Bozo Bosox, Phugly Phils Square Off Against NY's Finest

Tonight is a start of a rivalry week in the New York baseball scene. The Yankees travel up the turnpike to Fenway Park to battle their archrival Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies invade Citi-Field for the second time this season. At the conclusion of these three game sets, both the Mets and Yankees will battle each other in the first rendition of the Subway Series in the new Yankee Stadium. There is much more than bragging rights on the line these next six days.

Brawl in Beantown…The Yankees are clicking on all cylinders right now. They come into Fenway having won twenty of their last 27 games at a time when Yankee killer David Ortiz is in the worst slump of his career. Ortiz is batting .197 right now and recently had his eyes checked out by an optometrist. He received eye-drops for the dryness in his eyes, which he says causes him to blink while trying to concentrate on pitches. Jacoby Ellsbury may also miss tonight’s opener, after aggravating his shoulder while sliding awkwardly into second base in a 6-3 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

In the five games that the two teams played against each other this season, the Red Sox have won all five, but that was when the Yankees were without A-Rod, and Mark Teixeira was batting .198. Teixeira is now batting .286, has 51 RBI’s and is tied for third with Albert Pujols in homeruns, with 18. Melky Cabrera, who has vastly improved since last season, has been the new Captain Clutch for the Yankees. He has three walk-off hits and a walk-off homerun this season, and has made himself a threat to any opposing pitcher. The Yankees certainly have what it takes to sweep the Sox, but they’ll take at least two.

Phugghedaboutit….The New York Mets enter their series with the Phillies 3 games out of first place in the NL East. A sweep here would give them a tie, and then it would be on to Yankee Stadium to face the surging Yankees. After getting swept out of Pittsburgh, and the rash of injuries that seem to plague them, it looks as if the Mets may find themselves further behind the Phillies after these next six games. They will be without Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, J.J. Putz and Oliver Perez, among others.

Fortunately for the Mets, the Phillies have their woes too. Closer Brad Lidge, who did not blow a save last season, has six blown saves and an ERA of 7.27 thus far. Jimmy Rollins, a favorite of Met fans, has been in a 2 for 20 slump and was dropped to sixth in the batting order from his usual perch at the top. The Mets will face 46-year old Jaime Moyer on Thursday night and he is having a less than stellar season with a 4-5 record and a 6.27 ERA. In eight innings against the Mets this season, he has allowed 12 runs. The Mets can take two games in this series, but everyone who plays will have to step up. David Wright, who hasn’t homered in 100 games, has to be better at the plate. The Mets best chances to beat Philly over this home stand are tonight when Johan goes to the mound, and Thursday when they face Moyer. If they can manage to beat Hamels, that would be an added bonus for them, as the Phillies return home to welcome the Red Sox over the weekend.

Pitching Matchups

NYY vs. BOS

Burnett (4-2, 4.69) vs, Beckett (6-2, 4.09)

Wang (0-3, 14.46) vs. Wakefield (7-3, 4.50)

Sabathia (5-3, 3.56) vs. Penny (5-2, 5.85)

NYM vs. PHI

Santana (7-3, 2.00) vs. Happ (4-0, 2.48)

Pelfrey (4-2, 4.85) vs. Hamels (4-2, 4.40)

Redding (0-2, 6.97) vs. Moyer (4-5, 6.27)

Yankees Play Small Ball; Win Big

With all the big name sluggers in their lineup, one would think the Yankees would be more contempt to slug it out in a home run derby, rather than along the base paths. But it was basic baseball fundamentals that won the game for them this afternoon.

Trailing 3-1 with one out in the eighth inning, Johnny Damon lined a single to left field off Tampa Bay reliever Grant Balfour, which started the Yankees' small ball rally. Mark Texeira then singled to deep right field, advancing Damon to third. Two straight walks to Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano, forced home a run.

Jorge Posada was up next and he followed suit by hitting a dribbler down the third base line that Tampa Bay third baseman, Willy Aybar, could not handle. That enabled Texeira to score the tying run. Aybar, subbing at third base for Evan Longoria, was charged with an error. Hideki Matsui followed with a grounder to second that scored Rodriguez and put the Yankees up 4-3.

Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth inning to try to notch his thirteenth save of the season. With two outs and nobody on base, Rivera faced Longoria for the second straight game. Yesterday, Rivera faced Longoria and said he could get him out, but Yankee manager Joe Girardi wanted to intentionally walk him. That walk started a Tampa Bay rally and led to a rare loss for Rivera. This time it was different as Rivera got Longoria to ground out to second, where Cano made an easy throw to first to get him out and end the game.

"You can't come to a game angry or with too much venom. Then you are not in control of what you are doing," Rivera said. "I have to control myself before I can go out and pitch. Yesterday is over. What can I do?"

"I guess Mo was right," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

From the couch...The Yankees have won seven of their last 10 games. This game was their 20th come from behind victory this season...Nick Swisher hit the 100th home run in the 28th game at Yankee Stadium...Mariano Rivera got his 495th career save and Joe Girardi won his 200th game as a manager. He is 200-183 over three seasons...Former vice-presidential candidate and self proclaimed "maverick" Sarah Palin was in attendance.

Photo: Jorge Posada (20) congratulates closer Mariano Rivera after the final out in their 4-3 victory

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (ESPN.com)

Note to Self: Its Not Over 'till Its Over

Thank you ABC for adding those white lines to your broadcast of Saturday's Belmont Stakes. Upon seeing that Mine That Bird, Dunkirk and Charitable Man were one, two and three, as they crossed one of those "white lines," I prematurely erupted into a celebration thinking that I had hit the trifecta. My good friend Jimma turned around and politely informed me that the race was not over yet. All my joy and happiness was swept away as I knew at that moment, I would not win the trifecta. It happens many times in sports. Those who celebrate too early and let up thinking they'll win, usually lose. See the 2004 New York Yankees. The 2007-08 New England Patriots. Or the New York Mets the last two seasons.

However, I was not totally disappointed when I realized that I had put $5 on Summer Bird to win. I had forgotten that I picked him and I did so on a whim, playing the jockey instead of the horse. It worked twice this year when I picked Eibar Coa and Musket Man to show. Kent Desormeaux was Big Brown's jockey last year and he had a good run until he got to Belmont. Desormeaux had to slow him down and Big Brown ended up finishing dead last.

Coming down the stretch yesterday, Mine That Bird, the 6-5 morning line favorite, raced past Dunkirk but it was Summer Bird who surprised everyone, beating the field by 2 3/4 lengths. Summer Bird went off at 11-1 odds and gave Desormeaux a victory he desperately wanted, especially after last years performance. "I hope from now on we'll talk about winning one," Desormeaux said.

Leading up to the race, Mine That Bird was acting frisky during the walk to the track, and once it started, he and jockey Calvin Borel were in contention earlier than they wanted to be. "He might have been a hair higher today coming in here, just a little more amped up," Mine That Bird trainer Chip Woolley said, "but overall he was the same horse I led up in the Derby. He ran a great race and just got beat, and you have to accept that and go on."

It was an unforgettable Triple Crown season that ended the way it began: with an upset. Mine That Bird blew away the field as a 50-1 long shot in the Kentucky Derby but yielded to Summer Bird in the test of champions. Calvin Borel missed his chance to get a personal triple crown as he rode Rachel Alexandra to a close victory in the Preakness. He would've been the first jockey to win the three races on two different horses.

Photo: Kent Desormeaux was all smiles aboard Summer Bird after winning the 141st Belmont Stakes. (Nick Laham/ Getty Images)(ESPN.com)

New York Mets and The Swine Flu

Apparently school children are not the only ones at risk of contracting the swine flu. Various news reports stated that a Mets staffer has contracted the virus and its any wonder if he spread it around the clubhouse. An injury depleted Mets team was swept out of Pittsburgh and like the public schools in Queens, maybe its time to shut the Mets clubhouse down for a little while.

We're all New Yorkers here and once one of our teams starts to stumble, the debates begin on who should be fired and who should be released. With that in mind I ask: If the CDC was to come in and shut down the Mets clubhouse, how should they go about "disinfecting" it ??Who should go, who should stay and who should be brought in?

E-mail your thoughts and comments to TheDailyMoose@gmail.com or post a comment below.. Please provide your name, and comment. No profanity or obscenities please.

Vivek- i would get rid of all of the mets :)

Melky Way!

Melky Cabrera broke a 6-all tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-run home run, propelling the Yankees to an 8-6 victory over the surging Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium this afternoon. Melky's shot capped off a day in which the Yankees rallied from a 5-1 deficit to take two out of three from the AL West leaders.

Chien-Ming Wang made his return to the starting rotation after spending some time in the minor leagues trying to work on his pitching mechanics. Wang is still in need of an tune up as he was tagged for five runs and seven hits in only 4 2/3 innings pitched. Despite leaving the game before the halfway point, it was Wang's best start of this season. Nelson Cruz chased Wang in the fifth with a long ball to center field to put Texas up 5-1.

The Yankees began their furious rally in the fifth inning after Texas starter Brandon McCarthy walked Nick Swisher with the bases loaded. Mark Texeira then followed with a three run double to left field to tie the game at five. In came J Jennings for relief and he was greeted by Alex Rodriguez's single to deep right field to give the Yankees a 6-5 lead. Ian Kinsler homered in the top of the sixth to tie the game, before Melky Cabrera put the final nail in the coffin. Mariano Rivera earned his twelfth save of the season.

From the $1250 seats...There has been a home run hit in all 26 games played at the new Yankee Stadium...With Wang's return, Joe Girardi said that Phil Hughes is the team's "sixth starter". Looks like he better re-think that decision and make Wang the "sixth starter" instead. For the Staten Island Yankees though...The Yankees are now tied with the Boston for the best record in the American League. Texas is very close behind.

Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)(ESPN.com)

Information from the AP was used in this story.

An e-mail I received today...

Luke AFB is west of Phoenix and is rapidly being surrounded by civilization that complains about the noise from the base and its planes, forgetting that it was there long before they were. A certain lieutenant colonel at Luke AFB deserves a big pat on the back. Apparently, an individual who lives somewhere near Luke AFB wrote the local paper complaining about a group of F-16s that disturbed his/her day at the mall. When that individual read the response from a Luke AFB officer, it must have stung quite a bit..

The complaint: 'Question of the day for Luke Air Force Base: Whom do we thank for the morning air show? Last Wednesday, at precisely 9:11 A.M, a tight formation of four F-16 jets made a low pass over Arrowhead Mall, continuing west over Bell Road at approximately 500 feet. Imagine our good fortune! Do the Tom Cruise-wannabes feel we need this wake-up call, or were they trying to impress the cashiers at Mervyns early bird special? Any response would be appreciated.

The response: Regarding 'A wake-up call from Luke's jets' On June 15, at precisely 9:12 a.m . , a perfectly timed four- ship fly by of F-16s from the 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base flew over the grave of Capt. Jeremy Fresques. Capt Fresques was an Air Force officer who was previously stationed at Luke Air Force Base and was killed in Iraq on May 30, Memorial Day.

At 9 a.m. on June 15 , his family and friends gathered at Sunland Memorial Park in Sun City to mourn the loss of a husband, son and friend.. Based on the letter writer's recount of the fly by, and because of the jet noise, I'm sure you didn't hear the 21-gun salute, the playing of taps, or my words to the widow and parents of Capt. Fresques as I gave them their son's flag on behalf of the President of the United States and all those veterans and servicemen and women who understand the sacrifices they have endured..

A four-ship fly by is a display of respect the Air Force gives to those who give their lives in defense of freedom. We are professional aviators and take our jobs seriously, and on June 15 what the letter writer witnessed was four officers lining up to pay their ultimate respects.

The letter writer asks, 'Whom do we thank for the morning airshow? The 56th Fighter Wing will make the call for you, and forward your thanks to the widow and parents of Capt Fresques, and thank them for you, for it was in their honor that my pilots flew the most honorable formation of their lives.

Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you....Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

Lt. Col. Grant L. Rosensteel, Jr. USAF

Mets-Yankees Rewind: 6/1/09

NYY 5- CLE 2

Joba Chamberlain allowed only two runs over 8 innings as the New York Yankess beat the Cleveland Indians 5-2 on Monday night. Nick Swisher and Alex Rodriguez drove home two runs each in the 7th inning giving the Yankees a 5-1 lead. The Yankees have gone 18 consecutive games without committing an error, an MLB record.

(AP Photo/ Mark Duncan/ ESPN.com)




NYM 5 - PIT 8

The Pittsburgh Pirates rallied from a 5-0 deficit to defeat the New York Mets 8-5 on Monday night. Adam LaRoche led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a double and his brother Andy would drive him home with an infield single. Four consecutive hits up the middle after Eric Hinske made an out, out the pirates up 6-5 for a lead they wouldn't relinquish. New York began the game with a team leading 2.95 ERA for its bullpen.

Jack Wilson drives in tying run with 8th inning single (AP Photo/Gene Puskar/ESPN.com)

Other scores...

@ FLA 7 - MIL 4, CIN 5 - @ STL 3, @ HOU 4 - COL 1, PHI 5 - @ SDG 3, @ CHW 6- OAK 2

BAL 1 - @ SEA 0, ARI 3 - @ LAD 1