Sox off tonight but the lead increases to 2 games as Shields out duels CC as the Rays edge the Yanks :twisted: 2-1, Rays just don't appear as they're going away, :sweat: may not catch either of the top 2 teams but will probably have a say in the race.
Speaking of races, AL Cy Young is going to be a hard choice this year if the front runners keep pitching like they have been, :nut: all 3 went tonight... CC lost but pitched another CG, Verlander won again allowing only 5 hits in 8 innings, his WHIP for the year is 0.88(!) and Weaver is something, 8 shutout innings in getting the win over the Rangers 1-0, ERA for the season is 1.81, :applaud: gonna be a tough choice for the voters.
Sox complete the sweep over the M's in topping them 12-8, :victory: M's have lost 15 in a row :rofl: and visit the Yanks next. 17 hits by the Sox today, everyone got into the act, even Crawford has been on a tear after coming off the DL, now over .250. Starters except for Beckett though have been struggling, :sweat: luckily Lester comes off the DL tomorrow, Buchholz shoudn't be on much longer either. :fingerscrossed:
hitomi #1 wrote:Sox complete the sweep over the M's in topping them 12-8, :victory: M's have lost 15 in a row :rofl: and visit the Yanks next. 17 hits by the Sox today, everyone got into the act, even Crawford has been on a tear after coming off the DL, now over .250. Starters except for Beckett though have been struggling, :sweat: luckily Lester comes off the DL tomorrow, Buchholz shoudn't be on much longer either. :fingerscrossed:
Even with the pitching issues, the sox have their biggest lead in the AL east. :victory:
Even with the pitching issues, the sox have their biggest lead in the AL east. :victory:
Yes they do, Yanks after CC have pitching issues too, offense is due for a bit of a slump so then it'll be up to the rotation to come through, :sweat: as long as Lester and Buchholz come back and pitch like they can then the rotation may be able to carry them. :fingerscrossed:
gaijinmark wrote:Ervin Santana of the Halos no-hits the Indians 3-1 :applaud:
Tribe got their run on an error, stolen base, and a wild pitch. :crazy:
I'm keeping up with things, didn't know that until 20 seconds ago. :beatyou: They're somehow still in that race in the West, Rnagers just won 12 in a row yet the Halos are only 2 1/2 behind them.
Another offensive outburst by the Sox last night in beating the Royals 13-9, could have scored more, had 16 hits and 9 walks. Big game for Ortiz, 4 hits and 5 RBIs, :victory: starting pitching is still shaky, this Miller guy's last 2 starts they've scored 25 runs for him yet he hasn't got a win becuase he's got pummeled and can't make it past the 4th inning. :usuck:
Also huge pitching performance by the Yanks last night in handing the M's their 17th(!) straight loss, CC goes 7 innings and strikes out 14, next 2 pitchers K'd 4, 18 K's total, wow! :sweat:
^^ That's good because it allows the Sox to get back to being 3 up on the Yanks :twisted: as the bats were scorching again tonight as they pound the Royals 12-5. Of course when they score 10+ runs you have to figure that Lackey :usuck: pitched, which he did in picking up another crappy win by going 5+ innings and allowing 4 runs. Top of the order has been unstoppable as Ellsbury, Pedroia and Gonzalez all get 3 hits and combine for 7 RBIs. :applaud: Ortiz had only one hit but it was a big one, HR with the bases juiced, gives him 9 RBIs in 2 games. One more game against KC, Beckett is going which means they'll score 2 runs at the most. :nut:
Former New York Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu, 42, was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed to USA TODAY.
The Yankees also said the incident is being investigated as a suicide. The body of Irabu was found at 7:25 p.m. ET Wednesday.
CAPTION
By Jeff Zelevansky, AP
"He was found dead by an apparent suicide," Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Michael Arriaga told AP.
Irabu spent six seasons in the majors from 1997 to 2002 with a career record of 34-35 record and 5.15 ERA. He won two World Series titles with the Yankees (1998 and 1999) but never appeared in a Series game.
As a star Japanese pitcher, Irabu's contract was purchased in 1997 by the San Diego Padres from the Lotte Orions (now Chiba Lotte Marines). However, Irabu said he would only play for New York and forced a trade.
The Padres sent Irabu, then 28, to the Yankees, where he signed a four-year, $12.8 million deal and spent three seasons.
On July 10, 1997, Irabu made his major league debut against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium and earned his first victory.
His best season came in 1998, when he posted a 13-9 record with a 4.06 ERA in 173 innings. He followed that up with an 11-7 record, 4.84 ERA.
Yankees owner George Steinbrenner often expressed his displeasure with Irabu, calling him a "fat ... toad" because of his weight.
After the 1999 season, he was traded to the Montreal Expos, where he appeared in just 14 games. In the two seasons with the Expos, he was 2-7 with a 6.69 ERA over 71 1/3 innings.
Before the 2002 season, Irabu signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent. He spent his final season as a reliever, appearing in 38 games with 16 saves.
Irabu had intentions of returning to the Japanese professional league. He later ran into trouble with the law, getting arrested for DUI in 2010.
^ RIP Hideki. He always had a troubled life, baseball was his only way out. Never knew who his Dad was, they say it was an American serviceman and he never really wanted to find out. Struggled with the Yankees and the New York press, being the New York press never let him forget it. Hopefully he is at peace now.
This from Eric Hillman, former Mets pitcher who was a teammate of Irabu's in Japan:
I played with Hideki for 2 years in Japan during the 95 & 96 season. His father, whom he never met, was a US serviceman. All Hideki had was a picture of his father. I asked him if he would like me to help find him. He said "no" He loved his mother and cared for her. I can tell you that he was my only friend on that team. He embraced american ballplayers while the vast majority of my teammates paid no attention. He was a tortured soul. He felt like he did not fit in in his own country. All he wanted to do was come to the U.S. and pitch. He had seen the success Nomo was having and wanted to follow in his footsteps. The NY media did what they do best. Buried him with bad press. I can tell you from experience that it is not easy to play in a foreign environment. I saw him last about 10 years ago. He seemed a bit lost then as well. RIP my friend. Thank you for taking me under your wing in Tokyo many years ago.
He always had a troubled life, baseball was his only way out. Never knew who his Dad was, they say it was an American serviceman and he never really wanted to find out. Struggled with the Yankees and the New York press, being the New York press never let him forget it. Hopefully he is at peace now.
To this day the NY papers still rip him, probably won't tomorrow but don't think I've ever seen anyone put down as much as him, except perhaps Igawa.
^ I didn't realize he was living in Rancho Palos Verdes where he apparently committed suicide... That just a couple of miles up the hill from me. :sweat:
hitomi #1 wrote:
To this day the NY papers still rip him, probably won't tomorrow but don't think I've ever seen anyone put down as much as him, except perhaps Igawa.
I've always wondered what would have happened if Hideki Matsui had gotten off to the same start as Willie Mays (something like 0-for-20) instead of hitting a grand slam his first game at Yankee Stadium. His whole career might have ended right there.
I've always wondered what would have happened if Hideki Matsui had gotten off to the same start as Willie Mays (something like 0-for-20) instead of hitting a grand slam his first game at Yankee Stadium. His whole career might have ended right there.
Except for that GS he did get off to a horrible start with them, was batting under .200 going into June then all of a sudden turned it around and was their best player the last few months, Torre kept saying he had faith in him and it did eventually pay off.