Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Time to Say Goodnight Joe

The Yankees-Orioles games ended moments ago with Scott Proctor walking Ramon Hernandez with the bases loaded and 1 out in the bottom of the 9th. It should be the last pitch ever thrown with Joe Torre as manager.

Walks have absolutely killed the Yankees this season and Proctor (does he pitch every day or is that just my imagination?) put himself in immediate trouble by walking Corey Patterson to start the 9th. A Brian Roberts single put two men on and none out.

Did Joe get anyone warming up? No

Proctor then made a tremendous play, diving to snare a bunt off the bat of Chris Gomez. Proctor would have easily doubled Patterson off 2nd, but appeared to be shaken up on the play. With temps around 80 and high humidity, it would have been nice if Torre had come out with Gene Monahan to give Proctor a blow, but this is Joe Torre. He was too busy thinking of ways to blow another game.

Proctor then walked Nick Markakis- meanwhile we see a shot of the Yankees pen, everyone sitting nicely on the bench- to load the bases.

Was the end ever in doubt here? Proctor got away with one pitch as he nearly hit Hernandez with a wild pitch that goes to the backstop. Luck was momentarily on the Yankees side as Patterson froze at 3rd. But the inevitable was to happen.

Ball Four- Yankees lose. Now can Torre. Not in a few weeks, not after the season. NOW.

2 comments:

  1. Yeah, the walks have gotten out of control for the Yankees. I was definitely expecting a better season from them. By the way, when you write new blog posts, go over to BeTheRef.com and post a link to your story, and hopefully get a little extra traffic for your blog.

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  2. MM, I totally agree. Torre should go. He gives this team 0 on every front (intesity, fire, etc.). He can't even make the managerial decisions right either. Including leaving Proctor in.

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