Archive for the ‘Alex Rodriguez’ Category

AL East Roundup: Prelude To The Great A-Rod Escape

April 11, 2007
AL EAST W L GB L10 STK E#
Toronto Blue Jays 4 3 4-3 L1
Boston Red Sox 4 3 4-3 W2
New York Yankees 4 3 4-3 W2
Baltimore Orioles 3 5 1.5 3-5 W2 154
Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2 5 2.0 2-5 L4 154

Red Sox 14, Mariners 3. The Sox went all Tea Party on the Mariners in their home opener at Fenway. Boston scored 7 in the first two innings and were up 13-1 after 5. Josh Beckett may have had his best start as a Red Sox giving up just 2 hits and 1 run over 7 innings. He walked none and struck out 8. JD Drew managed to hit his first home run with Boston and he didn’t pull a hamstring rounding the bases.

Tigers 3, Orioles 1. The Orioles just can’t catch a break. Jaret Wright pitched better, but still lost his second straight with the O’s and then had to be removed with shoulder stiffness.

Royals 6, Blue Jays 3. Toronto committed 4 errors leading to 3 unearned runs. Josh Towers made his first start of the year and gave up all 6 runs.

Yankees 10, Twins 1. Andy Pettite pitched 6 scoreless innings and he was supported by Alex Rodiguez’s 6th home run of the season. An A-bomb by A-Rod! At this pace A-Rod may beat Barry Bonds to the home run record. He only needs 286 more home runs. The Yankees, Sox and Jays are all tied for first in the AL East. This race is going down to the wire!

NOTES FROM AROUND THE AL EAST…

  • Jaret Wright was upset after the game and indicated that the injury to his shoulder is reminiscent of his previous shoulder injuries that led to two surgeries.
  • The Yankees starters have struggled, but the bullpen has been strong.
  • Daisuke Matsuzaka will face Ichiro tonight to lead off the Red Sox game against the Mariners. The two have faced each other before in Japan. Here is video of their encounters in Japan.
  • The Red Sox honored the 1967 AL Championship team before their home opener.
  • Frank Thomas has 488 career home runs, but his sights are set on 600.
  • Alex Rodriguez is just the 4th player in the last 50 years with an extra-base hit in each of his team’s first seven games, and one of seven players with 6 home runs in his teams first 7 games.
  • It is only seven games, but some are already talking MVP for Alex Rodriguez. The funny thing about all this is…Let’s say A-Rod hits .330 with 60 home runs, 150 RBI and wins the MVP. The he has a big October but the Yankees fall short in the playoffs. Because of all the crap he has received from the fans, he will opt-out of his contract and Yankees fans will find a way to blame A-Rod. He will be a coward, even though it was the fans that wanted him gone as recently as the second game of the season when he popped up in the 8th inning with the bases loaded against the Rays.
  • Alex Rios is a better player when he is leading off.

Tidbits: Devil Rays @ The New York Yankees

April 2, 2007
  • The Devil Rays were 5-13 versus the Yankees in 2006.
  • Carl Pavano will be making his first start since the middle of 2006, and is likely to be booed lustily by the Yankee faithful.
  • Former Devil Rays first baseman Josh Phelps earned his way on to the Yankees opening day roster and may actually get the nod to start on opening day. Phelps hit .442 with 4 home runs in spring training.
  • Yankees fans are a demanding sort. Being the best player in baseball doesn’t make you a Yankee. You have to earn your pinstripes and Alex Rodriguez still hasn’t. He could hit 80 home runs this season, but the fans will still boo him if he doesn’t come through in the playoffs.
  • Andy Pettite will get the ball on Wednesday in his first start for the Yankees since 2003.

PROBABLE STARTERS
(stats are from 2006)

Monday, 1:05 et
Devil Rays Scott Kazmir, LHP (10-8, 3.24)
New York
Carl Pavano, RHP (0-0, 0.00)

Wednesday, 1:05 et
Devil Rays Jae Seo, RHP (3-12, 5.33)
New York
Andy Pettite, LHP (14-13, 4.20)

Thursday, 7:05 et
Devil Rays
James Shields, RHP (6-8, 4.84)
New York
Mike Mussina, RHP (15-7, 3.51)


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