Game 1 to the Sox

First of all I'm a little peeved by the headline in this morning's local newspaper -- "Yanks are a Bit Too Giving". It leads people to believe that the game was handed to the Sox. True, the Sox benefited from a miscue by the Yankee catcher and pitcher but that certainly was not the game.

Clay Buchholz was very efficient. The sequence of the game was when the Sox are up 4-1 and Scutaro fields a ground ball behind second base and inexplicably tries to glove toss the ball to Lowrie covering for the force out. Fielder's choice, E-6. First and second no one out. Instead of unraveling, Buc gets a double play grounder (nice play by Lowell) and strikeout. What did Vasquez (2004 ALCS game 7 starter)do when that pop up is not fielded? Walks two consecutive batters and allows a two run double to Scutaro. That my friends is the difference. It is not the error but how the pitcher responds after the miscue.

Big Papi's first inning homer got the team on the board and then Ryan Kalish (making an excellent first impression, not sure he is Trot Nixon reincarnated. Looks like a far better defender)hits a two run shot off of Vasquez for his first major league homer.

Bottom line is our starting pitcher out pitched their starter. Most games are decided by this. The Yankees did not hand the game to the Sox.

Today's match up is key for the Yanks. Sabathia vs Lackey is a must win for them. If the Sox can take two out of the next three, they still have a legit shot at the playoffs despite all of these injuries.

A couple of observations:

-- Great catch by Ellsbury in the eighth. Fell right onto those injured ribs. He did not look 100% before or after that.

-- Comical how far Joba has fallen. I'm sure when the organization was limiting his pitches, the infamous Joba Rules, they did not envision him pitching in the sixth inning of an important game. Why not show his dad in the stands last night?

--Not sure I want the team to trade for Casey Kotchman again. Reportedly, Carlos Delgado worked out for the team yesterday. That may be the better addition to platoon with Lowell at first base.

-- Joe Girardi, really? Aside from the fact that he is forty something years old and wearing braces, what does he do except stand there with his arms folded during games?

-- Classic at bat from Jeter in the ninth. It is so hard not to respect him.