Today's game will be remembered for the on-field fight that ensued when Posada and a Blue Jay reliever who doesn't deserve to appear in the same sentence with a Yankee player each took umbrage with the other's behavior.
Here's what I think happened. The Yankees were annoyed at the Halladay-Mitre matchup. Toronto was denying a youngster on their newly-expanded 40 man roster an opportunity to show his stuff, just so Halladay could go out and beat the Yankees, risking injury in the process. The Blue Jays are out of contention in the middle of September, while the Yankees are still trying to close out Boston and Anahiem. And if Halladay, who's trade value could net the team a bevy of prospects for the future, had gotten hurt, the Jays would only have themselves to blame. Having Halladay pitch this game seemed spiteful, and I think the Yankees were perturbed.
Halladay threw 100 pitches, giving up 11 hits and 2 runs. Mitre was shelled, as expected. The game was almost unwinnable from the start.
It's not clear whether Melancon threw at Hill on purpose. Even the Jays weren't sure. But that didn't stop them from throwing behind Posada.
When the Blue Jay threw behind Posada, Jorge took a few steps down the line so that the pitcher would hear what he had to say :"You don't want to do that." That's when Toronto's infielders mindlessly stepped toward Posada. Now the Yankees needed to come out of the dugout because Posada was outnumbered, the Jays came out of their dugout, and both bullpens emptied. It seemed that Toronto was trying to start something.
Once order was restored, Posada got on base and eventually scored. As he crossed home plate the reliever got in Posada's way on purpose. Rather than dodging him, Posada did what most guys would do in that spot. He continued on his path but defended himself with his forearm and elbow because the reliever, who had already attacked him with a baseball, was now purposefully moving into his personal space.
You know what happened next. The Toronto player realized that he might get what he'd wanted all along, a fight with a Yankee and maybe the opportunity to tear off a shred of pinstripes from someones uniform, like an obsessed stalker. So he charged Posada.
What he got instead was a huge, ugly welt on his head.
AL East magic number: 12
Home field magic number: 12
Games remaining: 16
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