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Yeah, so the Boston Red Sox got a one game lead in the AL East. Rookie Josh Reddick got the game ending single, driving home David Ortiz. Mariano Rivera blew the save, which was probably the most amazing thing about this game, leaving Phil Hughes to complete the self destruct mode and complete the Boston comeback. At that point, four hours and 15 minutes since I started watching the game, I really didn’t care anymore.
That was Rivera’s fifth blown save this season, matching up with his 2010 number, with his current 85% success rate the lowest he’s had since 1997. Yeah, he still scares the hell out of hitters with the cutter. But at 41, you can’t be surprised he’s giving up a bit more runs than usual. Out of his 72 career blown saves, 14 have come against the Red Sox. Food for thought before the post season, with a very likely possibility of another series between these mega rivals.
But at that point, the ninth inning, I didn’t really care anymore. I wouldn’t forgive myself for staying this long with the game and quitting without watching the “thrilling” end. I like Baseball, and I even love long epic movies and TV shows, if they’re good. And yesterday’s game, despite the pitching duel, was barely good.
Josh Beckett, one fire recently, pitched six fantastic innings, but didn’t get the win. With all the usual stat to look at, it came down to the Yankees’ hitting, or non hitting, with runners in scoring positions. How bad? 0-10. That bad. The Red Sox? 4-12. Reddick’s 1-3 was the one that counted. Marco Scutaro was in the zone, with 4-4, 1 RBI. Derek Jeter? 0-4. Jorge Posada? Just angry. Eric Chavez, taking over the DH spot, was 0-4 as well.
The Red Sox have enough fire power to beat the Yankees. They completed their first win of the regular season series for the first time since 2004. That year when they ended the World Series drought. Signs for the future? Too soon to tell. The pitching isn’t good enough, but the Yankees can’t count on too many pitchers these days as well. The great pitching, at least in the regular season, is in Philadelphia and San Francisco. But I’m getting ahead of myself and the season.
There are plenty things to argue about regarding Baseball, past and future. Old Schoolers, purists or whatever, against those demanding change, thinking Baseball is a bit, archaic. A DH, yes or no. Pitchers should hit, yes or no. More inter league play, or just cancel it completely. There will be changes in divisions pretty soon I guess, but the game needs more than just structural change. A timer to start speeding up play and limit the amount of time pitchers do whatever the do between throws. Hitters take too much time outs to wipe their brow.Yesterday was an extra innings game I know.
Baseball doesn’t have that much happening in it to keep you captivated for over four hours. Maybe 150 minutes, three hours tops. It gets excruciating afterwards. And I don’t want to feel tormented by the end of a baseball game. Even if its for the lead in the AL East, even if its the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
19 responses to “Baseball Games Shouldn’t Be This Long (Yankees vs Red Sox)”
[…] Baseball Games Shouldn't Be This Long (Yankees vs Red Sox)SportigeYeah, so the Boston Red Sox got a one game lead in the AL East. Rookie Josh Reddick got the game ending single, driving home David Ortiz. Mariano Rivera blew the save, which was probably the most amazing thing about this game, leaving Phil Hughes to …Rivera Falters in Ninth and Yankees Fall Out of FirstNew York TimesRichly deservedBoston GlobeRed Sox have Yankees' number this yearFOXSports.comNew York Magazine -SI.com -Los Angeles Timesall 2,224 news articles » […]
[…] http://sportige.com/yankees-red-sox-2011/ […]
go back to the movies if you want to stage everything in life
What is your hurry? Did you have someplace to be last night? Or do you just not get it that baseball runs counter to the clock? ESPN even joked about the length at the beginning. BTW, there is an off switch on your remote.
ADHD is a very sad disease.
If you don’t like a long game, don’t watch. Sox/Yankee games are notoriously (and gloriously) slow. Honestly, I didn’t even notice that Beckett was taking up to 30 seconds between pitches. Football and basketball have play clocks. Baseball shouldn’t.
Just say that you don’t like baseball and move on.
[…] Baseball Games Shouldn’t Be This Long (Yankees vs Red Sox) – Sportige GD Star Ratingloading…GD Star Ratingloading…Share […]
Who made you stay up?
We have choices, you could have turned off ESPN at any time.
There are no time limits in baseball and millions of people still enjoy this past time.
What about the thousands of fans in the stands shouting Poppy?
I do not think the game was too long for them.
to have a game go until almost 1230AM on a Sunday night is absurd. first they both take too long between pitches and baseball lets them do that. to start a game at 8p means best case it ends at 11, far to late for kids to watch and same for the fans there live. a kid attending last nights game probably didnt get home until 130a. that is totally unnecessary for a baseball game. oh wait, its all about ESPN advertisers, oh now it makes sense. i say we should all boycott baseball after 10p just turn the game off. ratings will drop and then they might wake up and realize viewers and fans actually matter.
It’s boring even when it’s only 2 hours.
It’d be excruciatingly boring at only 20 minutes.
Baseball is the only sport where time stands still and doesn’t matter, except to the people who want every second of life scripted and planned. Go watch soccer, or is 90 minutes to long to pay attention. No one forces you to watch it anyway.
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[…] Baseball Games Shouldn't Be This Long (Yankees vs Red Sox)SportigeI like Baseball, and I even love long epic movies and TV shows, if they're good. And yesterday's game, despite the pitching duel, was barely good. Josh Beckett, one fire recently, pitched six fantastic innings, but didn't get the win. …Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry: Why It's Bad for Major League BaseballBleacher ReportSox-Yanks Score Highest Ratings of Season for Sunday Night Baseballmediabistro.comThe Worst Weekend in Baseball History: An Irrational, Reactionary Yankees Fan …Grantland (blog)WEEI.com -Boston Herald -MLB.comall 2,252 news articles » […]
Bobby Valentine was right. Read the rule book and then time Beckett. He violates the rule….he’s lame….he cheats….just like that other Boston cheater Bill BelliCheat. Facts are facts…and only lamers would defend either one of these known, caught and proven cheaters.
[…] people were saying how the AL East race didn’t matter because both the Sox and Yankees were destined to meet in the ALCS anyway. As of today, I’m not so sure. How great would it be if the Rays can come […]
[…] slowness, more intellectual play of baseball. Hell, we even got angry because of some long games, after a Red Sox – Yankees Borefest in August. Long games suck when their long, uneventful, with no peak moments. Game six, this series and this […]
[…] people were saying how the AL East race didn’t matter because both the Sox and Yankees were destined to meet in the ALCS anyway. As of today, I’m not so sure. How great would it be if the Rays can come […]