Joba Takes Rivalry to A Higher Level

Hey Dad --

Well, the sweep continues. We're now 5-0 with the Yankees in the Season Series and that's a very nice number to see. Did you know it's the first time since 1971 that the Red Sox have had that record against their rivals? Pretty cool, huh?

What wasn't cool however, was Joba Chamberlain's reaction to David Ortiz's walk in the 5th inning. If you didn't see it, you must've heard about it.

Chamberlain came to the mound in the 5th with the Sox leading 4-3. He got two quick outs in Van Every and Pedroia. Then all hell broke loose. Papi walked on a 3-2 pitch that New York's pitcher thought should have been a strike. He was pissed. He walked off the mound shouting expletives as Papi trotted down to first base. Then Jason Bay stepped in the batter's box.

Chamberlain threw one pitch. Just one. And it landed square between Bay's shoulder blades. There was no way Bay could get out of the way of that laser. It had his name on it from the moment it left Chamberlain's hand. In my opinion, and the opinion of at least two other professional commentators, it was intentional. There's no way that ball "got away from him".

Now we can all wonder why Chamberlain did it. Maybe the pitcher was upset about his mother's arrest for dealing meth earlier in the day. Maybe he was still pissed off about Bay hitting a 3 run shot in the first inning to give the Sox their early lead. Or maybe he would've hit whoever came to bat after Papi and Bay just happened to draw the short straw. The point is, that laser was not an accident. And everyone in the Sox dugout knew it.

What's equally surprising though, is that Beckett didn't retaliate. No one from the Sox organization did. But then again, revenge is a dish best served cold. Something tells me the next time these two teams meet, someone on the Yankees side is going to get tagged. What do you think?

Jenn