Baseball Playoffs 2009

My picks and some details:

Yankees over probably the Twins. Yanks outclass them in every aspect and can set the rotation as they wish and will be able to use Rivera, Hughes and Joba Chamberlain in every game in relief. This should be a huge advantage.

Red Sox vs. Angels: I think the Red Sox will take it in hard fought series. The Red Sox have better pitching and good enough managing and plenty of offense. They don’t seem to have the problems in Anaheim that Yanks do. I do give the Angels the edge in making runs and manager but overall the Sox seem better.

Cards over Dodgers: Torre is on his way to another 1st round elimination as the Cards look better right now. Better hitting and pitching and the Dodgers bullpen is tired.

Rockies over Phillies: This one is just a gut pick. I feel like the Phillies are floundering a bit and the Rockies are ready for some magic.

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The Yanks should beat the Red Sox. The starters match up about the same and the Yanks appear to have the slightly better bullpen currently. The Yanks have better defense and offense. This should decide it.

Cards over the Rockies: Cards are the best team in the NL right now and I don’t think the Rockies run will be enough to overcome the much better team.
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Yanks over the Cardinals: Cards have a better 1-2 punch in the starters and Pujols will be the best player on the field, but 1-9 the Yanks are a better team with a much better bullpen. The Yanks should have enough starters. The Yanks will probably take 2 of the games late once the Cardinal starters are out. The Yanks are the comeback team with 15 walk-off victories and 51 come from behind victories this year.

It looks like Friday's game for the Yanks will be a 6:07pm start. Woot

The Cards have looked flat-out bad for the last week or so. In particular, the bullpen seems tired and Franklin is a large question mark as closer. (I was at the game on Friday. It was 6-1 Cardinals going into the 7th. It was 12-6 Brewers going into the bottom of the 8th. The collapse featured five wild pitches by four different pitchers.) I'm not terribly confident in them right now.

The Sox ended the season on an upswing, which is good. Historically they play well against the Angels in the post season, so I expect another Sox-Yanks ALCS, which will probably go 6 or 7. Edge to damn Yankees.

Just got off the phone with Verizon. They're coming to install the cable Wednesday morning so I should be TVed up for most of the playoffs. If the Yankees don't go all the way it'll be terribly anticlimatic.

Tigers/Twins game 163 is tied at 4 in the 8th. Can you imagine if this goes into extra innings then the winner has to go to the Bronx to face the Yankees? Yikes.

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Tigers/Twins game 163 is tied at 4 in the 8th. Can you imagine if this goes into extra innings then the winner has to go to the Bronx to face the Yankees? Yikes.

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I want 18 innings & I enjoyed the 10th. I cheered loudly for the tying run and louder for the double play at the plate. OK Rodney is being made to pitch his arm off. Interesting plan.

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Tigers/Twins game 163 is tied at 4 in the 8th. Can you imagine if this goes into extra innings then the winner has to go to the Bronx to face the Yankees? Yikes.

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Hey, at least the Tigers gave us something to hope for here in Motown, at least for a week or so. That's more than we usually get until the end of hockey season.

Well the Twins had a hell of a September and early October to get into the playoffs. They a riding a hugh emotional high from last nights game and getting in at 3:00 am might help them. They might not have time to get nervous.

My Yankees and Playoff blog is up on the front page. Please read it for game times, my picks and details.

I got the Yankees Roster and it is almost perfect (to my thinking)

Good Roster. My only change would have been Pena over Hinske but that should not prove important. The pitchers and taking Cervelli is exactly as I wanted and thought best. Note that they did Bruney off as I thought they probably should.

14 position players

1. Derek Jeter

2. Johnny Damon

3. Mark Teixeira

4. Alex Rodriguez

5. Hideki Matsui

6. Jorge Posada

7. Robinson Cano

8. Nick Swisher

9. Melky Cabrera

10. Brett Gardner

11. Jose Molina

12. Jerry Hairston Jr.

13. Eric Hinske

14. Francisco Cervelli

11 pitchers

1. CC Sabathia

2. A.J. Burnett

3. Andy Petttitte

4. Alfredo Aceves

5. David Robertson

6. Phil Hughes

7. Mariano Rivera

8. Phil Coke

9. Joba Chamberlain

10. Chad Gaudin

11. Damaso Marte

Here are my slightly more detailed picks. A lot of this is just going with my gut, and are not very in-depth, because I'm a musician, not a sports analyst.

Red Sox vs. Angels: Sox in five.
I kind of hate it when people bring "history" into these things, as if what happened 20 years ago matters anymore. For instance, that the Red Sox won the 1986 ALCS over the Angels is perfectly irrelevant to 2009. However, recent history has shown that the Red Sox play better in the post season than the Angels. The Sox have more experience in the post season, and are ending the season on an upswing.

Yankees vs. Twins: Yanks in five.
If Detroit has taken the central, I'd have NY in three. But I think that Minnesota is too hot to just roll over and die at this point. They are reminiscent of the '07 Rockies, who swept their way through the LDS and LCS before hitting a wall in the Series. Yanks are too good, though.

ALCS: Yankees in six.
The Yankees are just the better team.

Cardinals vs. Dodgers: Cards in five.
This one's hard to pick. These are two pretty good teams that have been playing terribly lately. Cardinals, however, have Carpenter and Wainwright going the first two games. They've only lost back-to-back games once this year. That plus Pujols gives St. Louis the slight edge.

Phillies vs. Rockies: Phillies in something.
I have no idea about either of these teams, so I'm picking the defending champs over the wild card.

NLCS: Cards in six.
Again, the pitching and Pujols make the difference.

World Series: Yankees in six.
The Yankees beat both of my teams, pissing me off even more than usual.

So CC Sabathia pitched his best post season game.

Jeter was great. First Home Run in the Post Season in the new Yankee Stadium.

Punto made some great plays.

Bullpen looked great.

I haven't been following the NL closely enough to make picks for them, but I don't think it's going to matter, as I see the AL team winning unless somehow it's Minnesota.

Sox vs. Angels: Boston in 4

Yankees vs. Twins: NY in 3

ALCS: Boston in 7. I can't pick against my team. But the Yankees scare me this year. I can just as easily see the Yanks winning in 5 or 6. Depends a lot on how Lester and Beckett pitch.

The Boston Globe has a neat interactive comparison of the 4 AL playoff teams:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...soxaldslineup/

It's kind of fun to click all the various options and permutations.

Oh fuck yeah! Never, ever, ever count the Dodgers out!

Holliday is not going to be popular in St. Louis tomorrow. People here were already pissed at him for looking at three strikes with the bases loaded in the first yesterday, and now this.

It's not over, but it's looking like I'll probably be down to rooting for only two teams (Red Sox and whoever is playing the Yankees).

That was an exciting end but it is not just Holliday, a certain closer also failed to do his job once the mistake was made. It was still two outs.

Congrats Silenus.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

That was an exciting end but it is not just Holliday, a certain closer also failed to do his job once the mistake was made. It was still two outs.

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Granted, but nobody has any faith in Franklin anyway.

Well, they haven't affected the game, but it would be nice if C.B. Buckner could get his act together umping first base. Those were two pretty bad calls.

(Of course, it would also help if the Sox could throw the damn ball straight in the first place.)

I never saw a man try to catch to trap a line drive between his testicles before. Interesting approach.

That was an incredible game last night. My son was totally engaged last night. It might be the game that takes him from casual fan to nutty fan like me. We had good seats on the third tier above the Twins batting circle. Great views of the entire park. The only play we did not se was the ball down the line the Melky almost caught and the Umpire blew the call on.

Despite Gardenhire and Yankees Haters being petulant about it, I'm pretty sure the Yanks would have won anyway. This is a team that comes back really well.

Nathan was looking pretty shaky. Blackburn looked great. Twins made some surprising mental mistakes they don't normal make. The Yanks just kept trying to comeback.

The home plate Ump seem to have done a really poor job with inconsistant calls for both team.

The Twins left an unbelievable number of runners on base. I swear it was at least one every inning. Nick Punto was nearly impossible to keep off the bases. The wonders of postseason baseball.

Jeter and especially A-Rod are hitting great. Teix got off the snide in the best way possible of course. Setting up the tying runs in the 9th and hitting the game winner, pie in the face short homerun in the 11th.

Outside of Marte, all the pitchers looked good. Hits given up were usually grounders with eyes.

It was a great, tense and exciting game.

More later on the fans.

Jeter is God.

Just sayin'. :)

Let's review: Red Sox score one run in two games, Cardinals can't hit with runners in scoring position (or catch routine fly balls) and the Yankees are playing like it's 1999.

Anybody want to talk about football?

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Originally posted by fachverwirrt

Let's review: Red Sox score one run in two games, Cardinals can't hit with runners in scoring position (or catch routine fly balls) and the Yankees are playing like it's 1999.

Anybody want to talk about football?

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Well the Giants are 4-0 and look pretty good. But we have a thread for that.

No surprise I am happy the Red Sox are losing badly but I am shocked by the Cardinals and I guess I was rooting for them over the Dodgers.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

Well the Giants are 4-0 and look pretty good. But we have a thread for that.

No surprise I am happy the Red Sox are losing badly but I am shocked by the Cardinals and I guess I was rooting for them over the Dodgers.

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The Cards have looked terrible for the last three weeks. Pujols has stopped hitting, the bullpen's been ineffectual and La Russa has been mismanaging pretty badly. I'm sadly unsurprised by their postseason performance (currently losing 4-0 on a three-hitter by Padillo).

:D

:p

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Originally posted by silenus

:D

:p

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Congrats Silenus. I am shocked but they played very well and the Cards did not.

Well, that was typical. I remember now what it's really like to be a Sox fan.

Oh well. Now I can devote my energies to something other than watching baseball. Like, you know, work.

Great pitchers duel so far. Bottom of the 5th, we have 3 hits for both teams so far.

And thus ends the most miserable week of sports I can remember.

Also, GO ANGELS!

I will never watch sports again.

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Originally posted by prr

I will never watch sports again.

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This was somehow worse than 78, 86 or 2003?

Did 2004 change things for you that much?

Looking over the ALCS schedule. It appears the Yanks can pitch a 3 man rotation again.

CC would pitch game 4 on short rest. AJ and Andy pitch 5 & 6 on normal rest and CC gets game 7 normal rest. This would leave the bullpen over-powering and the bench strong.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

This was somehow worse than 78, 86 or 2003?

Did 2004 change things for you that much?

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Not to speak for prr, but his is pretty much the standard reaction to the standard Red Sox playoff exit. We always come back, though, despite our best judgment.

Also, the Patriots blew a game they should have won two hours after the Sox blew theirs, so it just wasn't a good day.

Phillies take game 1 8-6. Good Job Lidge.

Yankees won a good game where they did everything right and the Angels did a lot wrong.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

Yankees won a good game where they did everything right and the Angels did a lot wrong.

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Shame, too. Not just because the Yankees won, but because it could have been a classic pitcher's duel coming down to the bottom of the ninth or extra innings.

I was watching with the sound off, but I believe of the Yankee's four runs, two were unearned and a third was the result of the dropped pop-up in the first which was technically a single because nobody touched it (therefore the run was earned). Take those three runs away and it's 1-1.

So with Yanks up 2-0 over the Angels thanks to the exciting and nail biting game 2 in the Bronx, play resumes in Anaheim at 4:13pm today (EST) on Fox. The night game is Dodgers at Phillies who are lucky to only be down 2-1 in the series and got dominated yesterday in an 11-0 loss. Cliff Lee was brilliant again and the Dodgers pitching was not.

Weaver goes for the Angels against Andy Pettitte today.

I ran a constant blog of game 2 here: Come join me in a constant Yankees Angels Game 2 blog.

Oh, hey, a series.

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Originally posted by fachverwirrt

Oh, hey, a series.

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Some serious over-management by Joe Girardi tonight. Lots of missed opps for both teams.

The Yanks were playing away and Joe managed to keep every reliever available for tonights game. Well, maybe not Hughes.

Pulling Robertson was odd, almost as odd as having Marte face one lefty to end an inning and pulling Coke in to face a different lefty to start the next. Or pinch-hitting Hairston for Gardner who actually has better numbers and is a fairly good light hitter. The fact he used up his bench so fast was depressing.

However, not letting Mo' pitch another inning I was OK with. It was the right move in my opinion consider the game situation and history and facing another game the following night.

Joe G suffers from Tony LaRussa syndrome in the Post Season apparently. He never manages like this normally.

Hopefully CC is OK on short rest, I very much think this was the correct call. Hopefully the Yankee batters remember how to hit. Jeter, A-Rod and Posada have really carried the team. The bottom of the order has done nothing. If the Yanks were hitting at all, Joe G would not have had the chance to over-manage. Of course this same style of over-managing has worked 2 out of 3 times so far, but it seems like he took it to another level last night.

That... may have been the most egregiously bad call I've ever seen.

Not that it made a difference (or accounted for a five run lead), but that was just bizarrely bad.

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Originally posted by fachverwirrt

That... may have been the most egregiously bad call I've ever seen.

Not that it made a difference (or accounted for a five run lead), but that was just bizarrely bad.

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I agree, this is some of the worst umpiring I have ever seen.

I'm a Yankees fan and I was pissed at McClellen for the double tag he did not call. Also of course claiming Swish left early, earlier.

Texeira hasn't really hit in the ALCS but his defense has been awesome. Flawless.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

I agree, this is some of the worst umpiring I have ever seen.

I'm a Yankees fan and I was pissed at McClellen for the double tag he did not call. Also of course claiming Swish left early, earlier.

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I missed the Swisher play. Did they call him out on a sacrifice?

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Originally posted by fachverwirrt

I missed the Swisher play. Did they call him out on a sacrifice?

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The ump said he left early but he wasn't even looking at Swish and it was a very bad call.

They said Swisher left third early but the replay clearly showed him tagging up.

It is so good to finally get a huge lead.

Yankees Win 10-1!

I have decided to honour Mayor Quimby of Springfield by completely and enthusiastically flip-flopping. I am now the biggest Yankees fan EVER and will be cheering them on for the remainder of the playoffs, which they will no doubt cruise through. Time for me to go dig out the Yankees cap I was given in 1989 when our league, for no apparent reason, decided that the ball team I was coaching was no longer the Angels, but would henceforth be the Yankees (that lasted one year, after which we became the Mariners for a couple years before finally folding into the Dodgers, where I've been ever since. But I digress).

Go Yankees! :D

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Originally posted by dread pirate jimbo

I have decided to honour Mayor Quimby of Springfield by completely and enthusiastically flip-flopping. I am now the biggest Yankees fan EVER and will be cheering them on for the remainder of the playoffs, which they will no doubt cruise through. Time for me to go dig out the Yankees cap I was given in 1989 when our league, for no apparent reason, decided that the ball team I was coaching was no longer the Angels, but would henceforth be the Yankees (that lasted one year, after which we became the Mariners for a couple years before finally folding into the Dodgers, where I've been ever since. But I digress).

Go Yankees! :D

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Well welcome aboard. The Yankees have always had a large number of bandwagon fans and fair weather fans.

Jimbo, have you seen worse umpiring than last night? I cannot think of a game. Maybe a single play that was worse, but not the number for really bad calls that McClueless made.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

Well welcome aboard. The Yankees have always had a large number of bandwagon fans and fair weather fans.

Jimbo, have you seen worse umpiring than last night? I cannot think of a game. Maybe a single play that was worse, but not the number for really bad calls that McClueless made.

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I only caught a few minutes of the game last night while peeking at it from the ice where I was curling, but I did see the pick off play at second where a Yankee was called safe when he was clearly out. Bad call. But hey, if the Yanks have the umps in their back pocket, that just makes it even more inevitable that they'll win it all. Woo Hoo!

Go Yankees!

ETA: Worst call in MLB playoff history? Jorge Orta called safe at first in the 9th inning of Game Six, 1985. I still remember that call like it was yesterday.

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Originally posted by dread pirate jimbo

I only caught a few minutes of the game last night while peeking at it from the ice where I was curling, but I did see the pick off play at second where a Yankee was called safe when he was clearly out. Bad call. But hey, if the Yanks have the umps in their back pocket, that just makes it even more inevitable that they'll win it all. Woo Hoo!

Go Yankees!

ETA: Worst call in MLB playoff history? Jorge Orta called safe at first in the 9th inning of Game Six, 1985. I still remember that call like it was yesterday.

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Well the pick off was bang-bang. Bad call but they happen. Later in the game a Yank was called out at second when the replay showed him safe.

The two calls McClueless blew big time were all on him.

First the Swisher being called out for leaving early. The idiot ump failed to position himself to observe the fly ball and Swish at the same time. Moving a few feet toward home would have allowed him to make the call and instead he made an appeal call on a play he did not see. He is a stupid moron for that one. This also cost the Yanks at least one run and maybe more.

The second one was even more blatant and has no excuse. Cano and Posada screwed up badly and McClueless somehow in some way missed the tag on Cano despite being there and having no way to miss the tag. I will never understand how he blew it. However, this one did not lead to any runs and only cost the Angels 2-4 pitches that they had at least saved earlier in the Swish call.

I do not recall the 85 play. I believe I was floating in the Pacific Ocean during that World Series. But I was talking about blowing multiple calls, not the single worst. I don't remember an ump looking that bad multiple times. He also punched out another player on a checked swing appeal.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

I do not recall the 85 play. I believe I was floating in the Pacific Ocean during that World Series. But I was talking about blowing multiple calls, not the single worst. I don't remember an ump looking that bad multiple times. He also punched out another player on a checked swing appeal.

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Really? Don Denkinger's call is probably the most notorious bad call in baseball history. It resulted in death threats. It still pisses people off 24 years later (the fact that the Cardinals subsequently played like morons is generally overlooked). Maybe living in St. Louis has heightened my awareness of "the call".

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Originally posted by fachverwirrt

Really? Don Denkinger's call is probably the most notorious bad call in baseball history. It resulted in death threats. It still pisses people off 24 years later (the fact that the Cardinals subsequently played like morons is generally overlooked). Maybe living in St. Louis has heightened my awareness of "the call".

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I largely lost 4 seasons to the Navy, I only saw a few games from 1985 through 1988.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

...
The second one was even more blatant and has no excuse. Cano and Posada screwed up badly and McClueless somehow in some way missed the tag on Cano despite being there and having no way to miss the tag. .... .

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Tangential to this why the aitch eee double hockey sticks did Cano NOT just stick his foot on the bag when the fielder approached him to tag him with the ball?

It ended up not mattering (bizarrely) but I would think you would at least want to make it easier to argue that you were safe. Being tagged by the ball as you're standing a few feet from the base is pretty much the definition of "out".

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Tangential to this why the aitch eee double hockey sticks did Cano NOT just stick his foot on the bag when the fielder approached him to tag him with the ball?

It ended up not mattering (bizarrely) but I would think you would at least want to make it easier to argue that you were safe. Being tagged by the ball as you're standing a few feet from the base is pretty much the definition of "out".

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Yep, Cano was pretty stupid and oh by the way, where was the third base coach as all of this was unfolding?

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Originally posted by What Exit?

I largely lost 4 seasons to the Navy, I only saw a few games from 1985 through 1988.

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Oh, I'm not surprised you didn't see it. Neither did I, in fact; my baseball fandom pretty much started in '86 (good year for it, too). I'm just (mildly) surprised that you're not familiar with it, as it's a pretty iconic play in the history of the world series, and you're a pretty dedicated fan. No big deal, of course.

Here's the background: it was game 6, Cards up 3 games to 2 and leading 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth. Orta, the lead-off hitter hit a high chopper that Jack Clark fielded and tossed to Todd Worrell. The throw clearly beat Orta by a step, but Denkinger did exactly what you're not supposed to do; he watched the ball, saw it hit the glove, looked down, and Orta was past the base, so he called him safe. The umpire is supposed to watch the bag and listen for the ball.

After that, the Cardinals completely fell apart. Clark dropped ann easy foul pop that resulted in the batter getting a single, the catcher allowed a passed ball to put the winning run in scoring position (after Worrell had forced Orta out at third on a bunt attempt), and on the winning hit, the throw apparently beat the run home, but the catcher missed the tag.

Then in game 7, the Cardinals decided to spend the game yelling at Denkinger instead of playing baseball, and lost 11-0.

Anyway, you can see the call (and the dropped pop up) here:

Late 80s is a big gap in my baseball fandom. I probably know more about stuff from before I was born that that period.


So Phillies beat down the Dodgers in 5. I hope it is my Yanks that have to face them.

Go Yankees!!!!
(this is for WhatExit)

I would say go Angels, but I don't see them taking two in the Bronx. If they manage to win game 5 at this point I'll be impressed.

So, go Phillies!

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Originally posted by dread pirate jimbo

I have decided to honour Mayor Quimby of Springfield by completely and enthusiastically flip-flopping. I am now the biggest Yankees fan EVER and will be cheering them on for the remainder of the playoffs, which they will no doubt cruise through. ...

Go Yankees! :D

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Well, it's about time.

You'll find it's much easier this way. Now you too can regard the other 29 teams as a sort of nebulous collection of Washington Generals who serve as speed bumps on the way to the natural, inevitable and PROPER conclusion of each season, the Yankees winning the World Series.

Holy crap but AJ Burnett is stinking up the joint. He better get his shit together ASAP.

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Holy crap but AJ Burnett is stinking up the joint. He better get his shit together ASAP.

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Very ugly start.

Given the Yankees offense and how early it is this isn't out of hand, yet, if he can get on track.

Jim any idea why Teixeira's not hitting? Think he's trying too hard?

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Jim any idea why Teixeira's not hitting? Think he's trying too hard?

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Not a clue honestly. He looked like he was coming out last game though, so lets hope.

This inning is going to kill me, Teix!

Tie game as Mike Scioscia finally makes a mistake. Pulls his best for a bullpen guy.

Yanks are now up 6-4

The Yankees seem to be intent on ending this tonight. I thought for sure one of Matsui's knees was going to explode there.

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

The Yankees seem to be intent on ending this tonight. I thought for sure one of Matsui's knees was going to explode there.

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That's funny, I am on the phone with my brother and I thought the same thing.

Marte why?

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Marte why?

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Pair of lefties due up.

Yeah but he sucks. What happened to Coke?

Terrific, we're losing. Again.

7-6 Angels.

This game actually turned out to be pretty good.

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Originally posted by fachverwirrt

7-6 Angels.

This game actually turned out to be pretty good.

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Pretty good? I'm in severe agony over here.

They're just doing this to piss me off, right?

Oh well. The celebration will look better when they're wearing pinstripes anyway.

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Well, it's about time.

You'll find it's much easier this way. Now you too can regard the other 29 teams as a sort of nebulous collection of Washington Generals who serve as speed bumps on the way to the natural, inevitable and PROPER conclusion of each season, the Yankees winning the World Series.

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I just threw up in my mouth a little.

The Angels are making this into an interesting series, but I don't think they'll get past game six. The Yankees just have too many weapons.

Go Yankees!

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Originally posted by dread pirate jimbo

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

The Angels are making this into an interesting series, but I don't think they'll get past game six. The Yankees just have too many weapons.

Go Yankees!

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That was an extremely painful game for me. I hope Swisher does not get booed on Saturday, but I think he might.

Well I just got offered a free ticket to the Yankees game tonight. So hopefully I get to see Pettitte close it out.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

Well I just got offered a free ticket to the Yankees game tonight. So hopefully I get to see Pettitte close it out.

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I hate you.

Yankees are up 3-1 after five innings! w00t!

Bring on the Phillies!

Another great game. We were up in the top tier on the 1b side.

Yanks played a good game and Joe G made the right moves and the Angels made plenty of mistakes as Mike Scioscia was the one to over manage this time. Pulling out Mathis was silly and using Kazmir was insane. A kid with control issues against the second most patient player in baseball was a bad match. The fact it came down to bunts and Scott pulling 2 Knoblauchs is besides the point.

Putting Rivera in for 6 outs was brilliant and boy was the stadium overjoyed to see it. Joba looked good too in the 7th. The scariest moment of the game was seeing Marte warming up in the 7th.

Guess I'm a Phillies fan for a week.

Go Phillies. Woo.

OK, so 1-1 now and AJ pitched a gem and handed it off to Rivera. Hitting is still at a premium for the Yanks and the Umpires managed to blow two late inning double play calls.

Go Yankees!

My favorite part of last nights broadcast was Tim McCaver's unabashed astonishment at Jeter bunting with two strikes.

I have to admit I was a little surprised too.

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

My favorite part of last nights broadcast was Tim McCaver's unabashed astonishment at Jeter bunting with two strikes.

I have to admit I was a little surprised too.

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Shocked me too.

AJ Burnett pitched his brains out last night. It was awesome to watch. I guess he channeled Cliff Lee or something, whatever he did though it worked.

Pedro was good too, just not quite as good.

Burnett's a maddening pitcher. You never know whether he's going to be brilliant or dreadful.

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Originally posted by Rube E. Tewesday

Burnett's a maddening pitcher. You never know whether he's going to be brilliant or dreadful.

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This is so true, a few times a year he looks like the best pitcher in baseball and more than a few times you wonder if he will get out of the second inning.

Finally first pitch. A strike to Jeter.

Matsui will only get one at-bat in this game but he sure made it count: pinch hit home run.

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Matsui will only get one at-bat in this game but he sure made it count: pinch hit home run.

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I love the Philly Phans chanting "Yankees Suck" as they are losing 8-4 and running out of outs fast.

Ah Philly Phans, always classy.

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Originally posted by What Exit?

I love the Philly Phans chanting "Yankees Suck" as they are losing 8-4 and running out of outs fast.

Ah Philly Phans, always classy.

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Well, at least the Philly Phans got spunk, you got to give them that. Yankee Stadium was a graveyard at points in game 2.

I like that Girardi brought in Rivera w/ 1 out.

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Well, at least the Philly Phans got spunk, you got to give them that. Yankee Stadium was a graveyard at points in game 2.

I like that Girardi brought in Rivera w/ 1 out.

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Yanks are up 2-1 now.

Funny the two games I was at the crowds were real good. In fact for the closeout vs. the Angels, it was almost a frantic feeling.

I don't remember ever seeing a sequence of events like those that occured last night starting with Johnny Damon's last at-bat, at least not in such an important game. Talk about seizing an opportunity.

Great combination of a player's ability, experience and instincts changing a game.

That was a real "WTF?" moment. I thought Damon believed that the ball got past the second baseman. For a split second I saw him getting tagged out in a rundown.

It was funny how close he was to the Phillies player when he took off.

That was really smart, aggressive base running on Damon's part last night.

Well, the Phillies got another game anyway. Just.

Jim, tell me I don't need to worry and the Yankees will win game 6.

I'm not Jim, but I can reassure you.

Working three pitchers to death in the cold at the end of the season, what can go wrong?

Quote:

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Originally posted by Laughing Lagomorph

Jim, tell me I don't need to worry and the Yankees will win game 6.

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I really think that game 6 is the crap shoot. Pettitte has not worked on 3 days rest in a long time. However, game 7 really does still favor the Yanks. So we have a coin toss game at home, (which means it slightly favors the Yanks) and CC vs. a Philly not named Lee at home and that really favors the Yanks.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Rube E. Tewesday

I'm not Jim, but I can reassure you.

Working three pitchers to death in the cold at the end of the season, what can go wrong?

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Well, AJ could suck pretty badly. (Oh wait, that happened) Andy might let us down, but even when he sucks he finds a way to give us 5+ innings.

5 more outs and Mo is in the game.

Yankees Win!

Start spreading the news,
I'm leaving today.
I want to be a part of it -
New York, New York.

These vagabond shoes
Are longing to stray
And step around the heart of it
New York, New York.

I want to wake up in a city,
That doesn't sleep,
To find I'm king of the hill- ah-
Top of the heap.

My little town blues
Are melting away
I'm gonna make a brand new start of it
In old New York.
If I can make it there,
I'd make it anywhere
It's up to you,
New York, New York.

New York, New York!

I want to wake up in a city,
That doesn't sleep,
To find I'm king of the hill,
Head of the list,
Cream of the crop
At top of the heap.

Yay!:LOL:

I'm pretty disappointed, because I was hoping "2000" could end up being the next "1918" :lol:

But anyway, I'm happy for all you Yankee fans here.

Quote:

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Originally posted by Taumpy

I'm pretty disappointed, because I was hoping "2000" could end up being the next "1918" :lol:

But anyway, I'm happy for all you Yankee fans here.

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Understood and thank you. It was an exciting series at least, even if you hate the Yanks like most fans do.