Hot time in Boston

Herald photo by Mark Garfinkle
Last night was the first game in yet another three game series against the Yankees. This is actually the last time we'll play them until September - thank heavens! These games make me so tense - I'm bouncing all over the place and/or raiding the kitchen. My waistline will be glad for the break.

This series seems different to me than others, however. There is a definite air of desperation surrounding the Yankess - they began Friday 13 1/2 games out of first, their weakest position since the early '90s. A-Rod was being vilified and mocked in the NY papers all week. First he was photographed entering and leaving a strip bar in Toronto with a blonde not his wife; they were followed to his hotel. Hmm.. That night, in the game vs. the Blue Jays, A-Rod seems to have violated an unwritten behavior code. As he ran the base path between 2nd and 3rd, he cut behind the 3rd baseman as he was attempting to catch a high pop-up. Right behind him, ARod yelled "Mine," so the infielder backed off the catch, thinking the short stop had it. Wrond - the ball fell to the ground uncaught, and the Yankees had a cheap run. Not cool.

So a lot of interest for the game last night at Fenway. Here is the scene by the Yankee dugout - ARod's fans donned "princess" masks in honor of his Blonde Bombshell:
Photo by Mark Garfinkle

Tough game to watch if you were a Sox fan, because the Yankees really put the game away fairly early. Lowell had a dazzling play in the first, but then got beaned on the wrist and had to leave the game. Coincidence? I think not. Later, when a player tried to steal third (and the Yankees were already ahead by 6 at the time) and was caught, Torre got into a huge screaming match with the 3rd base ump, and was ejected. Seemed like a desperate attempt to light a fire under the Millionaires club. And the last straw was in the bottom of the 9th: Scott Proctor hit Youkilis (who had extended his hitting streak to 23 games) nearly in the head. (That's the photo on top). The benches leisurely cleared - no fights, although Youkie looked ready to take them all on!

Could be an exciting game today. Schilling is pitching - and he's been known to "avenge" such incidents. However, I think the best revenge is to take the next two games, and send Torre to the unemployment line! I dread today's game for one thing, however: it's on Fox. Aaargh. McCarver and Buck - hey, bartender....