TBS aired the opening game of a day-night doubleheader between the Red Sox and Yankees today. It was a game where the Yankees won once again putting the American League Wild Card into a half-game margin between the Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.
We have quotes from MLB on Deck, then the game itself.
Notes from Sunday MLB on TBS – September 25, 2011
TBS’ exclusive coverage of MLB’s Division Series gets underway on Friday, Sept. 30.
***** ***** ***** ***** *****
TBS MLB on Deck
Matt Winer, Dennis Eckersley, Cal Ripken and David WellsEckersley on the Red Sox struggling down the stretch: “This is incredible what it’s come to…a one-day playoff maybe. The Red Sox have to at least split today.”
Ripken on the Sox: “It feels like the start of the season when the Red Sox started out 0-6 and everyone had their shoulders down and they were miserable. This has got to be more miserable the way they are finishing up here.”
Eckersley on Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield and the starting pitching: “To me the pressure is on the starting pitcher Tim Wakefield. This is going to be the start of his life. The Red Sox have been scoring galore…but the starting pitching has been absolutely killing the Boston Red Sox.”
Eckersley continues on the struggles of the Red Sox: “This thing has totally gotten away from them. They did so many things differently in the beginning of September, resting guys, not really worrying about [their] rotation. Next thing you know, you’ve got Wakefield, Lackey, Miller and Weiland…this is scary business.
Ripken comments on Red Sox making the playoffs: “If they make the playoffs, they’ve got a chance to do really well.”
Eckersley on Atlanta and they’re struggles: “Atlanta just can’t get it done. They cannot score, so you better not give up anything.”
Ripken comments on the Phillies and Atlanta series starting this week: “It could be a big deal to play the Phillies. The Phillies are going to have to win some games going into the playoffs and they’re going to get a little more serious. They’ve had a long time since they’ve had a meaningful game so this series could be meaningful for Philadelphia. For Atlanta, stop sweating and say ‘Hey, we’re in the driver’s seat – two games in the loss column – let’s just win two games.”
Wells on Atlanta not playing .500 baseball and needing to win two in the last four games: “Their problem is their pitching except for [starter] Tim Hudson and the bullpen. The big gap in-between is wreaking havoc on these guys.”
Eckersley on Atlanta’s problems: “The problem with Atlanta is offensively. They’ve got to be able to score some runs. You’ve got to give your starting pitchers some runs.”
Ripken on Atlanta: “I think they will still limp in but I have more concerns about them [Atlanta] than Boston going into the playoffs very deep.”
Eckersley on his winning the MVP and Cy Young in 1992: “If there is anybody, this is the year this guy [Justin Verlander] deserves to be considered for the MVP. He’s having a better year than I ever had. Personally, I think the award should go to an everyday player…but I’m not giving my award back. I think it really deserves to go to an everyday player.”
Ripken, Eckersley and Wells make AL and NL Cy Young and MVP predictions:
AL Cy Young: Eckersley, Wells and Ripken – Verlander
AL MVP: Wells – Verlander, Eckersley – Jacoby Ellsbury, Ripken: “If I were starting a team from scratch who would be your number one pick? Mine would be Verlander.”
NL Cy Young: Wells – Clayton Kershaw, Eckersley- Kershaw, Ripken – Kershaw
Wells on Kershaw: “He does not shy away from anyone. He’s a total gamer even with the problems they’ve had with the Dodgers.”
Ripken on Kershaw: “Kershaw deserves it. It’s not about winning or losing, it’s the best pitcher in the league.”
NL MVP: Wells – Matt Kemp, Eckersley – Kemp, Ripken – Ryan BraunEckersley on Boston’s Tim Wakefield starting today’s game: “This could be his [Wakefield] last start as a Red Sox. This one [his start] could go [be remembered] for the rest of his life. This is a big start.”
Announcers:
Matt Vasgersian and Ron Darling at Yankee Stadium.Darling on the Red Sox slide: “They’re going to have to have better pitching.Wakefield and Lackey are going to have to be so much better. They have to turn it up a notch, maybe two notches.”
Darling on Red Sox Jacoby Ellsbury: “He is at the top of the list when you’re talking about MVP.”
Darling on Yankees pitcher A.J. Burnett: “He’s a guy who has always struggled with the ability to find the right mechanics to locate his fastball on both sides of the plate. His mechanics are such that he hides the baseball so well but they’re not repeatable. When you watch Burnett…he never can get where he’s repeating his mechanics….”
Darling on what he would do in between games of the doubleheader if he were on the Red Sox: “I would find a room somewhere in the stadium and have a meal as a team, maybe just sit around and enjoy each other’s company – get away from baseball for an hour or hour-and-a-half.”
That will do it for now.
