Yankee Fans Reach New Low ; Time to Protect Youkilis
It doesn’t take long to get over a 1-0 loss. Games decided by 1 run are more a result of luck than anything else. One team gets a break, the other doesn’t. If Lowell’s single off the monster is 2 feet higher and Giambi isn’t hitting into the shift the we’re talking about Beckett’s great game and not Chamberlain’s.
What’s tougher to get over (and understand) is Chamberlain’s almost pathological need to hit Youkilis in the head; tonight’s knockdown pitch being the 4th in the past 2 seasons. At this point only an idiot would believe Chamberlain’s denials. Each time it’s been Youkilis, each time Chamberlain’s had pinpoint control up to losing it against Youkilis, and each time it’s been at Youkilis’ head.
For a fan base that freaks out every time a pitch is near Jeter’s wrists, I haven’t read a single Yankee fan reaction that calls out Chamberlain on this nonsense. Most seem to be taking great joy in Chamberlain’s headhunting. Yankee blogs are following suit. Ben K. from riveraveblues called Chamberlain’s attempts to behead Youkilis “The best part of the outing”. You stay classy Ben. Peter Abraham applauded Chamberlain saying “Good. The rivalry has been a little tame lately. Enough of this namby-pamby everybody is friends stuff”. Abraham goes on to compare Chamberlain to Clemens, a player Abraham worships. I hope both Ben K. and Abraham continue their enthusiastic approval if Jeter ends up with a fastball in his ear*.
If this was Beckett or Schilling Yankee fans and bloggers would be calling for their heads. The hypocrisy is deafening. I’ve long thought that when it came to fans there was more anger on the Red Sox side; years of coming through short taking it’s toll. After reading the reactions to Chamberlain’s headhunting last night I no longer believe that to be true. There’s a large portion of the Yankee fan base that is as classless and ugly as any on the Red Sox side. And they’re growing.
It’s time for Francona to protect Youkilis. Enough’s enough.
Other thoughts:
- Both Jacoby and Lowell were struck out with pitches 6 inches off the plate. Rivera is tough to hit; impossible when you give him half a foot to play with. In the ninth inning of a 1 run game the call against Lowell was inexcusable.
- Varitek once again was abysmal at the plate, while Ellsbury added nothing from the leadoff spot. At this point both are painful to watch hit; watching Casey rot on the bench while they squander scoring opportunities is a nightmare.
* No, I don’t think the Sox will pick Jeter to retaliate. I’m guessing A-Rod.
