SEE YOU IN A COUPLE OF DAYS

***NOT THE USUAL BLOODBATH***
Yankees-Red Sox tonight. Between Beckett, Youkilis, Varitek and Pedroia, there is usually no love lost for the Yankees. However, Beckett just came off the DL and the other three are still there, so the question remains: How much fire is left? Both teams are playing below par. Ortiz can still hit but he's not the fearsome slugger he once was. Papelbon is a question mark every time he goes out there.
Even with the best record in baseball, the Yanks aren't scaring anybody, either. A-Rod's not the force he once was, Jeter's having an off-season, and Granderson is far from grand. Posada is still dangerous with a bat in his hand but he's even more dangerous with a glove.
Four games that Boston absolutely needs to climb back in it; four games for the Yanks to bury them. It'll still be interesting.

And the Yanks still have Rivera.

***THIS IS GETTING TIRESOME***
Another bad mistake by the umpires. Notice I said "bad mistake" not "bad call."
A sharp grounder in the ninth inning skipped over the third-base bag, an apparent game-winning hit for Gaby Sanchez and the Florida Marlins. But third base umpire Bob Davidson saw things differently. He ruled the ball foul, costing the Marlins a walk-off victory. Replays clearly showed the ball hitting in fair territory a couple of feet in front of 3rd base, bouncing over the bag and hitting in fair territory a few feet past the bag. Davidson argued that the ball was wide of the bag when it went over and it doesn't matter where it landed after that. Therefore, it was a foul ball. Correct according to the rules, however; How could a ball hit in fair territory in front of the bag AND in back of the bag and still go over the bag foul. Is this another version of the "magic bullet" theory. Granted, the ball was hit hard and we have the benefit of instant replay,so if Davidson said afterwards, "Yeah, I missed it," no problem, move on. Here's where it gets stupid (sorry about that word but unfortunately it fits). Davidson said afterwards, "I saw the replay. I was right." Bob, not only were you wrong, but you were also...(see the word in red).

***POOR KANSAS CITY FANS***
Maybe they can't afford to pay Jeter $18 million a year or A-Rod his $29 million a year, but we're not talking minimum wage here, either. The Royals just designated Jose Guillen for assignment, so he's gone in 10 days. He's a career .270 hitter with 16 homers and 62 RBI's so far. Why did this happen? Because the Royals owe him $4 million and they hope somebody will trade for him. If nobody asks for him, the Royals will get nothing for him...and they'll STILL have to pay him. Oh, this is really smart.

***YOU'RE KIDDING, RIGHT?***
Pedro Martinez says he "hasn't closed the door" on pitching next year. Unfortunately for Pedro, MLB has already closed the lid.

We're off to Pittsburgh tomorrow morning. Pirogi's, here we come.

CP-