Good God, Almighty!! Look At The Carnage!!!

Stock the fridge, turn off your phone, put the kids to bed early, and clear your schedules, people.  It's round 2 tonight for CC and David Price.

In one corner we have Carsten Charles Sabathia.  Listed at 6'7" and 290 pounds, CC has 20 wins to his credit this year, a 3.05 ERA, a 1.18WHIP, and a bunch of other stats that support his status as one of the premiere starting pitchers in all of baseball, not to mention he has the power of the parachute pants in his corner.  He is the crafty veteran in this matchup and pitching on his home field tonight, where he has been almost unbeatable this season, and tonight will be looking to lock down a series win and a solid 2.5 game division lead for his club.

In the other corner we have the youngster, David Price.  Price is 17-5 on the year with a 2.79 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 172 Ks to CC's 183.  Price, like Sabathia, has been the anchor of his rotation this year, the one constant in a swirling torrent of inconsistency around him.  He has faced the Yankees 3 times already this year with mixed results, his worst outing coming in a loss in July at The Stadium where he was slapped around for 7 ER on 7 hits and 4 walks in just 5 innings of work, taking the loss in the process.  He will be looking to exorcise those demons and exact some revenge tonight.

I've just finally gotten over the fact that I missed the gem of a performance that these 2 put on last week and now I get to once again miss out on what could be a matchup for the record books.  Why the fuck did I ever move out to Wisconsin in the first place???  My only hope is that Price comes out and spits the bit again and puts up a repeat of his last outing at The Stadium.  At least then I won't feel so bad about missing it.  You people with access to YES don't know how good you have it.

Did Joe Throw In The Towel After The Rain Delay Last Night?

What the fuck was that last night?  I can understand not bringing A.J. back after a lengthy rain delay, and it wasn't like he was pitching all that well anyway, but to come back and use the bottom of your bullpen barrel in a 1-run game against your closest competition for the division title?  Why not just come out and tell the umpires your team forfeits?  What was Joe doing in the clubhouse during the rain delay?  Smoking PCP?

Joe's comments to reporters before the game included the statement "our goal is to win the division," which would explain why Teix was still in the lineup.  Well I'm sorry, Joe.  But if you're looking to win the division, you probably shouldn't go with the value-menu bullpen combo of Royce Ring, Dustin Moseley, Chad Gaudin, and J-Alba.  It was a 1-0 game when things started up again and he got lucky with Ring and Moseley only giving up 2 runs.  And then after the A-Rod single in the 6th, it was a 1-run game again heading into the 7th, crunch time, when you would assume Kerry Wood, Boone Logan, and Mo would be available to hold the lead and give the offense a chance to come back.  But instead Joe goes to Chad Fucking Gaudin and before you know it it's back up to a 3-run lead.

Joba probably wasn't available last night because of his work on Tuesday, and D-Rob was out with back issues (which is not good news at all), but Joe still had 3 of his 5 best relievers in the 'pen, and since I'm not reading anything this morning about any of them being hurt or tired, I'm assuming they were available.  The 7th should have been Kerry Wood time all day.  Your team just got a run, you've got the heart of the Tampa order coming up, you want somebody out there who can shut them down quick and get your batters back up there with a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the inning, not somebody who's going to turn the inning into a home run derby.  Once again, Joe's inexplicable decision making costs the Yanks a chance at a win.  In game 43 of the season I can live with that, but not in game 152 when the division title hangs in the balance.

Honestly, at this point I don't know what Joe's thinking when it comes to the 'pen anymore.  Maybe he really does want to go manage Chicago next season and this is his way of trying to get out.