A Productive Loss
The Red Sox might have lost Friday night's game, but they forced the Yankees to empty out their bullpen. I say they forced them, but what it was more like an overreaction.
Bruney - 1.0 IP
Farnsworth - 1.0 IP
Proctor - 0.1 IP
Villone - 0.0 IP (2 pitches)
Rivera - 0.2 IP
Joe Torre, managing from the clubhouse walkway after being thrown out of the game earlier, had acting manager Don Mattingly use 6 relievers!
Myers - 0.1 IP
Bruney - 1.0 IP
Farnsworth - 1.0 IP
Proctor - 0.1 IP
Villone - 0.0 IP (2 pitches)
Rivera - 0.2 IP
What's going on? Don't the Yankees have a long reliever? Wang left with a 6 run lead in the 6th. The Red Sox got 2 more runs before eventually losing 9-5. So Torre thought he needed 6 relievers to hold the Red Sox for 2 runs.
When you get a 6 run lead, you bring in your long reliever/mop-up guy. For the Red Sox it is Kyle Snyder. Prior to tonight, Snyder had only pitched in 16 games. Because he had pitched 1.1 IP two nights prior, he only went 1 IP Friday. But he and only 3 other relievers covered 5.1 IP. The Yankees 6 relievers covered 3.1 IP.
My point is, Torre overreacted and used 6 relievers from a bullpen that is already on life support. That's good news for Boston I would think.
Let's hope for a better effort Saturday from the Red Sox.
