Manny Being Shawn

Is there something in the water in Houston? First the Astros Shawn Chacon put the smack down on GM Ed Wade. Now with the Red Sox in town to play the Astros, Manny Ramirez lost his cool and shoved traveling secretary Jake McCormick to the ground .

The incident stemmed from Ramirez wanting 16 tickets for Saturday's game at Minute Maid Park.

When McCormick cautioned Ramirez that he might not be able to fulfill his request, Ramirez responded by shouting: "Just do your job!"

An argument followed and the Man-child shoved McCormick, who fell to the ground. The two later met behind closed doors where Ramirez apologized to McCormick.

Asked on Sunday to comment on the altercation, Ramirez responded: "That's over. We're fine now."

"Sometimes things happen," said Terry Francona, "and when they do, we choose to handle them internally. I'm satisfied with how we handled this."

Added McCormick: "It was an unfortunate misunderstanding and it's over with as far as I'm concerned."

Though McCormick accepted the apology, it would be a disservice to him and anyone else who works behind the scenes if the Red Sox do not fine and/or suspend Ramirez for his actions. Then again when you let Manny be Manny all the time, you're going to have expect fall out.

Share

Jeter an Astro Beater

We apologize for the late recap of last night's game, just got caught up in other things. A very well pitched game on the heels of Andy Pettitte's gem on Thursday night. Joba Chamberlain had his longest start of the season, though he didn't figure in the decision and Kyle Farnsworth gave Mariano Rivera a rest by picking up a save in the Yankees 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros.

This one was all about the pitching as Chamberlain and former Yankee one year wonder Shawn Chacon each allowed a run. Derek Jeter snapped the 1-1 tie in the 8th inning with his 4th home run of the season. Jose Veras picked up the victory with a pair of dominant innings, striking out three of the six batters he faced. Then it was up to Farnsworth who got assignment because Rivera had pitched five times in six days.

Farnsworth hit Ty Wiggington on a 3-2 pitch to start the inning, but Michael Bourn's sacrifice bunt went right back to Farnsworth. With Geoff Blum pinch-hitting for Brad Ausmus, Wiggington was throwing out trying to steal 2nd base by Jose Molina who had replaced Jorge Posada in the 7th inning. Farnsworth then threw a wicked breaking pitch past a swinging Blum for strike three and just like that the Yankees were 2 games over .500 for the first time since April 29.

News and Notes

Jorge Posada was removed as part of a double switch and even though Joe Girardi tried to downplay it, it was clearly a defensive move. The aggressive Astros had stolen 2nd base four times with Posada behind the plate. He did throw out Bourn attempting to steal 3rd. Joba Chamberlain also picked off Lance Berkman off of 2nd base on the front end of a double steal. Berkman was charged with a caught stealing as he attempted to reach 3rd base.

Chamberlain threw 88 pitches, 54 of which were strikes. Girardi said he would have gone out to start the bottom of the 7th if his spot in the order hadn't come up in the top of the inning. Chamberlain won't be on a pitch count when he faces the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
Derek Jeter's home run was the 199th of his career.

Share

Yankees vs. Astros - June 13

RIP Tim Russert.

Here are tonight's lineups:

Yankees

D. Jeter ss
R. Cano 2b
B. Abreu rf
A. Rodriguez 3b
H. Matsui lf
J. Giambi 1b
J. Posada c
M. Cabrera cf
J. Chamberlain p

Astros

H. Pence rf
K. Matsui 2b
M. Tejada ss
L. Berkman 1b
C. Lee lf
T. Wigginton 3b
M. Bourn cf
B. Ausmus c
S. Chacon p

Share