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March 25, 2005


One season out of 1000
by SG

A few days ago, I posted the results of 1000 Diamond Mind Sims with a couple of different projection disks. With what looks like another close race looming in the AL East, I figured I'd look in depth at one of the Diamond Mind simulations that had a nice tight divisional race to see what kind of story played out.

April
At the end of the April, the Red Sox had stormed out of the gate, winning 16 of 24 games and opening up a big 7 game lead on the Yankees, who struggled in losing 15 of their first 26 games. The Yankee offense was lousy, putting up a cumulative batting line of .244/.342/.406. Alex Rodriguez in particular put up the putrid line of .191/.303/.287. The pitching staff did not help either, putting up a 5.19 ERA, with Mussina and Pavano getting pounded. Moose went 1-1, but posted a 6.67 ERA. Pavano went 0-4, with a 6.67 ERA. Could the Yankees recover from this dreadful start?

May
May went much better, as the Yankees rebounded to win 17 of 27 games. Unfortunately for them, they lost 1.5 games in the standings, as Boston continued to play well, winning 19 of their 28 games. At this point, the Yankees were looking at an 8.5 game deficit. The Yankee offense improved slightly in May, hitting .264/.343/.440. Jason Giambi clubbed 7 HRs, and Derek Jeter hit .364/.442/.586, scoring 26 runs in the process. On the pitching side, Mussina rebounded to go 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA, as the staff went 17-10 with a 4.27 ERA. Joe Torre overused Mariano Rivera, as he pitched in 14 of the 27 games, notching 5 saves, 2 wins, and posting a 2.35 ERA.

June
Things began to turn in June, as the Yankees picked up 5 games on Boston by going a whopping 20-7. The team hit a cumulative .259/.348/.445. Hideki Matsui had a monstrous(get it?) month, hitting .363/.449/.706, clubbing 10! HRs and driving in 31 runs. Jorge Posada did quite well himself, chipping in a .327/.393/.618 line. In this month, it was the pitchng staff which keyed the resurgence, chief amongst them Jaret Wright, who went 4-0 with a stellar 2.23 ERA.

through the All Star Break
With the All Star Break beginning after games of July 10, here's how the AL standings were shaping up:

                            Regular season -- through 7/11/2005

Year Team                            W    L   Pct      GB    L10  RF   RA
East
2005 Boston                         54   33  .621       -    5-5  510  408
2005 Baltimore                      51   37  .580   3 1/2    7-3  513  434
2005 New York (A)                   50   37  .575       4    4-6  461  394
2005 Toronto                        49   39  .557   5 1/2    7-3  507  454
2005 Tampa Bay                      36   53  .404      19    6-4  366  455
       
Central
2005 Minnesota                      50   37  .575       -    7-3  456  422
2005 Chicago (A)                    44   43  .506       6    4-6  446  441
2005 Cleveland                      41   47  .466   9 1/2    6-4  469  490
2005 Detroit                        36   51  .414      14    2-8  413  464
2005 Kansas City                    29   58  .333      21    1-9  383  531

West
2005 Los Angeles (A)                44   44  .500       -    5-5   L1  403
2005 Oakland                        43   44  .494     1/2    4-6   W3  445
2005 Texas                          42   45  .483   1 1/2    5-5   W1  448
2005 Seattle                        38   49  .437   5 1/2    7-3   W1  413

The team's statistics at the All Star Break:

For the offense:

                            Regular season through 7/11/2005                            

Name                 P    AVG   OBP   SPC    G   AB    H  2B  3B  HR    R  RBI   BB    K HBP  IW  SB  CS 
Escalona, F          2b  .429  .600  .714   10    7    3   2   0   0    0    0    3    1   0   0   0   0 
Posada, J#           c   .320  .395  .574   71  244   78  21   1  13   41   47   31   55   2   0   0   0 
Matsui, H*           lf  .299  .377  .528   68  254   76   9   2  15   40   56   30   45   3   1   0   0 
Jeter, D             ss  .292  .362  .491   85  342  100  26   0  14   66   49   32   56   7   0  19   3 
Sheffield, G         rf  .291  .405  .481   76  285   83  18   0  12   60   45   47   40   8   4   5   0 
Phillips, A          3b  .274  .378  .468   26   62   17   1   1   3    8    9   11    8   0   0   0   0 
Womack, T*           2b  .272  .318  .316   84  272   74   6   0   2   32   20   14   27   5   0  15   0 
Flaherty, J          c   .266  .286  .447   28   94   25   5   0   4   10   20    2   17   1   0   0   0 
Rodriguez, A         3b  .242  .332  .442   85  339   82  13   2  17   72   53   45   88   3   1  19   3 
Porter, C*           cf  .235  .316  .294    7   17    4   1   0   0    4    1    2    6   0   0   2   0 
Martinez, T*         1b  .229  .293  .329   70  240   55  10   1   4   31   30   20   33   4   0   1   0 
Williams, B#         cf  .223  .343  .388   77  260   58   9   2  10   37   39   44   49   4   3   2   0 
Giambi, J*           dh  .221  .380  .430   80  258   57   6   0  16   34   42   61   75   6   0   1   0 
Rolls, D             3b  .200  .200  .400    8    5    1   1   0   0    0    0    0    1   0   0   2   0 
Sierra, R#           lf  .192  .277  .392   41  125   24   7   0   6   15   22   15   22   0   0   0   0 
Sanchez, R           2b  .171  .216  .257   21   35    6   0   0   1    3    5    1    2   1   0   0   0 
Sprowl, J*           c   .167  .286  .167    7    6    1   0   0   0    1    0    1    1   0   0   0   0 
Crosby, B*           cf  .132  .154  .184   17   38    5   0   1   0    4    4    1    9   0   0   1   0 
Pitchers                 .038  .074  .038   87   26    1   0   0   0    3    2    0   11   1   0   0   0 
Total                    .258  .346  .432   87 2909  750 135  10 117  461  444  360  546  45   9  67   6 

For the pitching:
                            Regular season through 7/11/2005                            

Name                 P     ERA   W   L   S   G  GS  CG SHO     INN    H    R   ER   BB    K  HR GDP    BF 
Rivera, M            cl   1.37   3   2  20  35   0   0   0    39.1   22    6    6    8   31   0   3   146 
Gordon, T            mr   2.86   2   2   0  24   0   0   0    34.2   37   13   11   10   39   2   1   153 
Karsay, S            mr   2.87   0   1   0  10   0   0   0    15.2   10    6    5    6   10   3   2    60 
Brown, K             sp   3.06   5   3   0  13  13   1   0    85.1   66   31   29   31   67   5  11   345 
Sturtze, T           sp   3.25   3   1   0   4   4   1   0    27.2   22   10   10   11   14   0   4   110 
Johnson, R*          sp   3.79  10   5   0  18  18   1   0   123.1  114   55   52   27  142  14   5   508 
Rodriguez, F         mr   4.10   1   1   1  25   0   0   0    26.1   28   12   12   11   16   5   3   116 
Mussina, M           sp   4.26   8   4   0  18  18   2   0   120.1  127   60   57   27  120  15  12   503 
Wright, J            sp   4.85   9   4   0  17  17   1   0    98.1  109   58   53   41   76   5  14   433 
Groom, B*            mr   4.97   0   1   0  15   0   0   0    25.1   28   14   14    4   14   4   3   106 
Pavano, C            sp   5.77   5   9   0  17  17   4   1   110.2  143   79   71   20   64  18  11   496 
Stanton, M*          mr   5.82   1   4   2  17   0   0   0    21.2   25   16   14    9   17   4   0   100 
Quantrill, P         mr   6.03   2   0   0  19   0   0   0    31.1   40   23   21    4   17   2   1   139 
DePaula, J           mr   6.91   1   0   0   8   0   0   0    14.1   15   11   11    5    8   6   1    62 
Total                     4.25  50  37  23  87  87  10   6   774.1  786  394  366  214  635  83  71  3277


Post All Star Break July
The Yankees began the All Star Break at Fenway Park against the hated Red Sox. In the first game, Carl Pavano tried to recover from a terrible beginning to his Yankee career vs. Matt Clement whom many felt would've been a better signing, and who had begun the season 9-3 for Boston.

7/14/2005, NYA05-Bos05, Fenway Park
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 New York (A)      2  0  0  0  2  1  0  0  0     5 11  1    14  1
2005 Boston            0  0  0  2  0  0  0  0  0     2  6  1     4  0
 
New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG    Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG
Jeter             ss  6  0  2  0  .293    Damon             cf  4  0  1  0  .269       
Rodriguez,A       3b  5  2  1  0  .241    Vazquez           2b  4  1  2  0  .254       
Sheffield         rf  4  2  3  0  .298    Ortiz             dh  4  1  1  2  .291       
Matsui            lf  5  1  1  1  .297    Ramirez,M         lf  4  0  0  0  .326       
Posada            c   4  0  3  2  .327    Nixon             rf  4  0  2  0  .329       
Giambi            dh  2  0  0  1  .219    Millar            1b  4  0  0  0  .333       
Williams          cf  1  0  0  0  .222    Mueller           3b  3  0  0  0  .280       
 Crosby           pr  3  0  0  0  .122    Mirabelli         c   3  0  0  0  .232       
Martinez          1b  3  0  1  1  .230    Renteria          ss  3  0  0  0  .260       
Womack            2b  4  0  0  0  .268                         33  2  6  2             
                     37  5 11  5                                                    
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Pavano           W 6-9           8.0  5  2  2  0  8 109  74  5.54
Rivera           S 21            1.0  1  0  0  0  0  10   7  1.34
                                 9.0  6  2  2  0  8 119  81 
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Clement          L 9-4           4.0  7  4  4  4  4  81  44  3.77
Halama                           2.0  3  1  1  1  2  40  23  4.94
Kim                              3.0  1  0  0  1  5  41  28  3.32
                                 9.0 11  5  5  6 11 162  95

Pavano's masterful game pulled the Yankees within 3 games of Boston.

The excitement was building as the Yankees tried to continue their momentum as Jaret Wright faced off against Wade Miller in the second game of the series.

7/15/2005, NYA05-Bos05, Fenway Park
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 New York (A)      0  2  1  0  0  0  0  0  0     3  6  1     5  3
2005 Boston            0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0     1  4  0     6  1
 
New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG    Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG
Jeter             ss  4  0  2  0  .295    Damon             cf  4  1  2  0  .272       
Rodriguez,A       3b  4  0  0  0  .239    Bellhorn          2b  2  0  1  0  .250       
Sheffield         rf  4  1  1  0  .297    Ortiz             dh  3  0  0  0  .288       
Matsui            lf  2  1  0  0  .295    Ramirez,M         lf  4  0  0  1  .322       
Posada            c   3  1  1  1  .327    Nixon             rf  4  0  1  0  .327       
Giambi            dh  4  0  1  1  .220    Mueller           3b  3  0  0  0  .276       
Martinez          1b  4  0  0  1  .227    Petagine          1b  3  0  0  0  .250       
Crosby            cf  4  0  1  0  .133     Vazquez          ph  1  0  0  0  .252       
Womack            2b  3  0  0  0  .265    Mirabelli         c   2  0  0  0  .226       
                     32  3  6  3          Renteria          ss  3  0  0  0  .256       
                                                               29  1  4  1             
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wright           W 10-4          7.0  4  1  0  5  5 103  62  4.53
Gordon           H 7             1.0  0  0  0  0  1  14   9  2.78
Rivera           S 22            1.0  0  0  0  0  1  11   8  1.31
                                 9.0  4  1  0  5  7 128  79 
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Miller           L 3-4           8.0  6  3  3  3  6 113  70  5.54
Embree                           1.0  0  0  0  0  2  14  10  4.00
                                 9.0  6  3  3  3  8 127  80

Another fine performance by the Yankees' starter, as Wright pulled the Yankees within 2 games.

In the third game of the series, the much-maligned Kevin Brown tried to continue a great run of pitching by the Yankees.

7/16/2005, NYA05-Bos05, Fenway Park
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 New York (A)      0  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0     1  6  2    10  1
2005 Boston            0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0     0  4  1     4  0
 
New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG    Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG
Giambi            dh  3  1  1  1  .221    Damon             cf  4  0  0  0  .269       
Rodriguez,A       3b  5  0  0  0  .235    Bellhorn          2b  4  0  1  0  .250       
Sheffield         rf  3  0  0  0  .294    Ortiz             dh  4  0  1  0  .288       
Matsui            lf  4  0  2  0  .298     Stern            pr  0  0  0  0  .286       
Posada            c   3  0  1  0  .327    Ramirez,M         lf  4  0  0  0  .318       
Martinez          1b  4  0  1  0  .227    Nixon             rf  3  0  1  0  .327       
Crosby            cf  4  0  0  0  .122    Millar            1b  2  0  1  0  .335       
Womack            2b  4  0  0  0  .261    Varitek           c   3  0  0  0  .216       
 Escalona         ss  0  0  0  0  .429    Mueller           3b  3  0  0  0  .273       
Sanchez           ss  4  0  1  0  .179    Vazquez           ss  2  0  0  0  .248       
                     34  1  6  1                               29  0  4  0             
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Brown            W 6-3           7.2  3  0  0  2  8 107  67  2.81
Rivera           S 23            1.1  1  0  0  0  2  18  11  1.27
                                 9.0  4  0  0  2 10 125  78 
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wakefield        L 5-7           6.2  6  1  1  1  3 106  72  4.33
Timlin                           2.0  0  0  0  3  0  32  14  3.78
Kim                              0.1  0  0  0  0  0   1   1  3.30
                                 9.0  6  1  1  4  3 139  87

Giambi's third inning HR was all the offense Brown needed, as he and Rivera combined on a four-hit shutout to blank the Red Sox 1-0.

Could this be the Boston Massacre part 2? With the Yankees sweeping the first three games of the series to pull within one game of Boston, the two teams sent their aces to the mound. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling faced off in a much-hyped matchup that turned out to be a blowout.

7/17/2005, NYA05-Bos05, Fenway Park
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 New York (A)      0  0  3  0  0  2  0  2  0     7 11  0     6  0
2005 Boston            0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1     1  6  2     9  2
 
New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG    Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG
Jeter             ss  5  1  1  0  .294    Damon             cf  4  0  0  0  .266       
Rodriguez,A       3b  4  1  2  3  .238    Bellhorn          2b  4  0  1  0  .250       
Giambi            dh  4  0  1  0  .221    Ortiz             dh  4  0  0  0  .284       
Matsui            lf  4  0  1  0  .297    Ramirez,M         lf  4  0  2  0  .320       
Sierra            rf  4  0  0  0  .186    Renteria          ss  3  0  0  0  .252       
Martinez          1b  4  1  1  0  .227    Varitek           c   3  0  0  0  .214       
Crosby            cf  4  1  2  1  .151    Millar            1b  4  1  1  0  .333       
Womack            2b  4  0  1  0  .261    Mueller           3b  3  0  1  0  .274       
Flaherty          c   4  3  2  3  .276    Payton            rf  2  0  1  0  .327       
                     37  7 11  7           Nixon            ph  2  0  0  1  .324       
                                                               33  1  6  1             
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Johnson,Ra       W 11-5          5.1  4  0  0  2  9 105  66  3.64
Quantrill        H 1             1.2  1  0  0  1  0  28  18  5.73
Rodriguez,F                      2.0  1  1  1  0  2  20  15  4.13
                                 9.0  6  1  1  3 11 153  99 
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Schilling        L 6-5           7.0  9  5  4  2  4 106  72  3.63
Halama                           1.0  2  2  2  0  1  17  11  5.16
Tomori                           1.0  0  0  0  1  0  11   5  8.74
                                 9.0 11  7  6  3  5 134  88

Johnson pitched well, but Boston worked his pitch count enough to get him out of the game after a little more than five innings. Luckily Felix Rodriguez and Paul Quantrill were able to close out the game as the Yankee offense managed to pound seven runs off of Schilling and his replacement, John Halama. It is not known if this game caused Schilling to start crying.

July ended with the Yankees and Boston tied for the division with identical 62-42 records.

August
August saw the Yankees and Boston basically hold even, the Yankees falling 1/2 game behind Boston by going 18-11 to Boston's 18-10.

Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez paced the offense, as Giambi went .305/.445/621 with 8 HR and 23 RBI, and Rodriguez hitting .339/415/.559 with 6 HR ans 22 RBI. Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano, Mike Mussina, and Mariano Rivera each went 3-1. Rivera went through WWWMW™(What's wrong with Mariano Week) in August, with a 7.30 ERA, blowing 3 of 4 save opportunities, and allowing 6 of his 8 inherited runners to score.

September
With 1/2 game separating Boston and New York, it all came down to September. Boston began the month by winning their first 4 games, with the Yankees winning 3 of 4 games. Heading into a three game series at home with Boston on September 9, the Yankees still trailed by 1.5 games. Luckily, the Yankees were able to throw RJ vs. Wakefield in the first game, 
 
9/9/2005, Bos05-NYA05, Yankee Stadium

                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 Boston            0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0     1  6  0     6  1
2005 New York (A)      2  0  0  0  0  2  2  0  x     6  8  0     6  0
 
Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG    New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG
Damon             cf  4  0  1  1  .250    Jeter             ss  3  1  1  0  .268       
Bellhorn          2b  4  0  0  0  .239    Rodriguez,A       3b  3  1  1  2  .256       
Ortiz             dh  4  0  0  0  .287    Sheffield         rf  3  1  0  0  .299       
Ramirez,M         lf  4  0  0  0  .324    Matsui            lf  3  2  2  2  .290       
Renteria          ss  4  0  2  0  .288    Giambi            dh  3  0  1  0  .254       
Varitek           c   4  0  1  0  .235    Williams          cf  4  1  2  1  .240       
Millar            1b  4  0  1  0  .300    Flaherty          c   4  0  1  0  .228       
Mueller           3b  3  0  0  0  .262    Martinez          1b  3  0  0  1  .247       
Payton            rf  2  1  1  0  .319    Womack            2b  4  0  0  0  .270       
                     33  1  6  1                               30  6  8  6             
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wakefield        L 7-12          6.2  8  6  6  3  4 101  61  4.23
Tomori                           1.1  0  0  0  0  3  22  16  6.75
                                 8.0  8  6  6  3  7 123  77 
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Johnson,Ra       W 16-8          7.0  5  1  1  1 10 110  70  3.39
Groom                            2.0  1  0  0  0  1  32  21  4.10
                                 9.0  6  1  1  1 11 142  91

Now facing a slim 1/2 game deficit, the Yankees sent Mike Mussina to the mound to try and give the Yankees their first sole divisional lead of the season, against noted Republican and loudmouth Curt Schilling.

9/10/2005, Bos05-NYA05, Yankee Stadium

2005 Boston            0  0  1  0  0  0  2  1  0  0  0  0     4 14  0    15  1
2005 New York (A)      0  0  1  1  0  0  0  0  2  0  0  1     5 14  0    12  0
 
Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG    New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG
Damon             cf  4  1  3  1  .254    Jeter             ss  6  1  3  1  .270       
Bellhorn          2b  4  1  0  0  .237    Rodriguez,A       3b  4  2  2  0  .257       
 Petagine         ph  1  0  0  0  .268    Sheffield         rf  5  0  3  2  .303       
 Hummel           2b  0  0  0  0  .667    Matsui            lf  5  0  1  0  .289       
Ortiz             dh  6  1  2  2  .287    Posada            c   6  1  3  1  .307       
Ramirez,M         lf  5  0  2  1  .324    Giambi            dh  4  0  0  0  .252       
 Payton           rf  1  0  1  0  .322    Williams          cf  5  1  2  0  .242       
Nixon             rf  5  0  1  0  .303    Martinez          1b  4  0  0  0  .244       
 Stern            lf  1  0  1  0  .381    Womack            2b  5  0  0  0  .268       
Millar            1b  6  0  1  0  .298     Sanchez          2b  0  0  0  0  .216       
Varitek           c   6  0  0  0  .232                         44  5 14  4             
Mueller           3b  5  1  1  0  .261                                              
Renteria          ss  2  0  1  0  .289                                              
 Vazquez          ph  3  0  1  0  .246                                              
                     49  4 14  4                                                    
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Schilling                        4.1  9  2  2  2  2  85  53  3.16
Halama                           0.2  0  0  0  1  1  13   6  5.09
Mantei                           1.0  1  0  0  0  2  11   8  5.63
Embree           H 10            1.0  0  0  0  0  1  11   8  3.25
Kershner         H 3             1.0  0  0  0  0  0  11   7  7.18
Foulke           BS 7            1.0  2  2  2  1  2  33  17  3.07
Timlin           L 4-3           2.0  2  1  1  1  0  21  12  3.36
                                11.0 14  5  5  5  8 185 111 
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Mussina                          6.0  4  1  1  5  6 120  77  3.76
Gordon           BS 6            1.0  3  2  2  0  0  20  13  3.18
Rodriguez,F                      2.0  3  1  1  1  2  46  29  3.40
Rivera           W 8-3           3.0  4  0  0  0  6  52  35  2.38
                                12.0 14  4  4  6 14 238 154


After six solid innings by Mussina, the Yankees turned a 2-1 lead over to Flash Gordon. However, a Johnny Damon single was followed by a Mark Bellhorn groundout, bringing up the dangerous David Ortiz. Ortiz cranked a homer into the short porch in right, giving Boston a 3-2 lead. Gordon got out of the inning, but the damage was done.

Alan Embree cruised through Matsui, Posada, and Giambi in the bottom of the seventh.

In the top of the eighth, Felix Rodriguez attempted to hold Boston. A single by Mueller, a walk by Ramon Vazquez, and a double by Johnny Damon got Boston a big insurance run. September callup Jason Kershner retired Bernie, Tino, and Womack 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth.

Boston failed to score in the top of the ninth, giving the Yankees the daunting task of scoring two runs off Keith Foulke in one inning. Derek Jeter led off the inning with a double down the third base line (he is clutch after all). Foulke then threw a wild pitch moving Jeter to third. A flustered Foulke walked Alex Rodriguez on a 3-1 pitch, bringing up Gary Sheffield. Another wild pitch scored Jeter and moved Rodriguez to second. Sheffield then followed with another double, putting the winning run on second with no outs, and Matsui, Posada and Giambi coming up. However, Foulke sacked up, fanning Matsui and Posada, then inducing a popup to short from Giambi. On to extra innings.

It was Mariano time for the Yankees, as Joe Torre brought him in to keep Boston scoreless. Boston asked Mike Timlin to do the same. Rivera pitched three shutout innings, and Timlin matched him in the 10th and 11th. Then, in a scene eerily reminiscent of Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Jorge Posada led of the bottom of the 12th with a game winning HR, putting the Yankees into sole possession of first place for the first time.

That lasted for one day, as Boston managed to come back the following day.

9/11/2005, Bos05-NYA05, Yankee Stadium
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 Boston            2  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  6     8 12  0    10  1
2005 New York (A)      0  0  0  0  0  4  0  0  0     4  6  2     5  0
 
Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG    New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG
Damon             cf  4  1  1  0  .254    Jeter             ss  4  1  1  0  .270       
Bellhorn          2b  3  1  1  2  .238    Rodriguez,A       3b  3  1  0  0  .256       
Ortiz             dh  5  2  2  1  .288    Sheffield         rf  4  1  2  4  .304       
Ramirez,M         lf  4  0  1  1  .324    Matsui            lf  3  0  2  0  .291       
 Stern            lf  0  0  0  0  .381    Posada            c   4  0  1  0  .306       
Millar            1b  5  1  1  0  .296    Williams          cf  4  0  0  0  .239       
Payton            rf  5  1  1  0  .320    Giambi            dh  4  0  0  0  .249       
Mirabelli         c   4  1  2  4  .240    Martinez          1b  3  0  0  0  .243       
Youkilis          3b  4  0  1  0  .214    Womack            2b  3  1  0  0  .266       
Renteria          ss  5  1  2  0  .290                         32  4  6  4             
                     39  8 12  8                                                    
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wells                            5.0  4  4  4  2  6  75  46  3.97
Mantei                           2.0  1  0  0  1  3  30  17  5.36
Timlin           W 5-3           2.0  1  0  0  1  0  17  10  3.24
                                 9.0  6  4  4  4  9 122  73 
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Pavano                           7.0  6  2  2  2  2 121  81  5.16
Stanton          H 4, L 1-6      1.1  4  3  2  0  1  31  20  6.23
Groom            BS 1            0.1  2  3  0  1  0  13   6  4.07
DePaula                          0.1  0  0  0  0  0   1   1  7.04
                                 9.0 12  8  4  3  3 166 108

An exhausted Yankee bullpen had to try and use Mike Stanton and Buddy Groom to preserve a two run lead.

The Yankees fell another half game behind Boston heading into the final series of the season, and trailed Boston by one game heading into Fenway for a three game set.

The Yankees managed to pull even with Boston in the first game of the series thanks to Kevin Brown's 10th win of the season.

9/30/2005, NYA05-Bos05, Fenway Park
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 New York (A)      0  0  1  4  1  1  2  1  0    10 12  0     7  0
2005 Boston            0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  2     3  9  3     7  2
 
New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG    Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG
Jeter             ss  5  0  0  1  .264    Damon             cf  5  0  0  0  .250       
Giambi            dh  4  0  0  0  .250    Bellhorn          2b  4  0  0  0  .236       
Sheffield         rf  5  2  2  2  .296    Ortiz             dh  4  0  1  0  .287       
Matsui            lf  4  2  2  0  .289    Millar            1b  3  1  1  0  .278       
Posada            c   3  2  0  0  .296    Nixon             rf  4  1  2  1  .299       
Martinez          1b  4  1  1  0  .247    Mueller           3b  4  1  2  2  .264       
Phillips          3b  5  2  3  3  .314    Payton            lf  4  0  0  0  .296       
Crosby            cf  5  1  2  2  .189    Mirabelli         c   3  0  2  0  .238       
Womack            2b  4  0  2  2  .269    Renteria          ss  4  0  1  0  .302       
                     39 10 12 10                               35  3  9  3             
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Brown            W 10-7          7.0  6  1  1  2  6  95  61  3.64
Groom                            2.0  3  2  2  0  0  34  20  4.02
                                 9.0  9  3  3  2  6 129  81 
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wakefield        L 8-15          4.1  4  6  1  3  0  72  38  4.43
Kershner                         2.0  3  2  2  0  1  38  27  6.40
Tomori                           1.1  4  2  2  1  0  27  16  6.53
Kim                              1.1  1  0  0  0  1  16  11  3.36
                                 9.0 12 10  5  4  2 153  92


In Game 2, another Johnson vs. Schilling matchup led to another Yankee win.

10/1/2005, NYA05-Bos05, Fenway Park
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 New York (A)      0  0  0  0  0  0  3  0  0     3  7  0     5  1
2005 Boston            0  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  0     1  4  0     4  0
 
New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG    Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG
Jeter             ss  4  0  2  1  .266    Damon             cf  4  0  0  0  .248       
Rodriguez,A       3b  3  0  1  0  .262    Bellhorn          2b  4  0  1  0  .236       
Sheffield         rf  4  0  0  0  .293    Ortiz             dh  4  0  1  0  .286       
Giambi            dh  4  0  0  0  .248    Ramirez,M         lf  4  0  0  0  .326       
Posada            c   4  0  0  0  .294    Renteria          ss  2  1  0  0  .300       
Sierra            lf  4  0  0  0  .211    Varitek           c   3  0  0  0  .228       
Williams          cf  4  1  2  0  .250    Millar            1b  2  0  1  1  .279       
Martinez          1b  4  1  1  1  .247    Mueller           3b  3  0  1  0  .264       
Womack            2b  3  1  1  1  .269    Payton            rf  3  0  0  0  .293       
                     34  3  7  3                               29  1  4  1             
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Johnson,Ra       W 19-9          8.1  4  1  1  3  7 113  64  3.07
Gordon           S 3             0.2  0  0  0  0  0   4   2  2.95
                                 9.0  4  1  1  3  7 117  66 
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Schilling        L 15-8          6.2  6  3  3  1  5 115  75  2.98
Timlin                           2.1  1  0  0  0  2  31  20  3.12
                                 9.0  7  3  3  1  7 146  95

The final game of the season came down to Mike Mussina vs. former Yankee David Wells, going for his 20th victory. A win by Boston would force a tie in the AL East. 

10/2/2005, NYA05-Bos05, Fenway Park
 
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
2005 New York (A)      0  2  0  0  4  0  2  1  0     9 14  0     4  0
2005 Boston            1  2  0  0  0  0  1  0  0     4 10  0     7  0
 
New York (A)         AB  R  H BI   AVG    Boston               AB  R  H BI   AVG
Jeter             ss  5  2  2  0  .267    Damon             cf  5  2  2  0  .250       
Rodriguez,A       3b  5  1  1  0  .261    Vazquez           2b  3  0  0  0  .238       
Sheffield         rf  5  2  2  5  .294     Petagine         ph  1  0  1  0  .244       
Matsui            lf  5  1  1  0  .288     Hummel           ss  1  0  0  0  .500       
Posada            c   4  2  2  0  .295    Ortiz             dh  2  0  1  2  .287       
Williams          cf  4  0  1  0  .250    Ramirez,M         lf  4  0  1  0  .325       
Giambi            dh  4  0  1  1  .248    Nixon             rf  2  1  1  0  .300       
Martinez          1b  4  1  2  1  .249     Payton           ph  1  0  0  0  .292       
Womack            2b  4  0  2  2  .271    Millar            1b  3  0  1  0  .279       
                     40  9 14  9          Varitek           c   4  0  1  1  .228       
                                          Mueller           3b  4  1  1  0  .264       
                                          Renteria          ss  3  0  1  1  .300       
                                           Bellhorn         2b  1  0  0  0  .236       
                                                               34  4 10  4             
 
New York (A)                     INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Mussina          W 15-6          6.1  9  4  3  1  6 103  70  3.86
Stanton                          2.2  1  0  0  1  0  39  24  5.52
                                 9.0 10  4  3  2  6 142  94 
 
Boston                           INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wells            L 19-8          4.1  9  6  6  0  4  80  55  4.25
Halama                           0.2  0  0  0  0  1  10   6  4.93
Mantei                           2.0  2  2  2  0  1  29  18  4.86
Kim                              2.0  3  1  1  0  3  27  18  3.39
                                 9.0 14  9  9  0  9 146  97

And with that game, the Yankees clinch the AL East by two games.


Team                            W    L   Pct      GB   RF   RA 
American League
East
New York (A)                   99   63  .611       -  884  702 
Boston                         97   65  .599       2  910  733 
Baltimore                      88   74  .543      11  901  819 
Toronto                        85   77  .525      14  907  828 
Tampa Bay                      74   88  .457      25  702  815


The Yankee hitters' final season line:

S Name               P    AVG   OBP   SPC    G   AB    H  2B  3B  HR    R  RBI   BB    K HBP  IW  SB  CS 
  Escalona           2b  .316  .409  .421   23   19    6   2   0   0    1    1    3    3   0   0   0   0 
  Phillips           3b  .314  .394  .523   35   86   27   4   1   4   14   16   12   15   0   0   0   0 
  Posada#            c   .295  .396  .525  124  440  130  30   1  23   76   72   71   88   5   2   3   1 
  Sheffield          rf  .294  .401  .522  147  557  164  28   0  33  112  100   88   72  13   7   7   3 
  Matsui*            lf  .288  .371  .485  138  534  154  29   2  24   83   94   67   91   5   1   1   1 
  Rolls              3b  .286  .375  .429   14    7    2   1   0   0    0    1    1    1   0   0   2   0 
  Womack*            2b  .271  .310  .306  159  539  146  13   0   2   56   47   27   62   5   0  30   3 
  Jeter              ss  .267  .334  .434  158  645  172  38   2  22  114   82   55  112  13   0  34   4 
  Rodriguez,A        3b  .261  .344  .468  156  643  168  33   2  32  130  105   79  142   5   2  31   6 
  Williams#          cf  .250  .373  .406  132  448  112  18   2  16   77   64   84   77   5   3   3   0 
  Martinez*          1b  .249  .313  .359  145  518  129  22   1  11   62   77   43   72  10   0   1   0 
  Giambi*            dh  .248  .393  .483  151  516  128  20   1  33   84   89  116  146   8   0   1   2 
  Flaherty           c   .235  .265  .413   54  179   42   8   0   8   20   30    6   29   2   0   0   0 
  Sanchez            2b  .228  .279  .351   32   57   13   1   0   2    8    9    3    5   1   0   0   0 
  Sierra#            lf  .211  .282  .443   62  194   41   9   0  12   26   38   20   31   0   0   3   0 
  Porter*            cf  .192  .276  .269   14   26    5   2   0   0    4    4    3    9   0   0   2   0 
  Crosby*            cf  .189  .225  .287   43  122   23   1   1   3   12   11    5   20   1   0   2   0 
  Sprowl*            c   .182  .250  .182   13   11    2   0   0   0    2    0    1    3   0   0   0   0 
  Pitchers               .038  .074  .038  162   26    1   0   0   0    3    2    0   11   1   0   0   0 
  Total                  .263  .349  .436  162 5567 1465 259  13 225  884  842  684  989  74  15 120  20 

And, for the pitchers:


S Name               P     ERA   W   L   S   G  GS  CG SHO     INN    H    R   ER   BB    K  HR GDP    BF 
  Sturtze            sp   2.81   4   1   0   6   6   1   0    41.2   32   13   13   14   21   2   5   167 
  Rivera             cl   2.86   9   4  30  59   0   0   0    72.1   60   23   23   21   67   4   6   290 
  Gordon             mr   2.95   5   2   3  44   0   0   0    64.0   64   25   21   18   75   5   2   279 
  Johnson,Ra*        sp   3.07  19   9   0  33  33   5   2   234.1  190   86   80   45  281  21   6   940 
  Rodriguez,F        mr   3.15   2   1   2  37   0   0   0    45.2   47   16   16   18   39   5   6   198 
  Karsay             mr   3.33   0   2   0  16   0   0   0    24.1   18   10    9    7   15   4   3    94 
  Brown              sp   3.64  10   7   0  28  28   3   0   185.2  171   79   75   51  140  17  17   768 
  Mussina            sp   3.86  15   6   0  31  31   4   1   205.0  200   96   88   48  197  25  15   848 
  Groom*             mr   4.02   1   2   3  29   0   0   0    47.0   52   24   21    6   28   9   5   198 
  Quantrill          mr   4.20   4   1   0  36   0   0   0    64.1   80   33   30    7   33   2   8   274 
  Wright             sp   4.88  16   8   0  32  32   2   0   193.2  223  113  105   68  160  13  29   844 
  Pavano             sp   5.16  11  13   0  32  32   9   1   219.2  256  136  126   35  122  32  17   951 
  Stanton*           mr   5.52   2   7   3  33   0   0   0    44.0   49   30   27   18   37   7   1   199 
  DePaula            mr   7.04   1   0   0  16   0   0   0    23.0   25   18   18    7   18   9   1   100 
  Total                   4.01  99  63  41 162 162  24  10  1464.2 1467  702  652  363 1233 155 121  6150


There are some weird numbers in there on both sides. Sturtze didn't get any relief appearances for some reason, I'll have to see why that is. Also, Rodriguez had a lousy season by his standards, a bit surprising to me. Pavano was horrendous. I find this very encouraging actually, The Yankees won the division despite some pretty bad performances.

I don't know if anyone else will find this interesting, but I figured I'd throw it up here for the hell of it.

Update: I made a site using Diamond Mind's web report generation feature if anyone wants to see how other teams/players did.

--posted at 8:00 AM by SG / |