Recapping Jonathan Papelbon's Awful Night In The Bronx

I have been a big fan of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series. With the exception of a maybe two, I think all of the stories have been absolutely fascinating.

One of the ones I have particularly liked was the “Guru of Go.” It is about the story of Paul Westhead, his “system,” and the Loyola Marymount Basketball team that featured Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers.

If  you are a college basketball fan like I am, that 1990 LMU team was one that you will always remember. You remember them for their high scoring offense and of course, the tragedy of Gathers passing away.

What I found fascinating about the “Guru of Go” was how Westhead used Shakespeare to relate to his team. Since I saw that piece, I have been wanting to use a Shakespeare quote in an article, but was waiting for the right time.

Well, I think I found the right time.

“Is this a dagger which I see before me” – MacBeth

Yes, it is. And that dagger was delivered by the New York Yankees straight into the heart of Red Sox Nation. The Boston Red Sox had a chance to win a season defining game last night and Jonathan Papelbon had a meltdown in the Bronx.

There was no celebrating for Papelbon last night

The Red Sox looked dead after the first. They were down 5-0 before my pasta was done boiling. However, they battled all the way back thanks to some clutch hitting by JD Drew, Victor Martinez, and Kevin Youkilis and some awesome relief work by Mr. Reliable Tim Wakefield.

The Red Sox entered the ninth with a 9-7 lead and then all heck broke loose. Let’s look at what transpired in the ninth inning last night.

1. Brett Gardner. I wrote on Twitter as the ninth inning started that Gardner was the key to the inning. Papelbon needed to get this guy out and failed to do so.

Papelbon inexplicably fell behind 3-1, battled back to 3-2, and then Garnder doubled to left. I will only partially blame Papelbon for this one.

First, there is no way you can fall behind to a player like Gardner in that spot. Don’t be cute and nibble — challenge the guy!

The other blame goes to the Red Sox coaching staff because they failed to put LF Darnell McDonald in the right position. Did you see how deep McDonald was playing Gardner? He was playing in Weschester.

No LF should play deeper than 200 ft against Gardner. I don’t mind the dive for the ball because up by two, he went for the out, which is what he was supposed to do.

Gardner on second means nothing in that situation.

2. Mark Teixeira. The first pitch to Teixeira was 96 mph. Every pitch to Gardner was at 92-94. Was Papelbon holding back versus the lesser player Gardner?

Papelbon got Teixeira to hit a ball off the end of the bat and fly out to right field. That pitch was hit off the end of the bat and Drew caught the ball at the edge of the warning track. Unreal.

So far at this point, Papelbon had thrown nine pitches and all fastballs.

3. Alex Rodriguez. First pitch fastball right down the middle. Rodriguez two-run home run and a tie game. As soon as I saw Martinez set up inside, I knew there was going to be trouble.

Papelbon made the same mistake Joe Nathan made in the ALDS last year. Tried to come inside and nine times out of ten, when a pitcher tries to come and misses, the pitch is down the middle of the plate.

10 pitches for Papelbon and 10 fastballs.

4. Robinson Cano. Six pitches to Cano and all fastballs. Cano hit a flyout to center, but was on all of Papelbon’s pitches.

5. Francisco Cervelli. The Francisco Cervelli’s of the world are the reason I believe the Yankees are getting back that mid-90’s feel to them. The feeling of everything is going to break their way, team’s making uncharacteristic mistakes, and scrubs becoming stars.

Cervelli might be the Yankees’ version of Luis Sojo. That ham n’ egger who you know is always going to get a hit or do something positive in a big spot.

Papelbon hits Cervelli (not on purpose by the way) to extend the inning. Just for the record, Cervelli is batting .400 this year.

18 pitches and 18 fastballs for Papelbon. Solid ratio.

6. Marcus Thames. First pitch home run. Papelbon threw a mediocre 92 mph fastball to a fastball hitter and Thames crushed it into the left field bleachers.

Game. Set. Match.

19 pitches and 19 fastballs in the inning. Unless you are Mariano Rivera, who has defied logic by throwing just one pitch for the past 16 years, you need a second pitch.

Eric Gagne had a great curve to compliment his fastball. Rick Aguilera had a great splitter to go along with his fastball. Bruce Sutter of course featured the splitter as well.

You name me the closer and I will tell you the secondary pitch they featured. It’s almost impossible to be successful against a team like the Yankees featuring just one pitch. There hitters are just too good.

The Red Sox had a chance to really turn their season around last night. But the Yankees played the role of villain again.

“O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!” – Hamlet

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg