YANKEES + BRUCE FROEMMING 3, RED SOX 1

"The Yankees have a lot of fans"
-Pedro Martinez

I love that quote from Pedro. I forget what year he said it, but I know it was a few seasons ago when he pitched great, got squeezed by the home plate umpire, and wound up losing a close game. Apparently, home plate umpire Bruce Froemming is one of those Yankee fans Pedro was referring to.

I don't think you can ever really blame umpires or officials for losing a game, and I'm not doing that right now. The Red Sox lost this game and have nobody to blame but themselves. However, it was easier for them to lose this game because of some horrible home plate umpiring from Bruce Froemming.

Wakefield got squeezed big time. I know with the knuckleball, it's more difficult to judge where the ball is when it crosses the plate. Sometimes, Mirabelli might catch the ball off a hop, even after it crossed the plate at the belt. But there were numerous instances when Wakefield would throw a ball that hit a corner of the strike zone, but the pitches were called balls.

In the bottom of the 4th, the count was 3-2 on Matsui with nobody on and 1 out. Wakefield's first pitch looked like it nipped the outside corner, but it was called a ball. Then the final pitch of the at-bat was at the knees, right on the outside edge of the plate, but Froemming called it a ball. Next batter, Posada, hits a two run homer into the upper deck. Blame Wakefield for the homerun, blame Froemming for that fact that it was a 2 run shot.

Leading off the bottom of the 6th, Jorge Posada up. Similar situation, 3-2 count. Wakefield throws a pitch about knee high on the inside edge of the plate, called ball 4. Posada would advance to 2nd on a groundout, and score on a weakly hit ground rule double. The ground rule double was bad luck/allowing a hitter to make contact, Posada got to second because Wakefield double clutched, but he got on base because of Bruce fucking Froemming.

Apparently, Bruce doesn't believe that on 2 strikes, hitters should be defending the plate. Apparently, he's going to give hitters the benefit of the doubt on 2 strike pitches. Wakefield wasn't getting the knees called, nor the belt called, nor the corners called. And it led to runs for the Yankees.

All of this wouldn't be a big deal if Kei Igawa and the Yankees pitchers were receiving similar treatment. BUT THEY WEREN'T! Kei was getting everything called for him, even when he missed Posada's targets by half a foot!

Then there was Coco Crisp's at-bat in the 8th. Jesus Fucking Christ! The first pitch was a ball. None of the ball crossed the plate. But it crossed right next to the plate, so it was close. The second pitch was a very nice strike by Farnsworth. Then there were three obvious balls in a row, the third of which was called strike three. Absolutely horrific call. Crisp, disgusted, slammed his bat and helmet down, and I can't blame him. Hell, I think he showed remarkable restraint considering he didn't bitch slap Bruce Froemming in the face. I mean, what could have Crisp done with that pitch if he swung and made contact? Hit a chopper to the ball attendant? That pitch was nowhere near a strike, and it ended the inning and the rally.

Crisp very well may have struck out or flew out or grounded out on the next pitch. Nevertheless, he deserved to SEE a next pitch because he didn't swing at a ball. Instead, he got punished for having a good batting eye on that pitch. Fuckig bullshit.

Anyway, another good start for Wakefield, another weak supporting cast, and another loss. Ortiz, Ramirez, and Drew went a combined 0 for 9 with 4 strikeouts, and 10 men left on base. Ortiz grounded into two huge double plays, almost in identical places on the field.

When Karstens got hit by a line drive on the first pitch, I felt as though that was a good thing for New York. Kei Igawa had been slated to pitch today. The Sox had already seen Karstens and lit him up. We had yet to face Igawa, and we hadn't prepared to face him, either.

This was a bad loss, but it isn't the end of the world. The Yankees got some fortunate calls, some fortunate hits, and we didn't get any. Derek Jeter had the softest 3 for 5 I've ever seen in my life.

The Man of the Game was Igawa who went 6 innings in relief, allowing only 2 hits and 0 runs.

Honorable Mentions:
Brian Bruney: IP, 0 H, 0 BB, K
Tim Wakefield: 5.1 IP, 3 ER
Kevin Youkilis: 2/4, BB, run

The Bitch-Goat:
Tim Wakefield: 0.2 - 3 ER
Bruce Froemming: 0.2 - horrible umpiring
David Ortiz: 0.3 - 0/3, 2 GIDP, 3 LOB
JD Drew: 0.2 - 0 for 4, 2 K, 5 LOB
Manny Ramirez: 0.1 - 0 for 2, 2 K, 2 LOB