Watching the Yankees lose to the Red Sox tonight reminds me that several times this year I have written how Joe Torre over-manages and then overly relies on just a few of his bullpen pitchers. Grady Little on the other hand, used his bullpen more wisely and that was the story of the game and the series.

First, let's discuss Torre's decisions. The Red Sox are the best hitting team in baseball. All weekend long I kept thinking that the Red Sox might have the best top to bottom lineup I've ever seen. There are no holes and no weaknesses. That being said, you have a pitcher who hasn't had much success this year handcuffing the Red Sox with only two hits while allowing no runs. Weaver gets the first out and then walks a batter and hits the next one.

In my mind, he's still your man because the double-play is still in order and Jason Veritek is a much better hitter right-handed and had to bat left against Weaver. He is also the only Yankee pitcher, and one of the few pitchers all year, that has handcuffed that great lineup. Torre should have left Weaver in there for one more batter. He didn't and brought in Jeff (feather ball) Hammond. Ballgame over.

Watching the Red Sox tonight was impressive. The lineup speaks for itself. The bullpen looks solid. But what is more evident than anything else is how close they are as a team and how emotionally they are playing. I've never seen a baseball team that hugs each other more than the Red Sox. They seem to pull for each other and root for each other. I can't imagine this team with Carl Everett still playing outfield for them. If the Red Sox pull it off and make it to the playoffs and beyond, they deserve to win because they really are a team. Heck, even Manny Ramirez looks like family.


Sammy Sosa hit his 521st homerun today to tie Willie McCovey and Ted Williams on the all-time list. Sosa's current run is remarkable and furious and indicitive of the fury of his career. Sammy is batting over .300 and is up to 22 homers and 61 RBI after missing a quarter of the season. Way to go, Sammy!


The top stories tonight to the Fan were the fifteenth straight win by Roy Halladay and the seventh straight win by Royals' pitcher, Jose Lima. Halladay has been outstanding and if he holds up should easily win the Cy Young award. I remember when he first came up and the Yankees used to cuff him around. Not anymore.

Jose Lima's rise back to top form has been remarkable. Starting a few years ago with Houston, Lima became the easiest pitcher to hit in baseball. After a year when he went 21-10, Lima put three of the worst years of pitching history together with ERA's of 6.65, 5.54 and 7.77 together. His three year record was 19-40! Right now he is 7-0 with a 2.37 ERA. Remarkable...and fun...and another reason why MLB is the best game there is.