Patience, Patience Redux

I happen to have a bit of timely blogging going on just now. I cracked open the laptop cover to write a quick complaint about how Tim McCarver just called Bronson Arroyo Brandon. More proof that he is an idiot. You would have thought that whoever is on the other end of his earpiece would have corrected him so that he could correct himself since there are only about 50 million people watching this broadcast and it would be nice to get the Sox #3 starters name correct. I say the blogging WAS timely because at the time Bellhorn broke up the perfecto, and Tek hit the bomb to make it 8-5 and my laptop promptly ran out of juice without warning. Hence the redux.

My next observation was that Mussina had been pitching very well. Of course, he was getting a little help from the Red Sox batters. First because they were watching strikes go by, then because they seemed to be swinging at everything. Clearly after he gave up the hit to Bellhorn his rhythm was broken and he could not get it back.

After that I went on to complain about the pitching choice of Wakefield. Not that I don't like him, he's pitched great this year. Unfortunately, I don't think he has pitched for about two weeks. When they announced the ALDS roster, they claimed to leave off Mendoza because Lowe was filling the long relief role. My big question is, where was he tonight? It seemed like the perfect opportunity for him. I doubt he would have done much worse than giving up two runs in one inning.

I really doubt that there is any kind of mental pressure on Rivera that would keep him from pitching. What no one has been talking about is his two blown saves against the Sox in his last four appearances against them. Or that his numbers against Boston this year are 0-2 with a 4.22 ERA and just 3 saves in 9 games. If the pen can manage to keep the Yanks from putting a cushion on this lead, it's still within reach, even with Rivera on to close it out.

Further proof that McCarver is a fool. No one AND I MEAN NO ONE in New England has turned off their TVs because the Sox are losing. What a dipwad...