the first rock album that printed the lyrics on the back cover, something that has become a standard thing today. Every track is an amazing listen, from the sound effects of the title track and "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite" to the sitar sounds of "Within You Without You."

When I went for jury duty last April, the plaintiff's lawyer asked me a number of questions in my interview to be a potential juror. Seeing that I worked in the music business, one of the questions was, "If you were stranded on a desert island with one album, which one would it be?" I said without blinking, "Sgt. Pepper." He commended me on my good taste.

In 1987, Sgt. Pepper was released on CD for the first time, also on this date. At Tower Records in Greenwich Village, I was the pop/rock CD buyer, and we released the CD at midnight of the 20th anniversary. I will never forget bringing up boxes of CDs up to the main floor at about 11:30 PM, with about 100 people waiting to buy it as soon as it went on sale. I had a number of my clerks with boxes ready to give out copies. I stood up at the mezzanine level of the store, looking down at my clerks and the customers waiting. I kept looking at my watch waiting for the stroke of midnight. People were getting a little annoyed at me that I wouldn't give out the CDs sooner. "Not until midnight," I said.

It was the ultimate feeling of power. At the stroke of midnight, I gave the signal, and the clerks gave out copies of Sgt. Pepper to the customers.

A great memory. I have no idea where 19 years have gone.

Or 39, for that matter.

Department of Bonehead Security

Today's New York papers have headlines about the Department of Homeland Security cutting New York City's share of anti-terrorism funds. The NY Post's says: "Terror? What Terror?" and the NY Daily News is demanding that the DHS head Michael Chertoff be fired. I find it truly amazing that places like Louisville, KY, Charlotte, NC and Milwaukee, WI are getting substantial increases (Louisville over 70%) while here in New York City it is being dropped over 40%, from $207 million to $124 million.

Do I really need to point out what happened in this city on a sunny September morning in 2001?

What in God's name are these people at the Homeland Security using for brains?

And exactly how many people have been killed in terrorist attacks in Louisville the past five years?

Is it a coincidence that the guy who chairs the Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee (Hal Rogers, a Republican), just happens to represent Louisville?

And is it also a coincidence that Newark and Jersey City are receiving massive increases in anti-terror spending (79% increase), and that New Jersey just happens to be Chertoff's home state?

Of the 46 cities that got special grants, New York City ranked 23rd per capita, about $16 per person, while Fort Lauderdale, Florida is about $67 per person.

Unbelievable. Politics rules the day again. These people won't wake up again until there's another disaster on our hands.

Clemens Resigns With Houston

Roger Clemens got his sweetheart deal with the Houston Astros and signed a one-year contract that will be worth $22,000,022. (Notice the "22" that appears twice in the deal? How cute.)

The Red Sox and Yankees expressed interest in bringing him back, as did the Texas Rangers. But none of those teams could, or even wanted to give him the perks that he wanted, like staying home on certain road trips, like he got with the Astros last season.

If Houston wants to give him that, so be it. His press conference yesterday in Houston was a joke, as he talked about wanting to return to the Astros and helping them win a pennant, the usual palaver that comes out of his mouth.

As usual with Clemens, it's all about HIM. The way he jerked the Astros around during the off-season was borderline criminal. If they want to put up with his nonsense, fine with me. Clearly, Clemens' legacy means nothing to him, as only the bottom line does.

I hope he and his money will be very happy together.

Their Stocks On The Rise

Last night had disaster written all over it. The Red Sox were forced to bring David Pauley up from AA Portland as an emergency starter for the injured David Wells. Red Sox killer Ted Lilly was going for Toronto, and he was 5-0 in his last five starts against the Sox. A sweep by the Blue Jays looked like a distinct possibility.

David Ortiz hit a homer in the first to give the Red Sox a quick lead. Pauley looked like he'd give that right back, but after putting two on he got Troy Glaus to hit into a double play to escape damage. In the second, he walked in a run, but got Frank Cattalonotto to hit into another DP, which was beautifully turned at second by the amazing Alex Gonzalez.

After Mark Loretta's two run homer in the third (he's now hit in 15 straight games), Pauley got into yet more trouble, and after giving up a run he got another DP. The Red Sox added four more runs in the fifth, which included a Manny Ramirez home run, to make it 7-2. But Pauley couldn't make it out of the fifth, giving up four runs and leaving a man on third. He pitched a gutsy game. He got into trouble most innings, but found a way to get out of serious damage up until the fifth. It's not known if he'll get another start yet, as his next turn would be against the Yankees in the Bronx next Tuesday. (I wouldn't bet on it.)

Then the stars of the night took over. Jermaine Van Buren (pictured above left) got two critical outs to end the Toronto threat. Trot Nixon hit the fourth Red Sox home run to make it 8-6. Manny Delcarmen (pictured above right) came on in the sixth with a man on to end the inning and pitched a perfect seventh. He was hitting 94-95 on the radar gun. Keith Foulke and Jonathan Papelbon closed it out (his 19th save) to give the Sox the win and avoid the sweep. They stay tied for first as the Yankees won in Detroit.

More and more it looks like Terry Francona will be turning to Van Buren and Delcarmen in tight situations. The bullpen did an amazing job last night, giving up just 2 hits and 1 walk in 4 2/3 innings. The loss of Mike Timlin was really felt in this series, but if Jermaine and Manny can pick up the slack, it will be a great shot in the arm for the Red Sox.

Did Anyone Else Catch This?

As I was suffering through last night's Red Sox debacle, something happened at a baseball game I've never seen and something I've never heard before. A Blue Jays player in the seventh inning hit a pop up in short center that fell between Alex Gonzalez, Coco Crisp and Alex Cora for an apparent single. But Cora picked up the ball and fired to a heads-up Rudy Seanez covering second base that just nipped Gregg Zaun trying to get to second. The replays backed up the umpire's call.

I've never seen a 4-1 putout at second base. I have at first many, many times.

But what happened next really floored me. As the next Blue Jay hitter stepped in, the Toronto fans let the umpire know exactly what they thought of that call. "Bleep You!" "Bleep You!" "Bleep You" rang out from the stands, and it wasn't from the many Red Sox fans in attendance. It was loud, and there was no mistaking what they were saying.

I was, to say the least, shocked to hear such vulgarity, especially from fans in Toronto. Fans in the SkyDome (yeah, I know, it's the Rogers Centre) have a reputation for being rather laid-back. The crowds there have been called "library-like" on many occasions.

Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy on NESN must have been equally shocked, as for a few seconds they were silent. Then Orsillo piped in, "The crowd tonight is a little more raucous than last night." To say the least. The Toronto fans were in a foul mood all night, despite the fact their team led nearly from start to finish. They were also heaping abuse at Manny Ramirez all night with some vulgar chants at him as well, on his 34th birthday no less.

This morning I checked both Boston papers on-line, and there was not a single mention of any of this in either paper. I have never seen Yankees or even Phillies fans chanting such an obscenity at a rival player or team. Those Toronto fans ought to be ashamed of doing such a thing, especially with families being in attendance.

David Pauley goes for the Red Sox tonight, having just been called up from AA Portland for the start to replace David Wells, who will be put on the DL tonight. I saw Pauley pitch in an exhibition game in Philadelphia this past April 1, and he got banged around for 5 runs in 4 innings.

I'd pray for rain but the game will be played in the SkyDome (oops, the Rogers Centre. Yeah, I know).

Time To Admit A Mistake

The Red Sox did a valiant job coming back from a 6-0 deficit last night in Toronto to tie it at 6, only to see the Blue Jays get a run back in the eighth and win it 7-6. Homers by Manny Ramirez, Jason Varitek, and Coco Crisp (his first in a Red Sox uniform) got them back after yet another disasterous outing by Matt Clement (who's ERA is now 6.91).

More and more it looks like signing Clement was a big mistake. The Sox are still on the hook for him to the tune of two more years and $18 million. Clement seems to get rattled whenever things get rough. He constanttly nibbles around the plate, and when he's finally forced to challenge hitters, he leaves pitches in the middle of the plate and gets whacked (Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay last night). If he's hurt, he should go on the DL and get better. The liner he took off his ankle by Bernie Williams last week may still be giving him trouble. He's not doing anyone any good by trying to pitch through it.

To his credit, Clement is a stand-up guy and a good citizen and teammate. He points no fingers, makes no excuses and takes the heat from the media. But he has all kinds of trouble getting major league hitters out. If it's not an injury, could it be from the time last season he got hit by the liner in the head by Carl Crawford? The Red Sox are just not getting what they expected from a guy they signed to a $36 million contract. But as of now, Clement and the Red Sox are stuck with each other. I would bet they will make a more concerted effort to move him after this season than they did last winter. (They had already moved Edgar Renteria, and moving Clement also would have been too much money for the Sox FO to eat.)

At least by trading Renteria, the Red Sox managed to land Coco Crisp. Clement more and more looks like Theo Epstein's biggest mistake.

If Clement's struggles weren't bad enough, David Wells has been scratched from his scheduled start on Wednesday, due to his sore knee. Another DL visit is a possibility. Who replaces him? That's not yet known.

Happy Birthday Manny

Today Manny Ramirez turns 34. In today's New York Daily News, in Susan Miller's "Astrology Zone Today," our beloved Mr. Ramirez is featured as the celebrity birthday. For some odd reason, the Daily News has a different astrologer on their web site, so here is what Ms. Miller wrote about Manny, taken directly from the paper:

Boston Red Sox outfielder Manny Ramirez grew up in Washington Heights, but only became a U.S. citizen in 2004. A native of the Dominican Republic, Manny has his sign ruler, Mercury, in Gemini with the sun and Saturn. Saturn provides him with the self-discipline to play baseball professionally. Fortunate Venus, the natural ruler of money, falls in Manny's natal sector of finances. In 2005, Manny was the fourth-highest paid player in Major League Baseball. His natal moon in managerial Capricorn reveals that he's a fine money manager. With his progressed moon and Mars in a positive aspect now, look for Manny to have an exceptionally good 2006 season.

Sounds good to me.
Have a great birthday, big guy.

Memorial Day 2006

Please take a moment on this Memorial Day to say a prayer for all of our brave military overseas who are defending our freedom, that they all get home safe to their loved ones. But especially remember those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice for our country, wherever it was: Gettysburg, Normandy, Okinawa, Vietnam, Iraq or at The World Trade Center.

They will be in our hearts forever.

April 8,1974

I was 12 years old. The Atlanta Braves were playing the Los Angeles Dodgers at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. It was a Monday night, the ballpark was packed and NBC was broadcasting the game live, with Curt Gowdy doing the announcing with Tony Kubek.

A huge audience tuned in, as they awaited to see history being made. Henry Aaron, nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" had one home run in his first three games, and was currently sitting on 714 career home runs, tied with the immortal Babe Ruth. The opposition pitcher was Al Downing, a left-hander.

The game was 3-1 Dodgers when Hank came up for the second time in the third inning. Downing threw Hank a fastball down the middle of the plate, and he struck hit hard, and as soon as it left the bat you knew where it was going. The Dodgers' left fielder, Bill Buckner, made an attempt in vain to climb the wall to catch it. It cleared the fence, landed in the Braves bullpen where it was caught by relief pitcher Tom House.

Aaron ran the bases relieved the pursuit of the Babe was finally over. Opposition players greeted him warmly as he rounded each base. Two guys jumped out of the stands to greet Hank as he headed for third. After he crossed home plate, Hank was mobbed by his Atlanta teammates and by his mother. He could finally smile, as the record finally belonged to him.

It was finally over for Aaron. He had reached immortality. He would hit 40 more home runs and play two more seasons. The chase had taken its toll on him. Many people didn't want him to break it, and let him know with the vilest of racist hate mail. Aaron handled it all with grace and dignity. I rooted for him all the way. Back when I was 12, it didn't matter to me that Hank Aaron was black. He wasn't breaking a white man's record in my mind. He was breaking a YANKEE'S record, and that was good enough for me.

Hank Aaron has held the home run record for more than 32 years now. In all the nonsense that has gone down regarding illegal drugs the last few years, people have come to appreciate Hank Aaron, as well as Roger Maris' home run records a little more, and that's a good thing.

What happened today in San Francisco didn't move me one bit. But it brought back memories of a special night back when I was still a young boy, a night when baseball history was made.

What will remember from this day? Two things: it was my nephew's first communion, and the Red Sox almost blew a five-run lead in the ninth inning, but held on and won.

And that's all.

Bonds Homers To Pass Babe

An instrument has not yet been devised to measure my indifference to the headline you just read.

A Sweep...Just Barely

The Red Sox swept the Tampa Bay Devil Rays today four straight games with a 5-4 victory at Fenway Park, but not before there was a little high drama in the ninth.

Tim Wakefield pitch eight solid innings, gave up just five hits and left with a 5-0 lead. Coco Crisp returned from the DL and went 1-for-5. Mark Loretta had two hits and three RBI and Trot Nixon had two hits and an RBI.

Unfortunately, Wily Mo Pena was placed on the 15-day DL with the continued problem he has with his injured left wrist. Manny Ramirez also sat out today's game with back stiffness. It is believed he will play tomorrow night in Toronto.

But the drama was in the ninth. Rudy Seanez walked the bases loaded with two outs, and Julian Tavarez came in and struck out Greg Norton, but the ball got passed Doug Mirabelli and he reached base and a run scored. Tavarez walked the next two hitters to force in two runs, and then Carl Crawford singled to left. Willie Harris threw to the plate to cut down Joey Gathright easily to preserve the victory.

Thank God I was at my nephew's communion in Bay Ridge and missed that ninth inning.

An easy win turned into a squeaker due to the bullpen again. Just when you thought it was safe to trust Rudy Seanez, he gives you a performance like this. More and more he looks like a candidate to be DFA'd (designated for assignment). Tavarez has been handling a heavy workload, and also has a guaranteed two-year deal. The Red Sox were also handed another blow when Mike Timlin was put on the 15-day DL today with a right shoulder strain. Manny Delcarmen was recalled from Pawtucket. You have to wonder if Terry Francona will trust Seanez in clutch situations. He seemed to be giving the Sox some good innings, but lousy outings like today might have him turning to Delcarmen more. We'll see.

Not all the medical news was bad. David Wells worked out on the stationary bike and his knee looked a lot better. It is not yet known if he will make his next start in Toronto on Wednesday night.

Congratulations Curt

Curt Schilling won his career 200th game tonight as the Red Sox beat the Devil Rays, 6-4 at Fenway Park. I only caught the last inning of the game, as I was out having dinner with a friend tonight. Curt gave up 4 earned runs and 8 hits in seven innings of work.

Terry Francona sat Manny Ramirez tonight because of back stiffness, and he put Kevin Youkilis in left. It was Youk's first career game in the outfield. Wily Mo Pena also sat because of the soreness in his wrist, so Willie Harris played center.

Youk had two hits and two walks, and Mark Loretta continued his torrent hitting, going three-for-five and Trot Nixon had 3 RBI. But the star of the night was Schilling, who became the 104th pitcher in major league history to win 200 games. He also became the fourth pitcher to win his 200th game in a Sox uniform, joining Lefty Grove, Ferguson Jenkins and Luis Tiant. Curt was called out by the fans after the game for a standing ovation. He also revealed that his son Gehrig asked him to get it for him tonight, as it was his 11th birthday.

Mission accomplished. Happy Birthday, Gehrig.

Just Wondering

When Derek Jeter got his 2000th hit on Friday night against the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium, did the hometown fans chant: "2000", "2000", "2000" ????

In some ways I'm sorry Jeter didn't do it at Fenway on Wednesday night.

A Simple Solution

I got an interesting email from Dennis McKeon from www.where-to-turn.org about the World Trade Center Memorial mess I thought was worth sharing. The Gothamist, a New York-oriented web site, has a "simple solution" to it:

Plans, Plans, and More Plans for Memorial Cost Cutting
http://www.gothamist.com/archives/2006/05/25/plans_plans_and.php

This is an interesting idea.
Leave the slurry wall exposed.
Create a nice Memorial Park.
You could add features to this basic idea.
Names of Victims on the Wall
Bring back artifacts. The Facades and the Globe or even the Staircase
This would also solve many of the issues especially the cost.
It would bring the Memorial above ground.
Respect the footprints
Make available access to the Slurry Wall.
Allow for the elimination of the random placement of names.
Allow for the return and display of artifacts.
Give the families 24/7 access to the Memorial.
It would also eliminate the safety and security issues associated with the current plan.
The landscaping of the area could also create a buffer between the park and the surrounding streets.
This could also be done at a fraction of the cost.
Something to think about.

His Head's In The Game

The Red Sox beat Tampa Bay last night, 4-1, behind six sharp, shutout innings from Josh Beckett (pictured). Beckett picked up his seventh win, allowed just four hits and his ERA is now at 3.80. But the play of the night happened in the sixth inning.

Julio Lugo hit a double high off the wall in center, and when the throw from Wily Mo Pena got away from Alex Gonzalez, Lugo tried to stretch it to third. What Lugo didn't realize was that Mark Loretta was trailing the play, picked up the loose ball and flipped it to Mike Lowell to cut him down. It prevented what could have been a big inning for the Devil Rays.

It also shows what a terrific, smart player Loretta is. When he was struggling in April, I knew that was just a bump in the road for him. I told other Sox fans that he'd come around and be an infield staple for the Red Sox this season. And he sure is. His defense has been rock solid. He made another sterling play at second on a hot shot by Russell Branyan. Loretta is part of what could be the best infield defense the Red Sox have ever had.

Loretta's been red-hot this month. On May 1st, he was batting .217. Since then, his bat has been smoking. He went 2-for-5 last night with an RBI to raise his average to .303. He seems to be that perfect number 2 hitter the Red Sox have not had for a long time. Loretta also seems to have earned the "Professional Hitter" moniker that Bill Mueller carried so well for the Red Sox for the past three years.

Jonathan Papelbon got four outs to earn his major-league leading 16th save. David Ortiz went to 2-for-4 with an RBI after a terrible night on Wednesday, and Kevin Youkilis went 2-for-4 and made another sparkling play at first.

David Wells returns from the DL tonight, and hopefully he can go at least five innings. He'll be facing Sox nemesis Scott Kazmir, who's going for his eighth win. Coco Crisp played an extended spring training game down in Florida, with no ill effects. He still on course to play at Pawtucket on Saturday, and with the Sox in Toronto on Memorial Day.

Al Leiter Is Now Officially A YES Network Hack

Thank God this three-game series between the Red Sox and Yankees is now over. The Red Sox may have lost two of three to The Evil Empire, but that's not the important thing. I can watch the Red Sox again without having to listen to the broadcasting team from "Al-Yankzeera."

I've never been happier to see and hear Don Orsillo and Jerry Remy in my life.

Last night's Red Sox-Yankees game on the YES Network infuriated me like no other Yankee broadcast has in recent memory. (By the end of the game I was actually doing something I almost never do: yelling obscenities at the screen.) We all know about Michael Kay and what a Yankee shill he is. But he and his broadcasting cohorts hit a new low last night. Before I get into Kay, I'll start with the newest member of the gang, Al Leiter.

It's with a bit of sadness that I titled this article calling Leiter a hack. I've always had a great deal of respect for Leiter. He's a genuinely good guy, and was always very accessible and likeable with the press in his playing days. When he pitched for the Mets, he was their equivalent of Tim Wakefield: one of baseball's better citizens and a great man with the community. He was very easy to root for, and a very gutsy and gritty player.

He did a very credible job as the third man in the booth during the 2004 ALCS with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver. It was easy to see he would end up in the broadcast booth with someone. I wasn't so bothered to hear the Yankees signed him to do some YES telecasts.

But last night, his defense of yet another Randy Johnson putrid performance (his sixth straight, as Kay pointed out to him) left my head spinning. Kay asked him what grade he'd give Johnson for this game, a game where Johnson gave up 5 runs and 9 hits in five innings. "I'd give him a 'B'", Leiter said. Even Kay and Ken Singleton couldn't believe that and demanded an explanation. (They both gave him a "C". Personally I'd give him a "D", and had the Yankees lost, he'd get an "F" from me.) Leiter went into full spin doctor mode, and his explanation seemed right out of Al-Yankzeera 101.

Leiter seemed to have been indoctrinated into the Yankee Propaganda Ministry way of thinking. It's a shame, as he showed some real promise once.

But Michael Kay was the real "star" last night. Literally from the time that YES went on the air at 7 PM, he was absolutely fixated on the Manny Ramirez "pose" at home plate after his home run off Scott Proctor on Tuesday night. He seems to have a real fetish in disliking Manny. A couple of friends last night told me that they heard his radio show on 1050 AM and he just ranted about it all show long. Even after Manny's first home run in the first inning (which Manny didn't pose and just ran to first, which Kay totally ignored), he couldn't shut his fat yapper about it. Hey, I've made it known I don't like ANY player who does that crap. But Kay seems to think Manny's committed some act of heresy here. He sure isn't the first one to do this, and won't be the last. Could someone point out to Kay that one of his idols, namely Reggie Jackson, started that nonsense back in the 1970s? Not one word from Kay or anyone else in the YES booth about that last night.

(A friend also told me that the radio side of the Yankees, namely John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman, didn't make a big deal over the Manny home run pose, and that for the Yankees it wasn't that big a deal either. Interesting.)

Manny hit another home run in the seventh off Proctor that made the score 8-6. In the top of the next inning, Kay went off on another ridiculous rant about how Manny was "an embarrassment" and embarrassed Proctor with his second home run. Huh? Proctor threw Manny a nice meatball over the plate that Manny killed over the Monster in left. (And there was no posing again.) So is Manny supposed to let that pitch go? I know Kay hates Manny with a passion, but his ranting sounded like a frustrated Yankee fan loose in the booth. Kay should ask both Proctor and Joe Torre why he served Manny such a fat pitch on a silver platter rather than blame Manny for it. Kay also talked like the Yankees should have thrown at Manny as well.

Kay thoroughly embarrassed not only himself and his boothmates, but the Yankee organization with his childish BS last night. He's proved why he is so absolutely disliked not only by Red Sox fans but by YANKEE fans as well. A few dedicated Yankee fans I know wish Kay would just disappear from the YES booth altogether.

I actually caught part of a Yankee game last week with Singleton and Jim Kaat, and it was far better to watch that Kay was MIA. Singleton is one of those broadcasters who seems to get caught up in the "web" of his play-by-play partner. (I call it "The Phil Rizzuto Syndrome.") But when he's away from Kay and with Jim Kaat, he's actually a decent listen. I still have a lot of respect for Kaat, as he doesn't talk down to his audience, and usually has something of interest to say.

I never thought I would write this, but last night he actually made me want to listen to John Sterling instead, and God help me, Ken Harrelson, the notorious homer from the White Sox. I'm officially done with any Yankee games that involve Michael Kay.

That is, until June 5th, when the YES network is shoved down our throats again when the Sox return to the Bronx.

A Classic From 1999

This afternoon I watched what I consider to be the best pitched game I have ever seen in my life. It was a game I remember originally watched at home on TV. ESPN Classic showed the September 10, 1999 game between the Red Sox and Yankees at Yankee Stadium. It was Andy Pettitte versus the immortal Pedro Martinez.

It was a big game for both clubs, as they were both fighting for the AL East title. There was a full house in the Bronx. Pedro hit Chuck Knoblauch, the first batter, who was then thrown out stealing by Jason Varitek. In the second inning, Chili Davis hit a home run into the bleachers to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

And that was it for the Yankees. No other Yankee reached base the rest of the night.

Pedro was completely and totally dominating the rest of the way. Mike Stanley hit a two-run homer for the Red Sox in the sixth to give the Sox the lead. In that same inning, Tim McCarver, who was doing the game with Bobby Murcer for the Yankees on TV, launched into his "Red Sox history" lesson, basically telling his audience the entire Red Sox story since their previous title in 1918. It's why every Red Sox fan despises him and every announcer who ever did that previous to October 27, 2004. And of course, they had to show a banner along the stadium wall that said: "The Bambino's Curse Lives."

Tee-hee. Yeah, right.

In the bottom of the sixth, Scott Brosius lined out to Troy O'Leary to start the inning. That would be the last ball hit to the outfield, and the last FAIR ball hit by the Yankees that night. Pedro went the rest of the game and couldn't be touched. He struck out 12 of the last 15 hitters he faced, and retired the last 22 Yankees in a row to end the game. It was also so cool to see all the Dominican fans in the bleachers wearing Red Sox jerseys and Dominican flags rooting for Pedro and the Sox.

Just watching the game again got me so pumped up. I'll never forget the great feeling watching Pedro give it to the Yankees and their fans.

The best pitched game I have ever seen. Period.

The Red Sox won, 3-1. It was Pedro's 21st win of the season. He would go on to win the AL Cy Young Award, and should have won the MVP Award if it hadn't been for a jackass writer from the New York Post named George King who kept him completely off his ballot. It went to Ivan Rodriguez instead.

Thanks for the memories, Pedro.

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.