Open Thread: Playoffs Day 6
by baseballgirl on Oct 8, 2007 11:58 AM PDT
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PrintWell, that big sigh of relief you all heard last night was the executives at MLB and TBS/TNT as the Yankees came back and won a game, making the NYY/CLE series the only one to continue past the minimum three games.
Without tonight’s game, baseball was looking at a break from Sunday night to Thursday night; appropriate for football, but terribly detrimental to baseball, which feeds off tight playoff drama and daily games. I think of the revenue lost in Los Angeles as the Angels were soundly beaten at home, only selling out their stadium for a single playoff game. The same goes for Chicago, and the Rockies too, but I think Denver will be okay, considering they will play in the next round.
I was surprised the Cubs were handled as easily as they were; I was not surprised at the Rockies’ success (and I think it will continue), but the AL outcome I was hoping for (and expecting) still feels great the next day. After Lackey and K-Rod were both assigned playoff loses--the latter in sweet, dramatic fashion--Boston finished off the sweep by annihilating the Halos at home, really leaving very little for them to cheer about.
I’m fine with the Yankees/Cleveland going the full five games; I’d like as much baseball as possible, now that the Angels are out. I hope Boston is crushed in the next round, either by A-rod redeeming himself, or by the Tribe pulling together and knocking off both the AL East giants. I think the city of New York finally figured out that the best way to get A-rod to stop pressing and hit was to cheer him, and not boo him. Novel concept, I know.
I’m rooting for a good game tonight; it’s the only one that has a chance.
Byrd vs. Wang [insert your own joke here] face off at 4:30.
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I'm particularly pleased
with the venom being spewed at the kid in Boston who prevented Napoli from catching the foul pop up. I'm also reveling in Anaheim's angst at being swept out of the first round with ease. It gives me intense pleasure to hear Angel fans whine about Ramirez's theatrics, especially considering the antics of their pitchers. Sweet justice. Boston flat out punked the Angels. They were not only swept, they were humiliated. In a three game series they scored 4 runs in two innings. Oakland may have it's own issues with the post season, but at least we can win a game or two fairly consistently and take the Sox the distance. Anaheim not so much apparently.
If we couldn't win the west, this is the next best outcome.
Karma is SWEET
There was so much bad karma wafting off HH this weekend (esp. regarding the ball catching kid) the Angels were doomed.
Blame of the Game: Halos Heaven!
by SportySpice @ Athletics Nation on Oct 8, 2007 2:41 PM PDT up reply actions
ditto
My utter dislike for all things Panther reached a new height (depth?) when some jackass on HH referred to Youkilis as "Jewboy". Yes, I know a lot of NE baseball fans are racist as well, so what.
(Ditto? DITTO? You provincial putz!)
Down with the Yankees
I don't care much, and I do like various players on their team, but I can't help but instinctively root against the Yankees--maybe it's been that way ever since they signed Giambi.
Now, Gary Radnich was saying all morning that if Cleveland wins, the baseball playoffs drop to second-tier-event status. And I think he's right--but I don't care. For all the crowing that's been done about how Bud Selig's wild card is a great idea, really all it's given us is enough rounds of playoff games to make all of them less-important as a result, almost (but not quite) to the extent that the NBA postseason is boring.
So while it's true that a Boston-New York rivalry ALCS is a short-term savior for baseball, in the long-term, the wild card format not only makes the whole postseason longer and therefore less important--it also takes the drama out of the regular-season pennant races, like the Boston-New York one that would have been riveting had it actually meant something.
So contrary to baseballgirl, I'm rooting for a boring postseason, much in the same way that petulant college-football columnists root for a three-way undefeated tie atop the BCS poll. In the misguided hope that ugly results will lead to reform down the road.
I completely disagree about the format.
I love the extra round of playoffs, and it didn't lessen the importance one bit. It also keeps more teams in contention longer. And maybe losing the Yanks will make the ratings drop, but that doesn't lessen my interest at all, in fact, I prefer the Yanks and Sox be out of it.
Well, you have a right to disagree
(I guess)
Like I said, I'd be more than happy to lose the Yankees. The reason I think interest and ratings are dropping long-term, though, is not the absence of big-market teams in the final rounds of the postseason--but rather the absence of GOOD teams in the final rounds of the postseason. The extra best 3-of-5 ALDS round is more of a crapshoot than any of the best-of-7 series, and you end up getting teams in the WS that aren't great, but managed to win 7-of-12 during a hot week or two. See last year's 83-win Cardinals.
A good playoff system should be exciting--and it should more often than not reward the championship to the best team. Failing on that latter count repeatedly (and I'd argue that this system has been failing in that regard for a decade) is I think what makes me feel that the playoff games' importance has been lessened.
The best of 5 ...
doesn't make as much of a difference as most think ...
The real 'problem' preventing the 'best' teams from making it is the extra round. They go from having something like a 55% shot of making the series in the previous format to 30% or so in the current format.
Ruck Fary Gadnich
Radnich is the biggest asshat in bay area media (even worse than Barbieri).
About the wildcard - it was put in mainly to guarantee that we will be endlessly drilled with Sux-Spanks ALCS match-ups (if this were not the case, then the WC team would play the team with the best record, regardless of division). My opinion is that baseball needs to get past this fixation and market the game nation-wide. Unfortunately, the media structure in baseball precludes this from ever happening. Baseball needs to do the following to fix their Boston-NY problem:
- Force teams to sell their stakes in their media ventures (ie, YES Network, NESN, KNBR), and institute even sharing of broadcast revenues to all teams, like the NFL does.
- Return to a balanced schedule to even out the exposure of other teams.
- Kill interleague play.
- Fire Joe Morgan, Tim McCarver, and Joe Buck (just because they suck).
- Set off a nuke in front of the headquarters of ESPN.
After all, the NFL always has a great audience for the Super Bowl even if a small market team like Green Bay is playing.
The NFL isn't about football
The NFL is about:
- Gambling
- Hanging out with friends at a predictable time (whether tailgating or watching in a bar/media room)
- Engaging in otherwise unacceptable behavior (wearing weird clothes, screaming and insulting other people, drinking heavily).
The games are largely a McGuffin -- which is great for the owners, since the biggest uncontrollable factor of any sports franchise is the quality of play on the field.
This is also true in college, where the three priorities I list above also apply.
The fact that the Super Bowl is an event, and not mainly a game, is just an extreme version of the general rule for the NFL.
True true, and
I don't feel strongly either way about revenue sharing. But I do think that the NFL's playoff system is the best one in pro sports. Because it gives more weight to the regular season.
It does this in two ways: First, by giving the top two teams in each conference a first-round playoff bye. That's a serious incentive. And second, by giving the team with the better record a real home-field advantage. As opposed to playing the first quarter in one city, then the second in the other city, then the third back in city A, etc.
This is awesome
The Angels are done and two teams that pretty much ONLY people on SBN blogs care about remain in the NL. Just thought I'd pop on to say that. The Angels had a great season and it last exactly three more embarrassing games than the A's. Heh.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Oct 8, 2007 12:52 PM PDT reply actions
still hoping for cleveland to pull through
I'd rather avoid the Yankee-Sox series even though it is THE most riveting matchup possible (not sure anyone can deny that). And even though it appears they are playing for the pennant every year, both teams have been on the outside looking in the ALCS window.
That aside, a Cleveland win keeps me from having to choose New York to win (which in my process of elimination game, they get the nod over the Sox, who rank only behind the Angels and Giants on my list of Most Despised Teams).
I will say this: I am not an A-Rod hater. True he plays like a God in the reg. season and like a DOG in the playoffs, but he's not a showboat, and he never shies from his "failures".
Also, I am hating Giambi less and less every year. More out of pity. And I think Torre deserves better.
But George does not and that's why I hope Cleveland keeps me from pulling for his team.
Amen regarding Giambi
I think the idiot who threw a beverage at Giambi at an A's game back in '03 or '04 sort of put an end to the pasttime of booing him when he came back to Oakland--he ruined it for all of us, in other words.
Once again
I find myself totally baffled by the Giants-hate among some A's fans.
Seriously, you hate them more than the Yankees and Red Sox? I just don't understand where this is coming from. It's not like they've beaten the A's in some high-profile game, or something. Among the negative emotions which I could see aiming at the G-men, "pity" or "disdain", even "disgust" would be understandable. But hatred?
Why?
absolutely
growing up an East Bay boy, I early developed nothing but disdain for anything on the wrong side of the water
Second that
And now, living on the peninsula, that disdain has grown into a seething disgust. Giants fans act like the Giants are the only team in the area; they say "let's go to a baseball game!" and implicitly mean "Giants game" which I find .. vexing, to say the least.. The Giants media machine and hard-line business tactics in response to what was basically a gimme from the Haas family (sure, you can have "territorial rights" whatever that means!) has basically put the A's in the "small market" situation they're in right now. What's not to dislike?
Now...I'm not sure that's more than the Red Sox/Yankees/Angels axis of obnoxiousness...I think it's just different.
You know, I think I might just do that!
Yeah, but what about football?
My dad taught me to hate the raiders when they moved to LA ( when I was in the second grade or something ) and after Al Davis toyed with us for years and years before finaly moving the team back, screwing over the city of Oakland and destroying the Colleseum to boot, I have sworn an oath not to chear for the Raiders again until Mr. Al Davis is dead and buried..
So I'm a niners man.
Where does the football allegiance fall among the commen A's fan?
I will root for the Niners
after I have a lobotomy.
Actually, I did root for them last year when they played other AFC-West teams (especially Denver the last week of the season), otherwise, I root for the Raiders and whoever is playing SF.
Grew up a Raiders fan first, but liked the Niners
Then became a Niners first fan when Al took Da Raidahs south, but still liked them somewhat. Now that they're back, I still root for them, but it's about 51/49 Niners first.
It's like a girlfriend that leaves you, then eventually realizes she made a mistake and comes back. You might get back together with her, but it ain't never gonna be like it was the first time around.
admittedly it's die-hardish to a fault
love the Raiders, hate the Niners.
there's no logic to it, it's just how it is.
it seems a lot is generational...
The vast majority of those who were hardcore Raider fans before they went to L.A. probably remain Raider fans to this day. Some of the passion may have waned, as Mcfood says, after their return to Oakland. Stll, I don't know a pre-existing Raider fan who wasn't rooting for them to win in the Super Bowl when they were in Los Angeles. And, a lot of us always thought they'd return to Oakland.
Now, those who are younger, whose formative sports years involved the Raiders leaving and the felon's Whiners' salary cap violating dynasty of the '80's (akin to the steroids era in MLB), also formed their baseball allegiances during the Bash Brother era of the A's. So, it makes perfect sense that these younger A's fans could also be Whiner fans, as well.
The salary cap was instituted in 1994
So, hate to burst your bubble here, but the Niners didn't violate squat in the 1980s.
My attitude toward the Raiders could best be described as one of amused contempt. As I think I've said before, my favorite AFC team is the Jets. (Although they're not exactly tearing it up this year. Poor Chad Pennington... he's got the brain of a quarterback but his shoulder just won't cooperate.)
Why not?
I suppose it's a function of their sharing a market with the A's. They get the lions share of the attention and are media darlings to boot. They play in arguably the most beautiful park in baseball while the A's are relegated to an ancient, dank, dual purpose stadium. The have the resources to sign their big name players. They are viewed as the primary baseball team in the area and are generally credited with being superior to the A's in every category, save one. That one being the actual game of baseball. Which kind of strikes me as being the sole germane point for each teams existence. I suppose it's that they get the credit that should rightfully go to the better team.
Call it envy if you will. I despise them above all other teams. I prefer it when they are so bad that they are worthy only of contempt rather than spite.
very well put
another reason for me? my dad would punch me in the mouth, and I'd never get to eat Mom's cooking again. Talk about illogical. But I understand.
agree
There's not another team that has been given so much for producing nothing but total mediocrity for the last 50 years. Then their fans argue about all their "history". Well guess what, the A's were founding members of the AL, and have a much better history than the giants
I am going to give it a shot, Paul.
(And by the way, always look forward to your point-of-view, it's usally well-thought, and well-written).
Anywho, a lot of my disdain has to do with the media. When the A's won the Series in the 70's, it was a "Bay Area" thing. When the Niners were winning all those Super Bowls, it was a "San Francisco" achievement.
The A's lack of media attention nationally is one thing, but to have it continually occur in our own back yard is absurd.
It's like any conversations about Bonds. I could care less (well sort of) about the 'roids, or his demeanor. I dislike(d) him because he was on the Giants.
But the worst part of this whole media attention (or lack thereof) thing was to refer to the Loma Prieto quake as the San Francisco quake. As if we on this side weren't affected. In the World Series highlight film, some Giant's fans had the audacity to think that the baseball gods owed the Giants after what they and their fans had been through. Huh??
soon enough, they'll be a south bay team
which is where loma prieta actually happened, incidentally.
both the east bay and sf are already secondary parts of the bay area according to the us census, in any case.
Don't get your baffled-ness
I think most of my hatred of the Giants is reserved for their fans ... a fan base that has never seen their team win a championship - BUT still exists with that level of entitlement - just gets my goat.
The Giants as an organization do a lot right - beautiful ballpark, every painful game is televised, and they're not on a different radio station every other year .... BUT for all that, I'd still rather go see baseball in that hideous, tarped up ballyard in the East Bay ...
Look on the bright side fellow Giants haters - with Barry Bonds gone, if the Giants continue to suck, they crowds in S.F. might start looking very Coliseum-esque ..
by codedfreaq on Oct 8, 2007 4:03 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm torn
My natural reaction is to cheer for the Indians to beat out the Yankees. But, call me sadistic if you like, I'm also getting a lot of enjoyment from seeing my Red Sox fan girlfriend squirm in this series. She's absolutely terrified of her team having to face the Yankees in the ALCS. Now there's also a third angle here. I can root for the Indians to win in the hope that Red Sox fans will become overconfidant and fall that much harder to Sabathia and Carmona.
So there you have it. I'm a mean and petty guy. Once the A's are out of the postseason, my only focus is on which series outcome might cause my girlfriend the most pain. Red Sox fans will do that to you...
(also, go Rockies!)
not really surprised about the Cubs
while they have some really good players, the NL Central was arguably the weakest division in MLB, plus, the Diamondbacks played better baseball closing out the season than did the Cubs.
I of course want Cleveland to beat NY. But should the undesirable occur I want to see Sux soundly thrashed.
Kind of interesting how Steinbrenner's threat to fire Torre got the Yanks off their duffs yesterday...hey, whatever works, right?
it's Vlad's turn
In four seasons since joining the Angels, he has dragged them into three postseasons, but stumbled once they arrived.
Plaschke, of course
He's a right handed version of Alex Rodriguez.
Ah, Plaschke
The most eloquent worthless crap ever written about baseball. With the possible exception of some things by A. Bart Giamatti.
So his solution to the Angels' power woes is "Buy a free-agent power hitter"?
Has it ever occurred to anyone-- seriously, anyone?-- that maybe the reason the Angels don't have any power hitters is, and I'm really going out on a limb here, that they never draft power hitters? And perhaps even more to the point, that they never draft college hitters, where you know to a lot greater degree what a guy is capable of slugging? Garret Anderson is a dubious candidate at best and has been around since long before the "smallball" idiocy became the team's entrenched ideology, but he's the closest thing they have to a homegrown slugger. Juan Rivera and Vlad, the only other guys with pop in their lineup, came up with other teams.
I know it's quite an audacious concept to think about maybe changing your draft strategy to address the needs of your team. After all, the primary purpose of the Angels is to proselytize for smallball and develop as many hacking speedsters as possible for the benefit of the league's viewing audience. Drafting to fill holes is something that only atheists like Billy Beane do. But maybe they ought to give it a try.
I didn't know they didn't draft power hitters
The Halo fans have been bitching about small ball all through the sweep of their team.
Serves them right
I get so tired of hearing the same cliches about the OC Rats:
"They play the game the right way"
"They go first-to-third better than the rest of the league"
"They're not afraid the manufacture runs"
"They lead the league in sacrifice flys"
"Speed doesn't slump" (Yes it does - if it doesn't get on base!)
That's why I was thrilled to see a Boston runner score from first on a double, then have the hitter advance to third on the throw, and score on a sac fly by the next hitter. The Sux proved they can play their own game (take walks and hit HRs) and the Angels game at the same time, and kick Panther ass in the process.
Now if they can only fold up like an old newspaper against the Indians.
The Angels would be a lot better off
if Dallas McPherson hadn't crapped out, too. He's kind of their version of Crosby (except he didn't win ROY and fool them into thinking he'd be a long-term replacement for Glaus).
the yankees only have two starters
and they can't count on slugging the bosox. even if they win (which is unlikely), they'll need to basically write off game 3, and count on tired pitching from everyone from the get-go.
I dunno--Hughes could emerge
as a force. He certainly did yesterday. (Grrr...) My hope is that going with Wang/Pettitte on 3-days rest backfires on NYY. I'm just worried about whether Byrd can get the Yanks hitters out on craft. I see another 4-spot and the Indians aren't at bat. Who knows, though?
All I can say for sure is that historically, this date tends to be better for Yankees than for Indians. :-(
I agree on Byrd
Every so often he puts it all together and can really be tough to hit, but he's basically Blanton with a fastball that tops out at 86 mph. It's a lot more likely that he'll give up 6 runs in 4 innings than that he'll hold them to 2 over 8.
On the other hand, Hughes and Chamberlain can't pitch tonight, and Mariano can't go more than 1. So if Wang is lousy again, the Yankees are in big trouble.
Here's to an Indian-Red Sox match up.
It will be nice to see deserving teams get into the World Series for a change. Teams with more heart than padded wallets. Fans who aren't so fickle. I honestly don't know who to root for in the NL. Guess it doesn't matter because I'll root for the Indians in the Series.
Think Colorado... ;-)
I want to see the Yanks eliminated NOW!
And, the Red Sux eliminated in 4 games in the ALCS. Without the A's in the playoffs, that'd make the postseason as close to perfect as it could be.
After that, I'm rooting for the Diamondbacks, but I really don't care if any of the three remaining win it... the Tribe, Rockies and D'backs are all good stories.
Let's Go Tribe
Make Wang shoot his load in the first inning
Seriously, some day I will grow up.
Really?
Wooooot! Let's go Tribe!
These Yankee announcers crack me up
"No one expected Wang to give up 2 runs in the first...but he does struggle early"
This following:
"Wang sometimes doesn't adjust to long rest, and sometimes takes until the fourth or fifth inning to be tired enough to be effective. He should be OK on short rest."
Uh...make up your mind!
What radio station is this on
in the Bay Area?
Should be on AM 1050
K-Rod Loss
If you look at the official boxscore for the game I assume you're referencing, K-Rod did not get saddled with the loss, Justin Speier did. Don't ask me why, K-Rod clearly was the one who lost that game.
I enjoyed reading yesterday that HH
would like to trade their Rod for the Yankees' Rod.
Gee, is that a fair trade?
Shouldn't the Yankees throw in Joba and Hughes too? And pick up all the salaries?
Thanks, didn't even think about that...
But I don't care about the "L" so much as he was standing on the mound when Manny went deep. Was one of the most (if not THE most) satisfying moments of the season for me.
is it just me
or is A-Rod the one 50-homer guy who just doesn't seem to strike fear in the opposing fans?
While I profess not to be a hater, I still am rooting for Cleveland, and when he came to the plate, I didn't think for a minute that he might come through. Do you think Cleveland fans felt the same?
wait until he's out of new york
something else to think about re: A-Rod
a year after he left Seattle, they went from 91 wins to 116
a year after he left Texas, they went from 71 wins to 89 wins
coincidence?
well they both have an "e"
and so does new york.
Which means
112 wins for the Yanks next year?
by Philip Christy on Oct 8, 2007 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions
wang impotent so far
I would have used a closer/setup guy here
And then pitched Mussina the next inning.
Oh man.
That's too bad.
walked out of my mtg early
one of the ones that likes to talk was going on, even though we had no other business...now I can listen to the game!
Let's go Cleveland!
Come on Pronk
Time for a knock.
This is the longest inning EVER!
My inclination would be
to look for 5 innings from Byrd and then unless he's really cruising, go to the pen and let Perez/Betancourt handle the middle-late innings. Even if those guys were to pitch a lot and CLE lose, the Indians have Sabathia going in a game 5 so they can afford to go for broke to go for the kill.
Plus Carmona, as well.
Indians will basically have tandem aces ready to go for a game 5, if necessary.
Yay Indians!!
I'm so excited that they're winning... AND I have TBS HD!! I don't know when this started but I'm really excited about it.
LETS GO TRIBE!!!
I hope the yanks come back
as I said before....here I am now, entertain me (with another game)
I agree COMPLETELY! ;-)
Just not another Angels one.
That was crap. He totally went.
Hi boys. Call the ball. No collisions okay?
I hate Derek Jeter
Wait. It's only the bottom of the second inning?
WTF?
Both starters suck
plus a pitching change in the 2nd inning = snooze
Oh my. Multi-tasking is in order tonight, I see.
I've been gone for at least 30 mins and this is
only the bottom of the 2nd? And there's been no delay?
So much for getting to bed early.
Hah. DITTO!
Heroes is on at 9. That's my deadline.
Depending on how close this game is
I might just tape Heroes and watch it later. But if it's a blow out or otherwise boring I'll watch Heroes when its on
haha
I'm trying to explain what is happening to my 4 year old cousin right now and he's slowly getting it. It makes me wonder how anyone is able to understand this game haha
he's all
"The guys with the red letters are the Indians"
"He has a softer hat because he's pitching"
haha
One word, Cleveland:
Add on! Wait, that's three words--oops!
-Cindi
P.S. Anyway, GET MORE POINTS!!! (I hate the Yankers)
I want the Yankees to lose,
but I feel really bad for Joe Torre.
don't worry about torre
he'll get a three minute phone conversation with steinbrenner.
if Steinbrenner really does fire him
(which he may not no matter what happens, he's threatened this before and I'm sure he realizes that he's got a good one -- he's lasted much longer than other Steinbrenner-era managers), and if Joe wants to manage, there will be no shortage of clubs that would want him.
So you don't need your appreciation for Torre to get in the way of rooting against the Yankees!
Besides,
looking at Torre's career as a manager, he's not really a guy to feel sorry for. Think of, say, Davy Johnson.
by Philip Christy on Oct 8, 2007 6:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Jeter's mom and dad
must have an exclusive appearance contract with Fox? I don't recall having seen them in this series.
Seriously, in spite of the Frank TV nonsense, these telecasts have been so much easier to watch than what we have gotten used to from Fox. An occasional shot of Rudy Giuliani, but generally they've kept the cameras focused on the field and out of the stands.
Didn't need Reggie Miller yesterday
but otherwise I agree, if we could just mute Tony Gwynn.
If Cleveland is going to win this thing,
they better do it tonight.
I think A's fans
have a unique pessimism about winning the first two games of a series and then not wrapping it up right away. I'll take my chances with Sabathia pitching at home against Pettitte if it comes to that.
not really
going home with both sabathia and carmona available on full rest wouldn't be the end of the world.
but then again, i do sort of agree with you. personally i hope they're flexible enough to pitch sabathia tonight on short rest if byrd is gets in trouble, because they'd still have carmona for game five.
I dunno--I think Wang's effort showed
why it's not always better to pitch the superior pitchers on short rest. I say save C.C. for tomorrow - if you throw anyone, throw Carmona today (probably his day to throw in the pen).
wang pitched game 1
and gave up 8ER in 4.2IP, so i'm not sure he's the best example.
sabathia and carmona have been two of the top 5-6 pitchers in the AL this year, i'd say it's more comparable to the 2001 d-backs with schilling/johnson.
Yeah, but he also won 19 games
during the regular season. It's a crapshoot, but IIRC the stats on bringing pitchers back on short rest in the playoffs are not inspiring.
true, they're not
again, i'm not saying i would have started sabathia, i would just be more flexible than usual given 1) this is the yankees offense and 2) using sabathia would still leave you with carmona pitching on full rest.
and i also recognize that it could screw up the rotation for the next round, but they do have to win one of these two games first.
I'm watching this baseball game while
Romo's thrown two INTs against the Bills? I need to rethink my entertainment choices.
the Cowboys face the Patriots next week
I think I'd like to see them beat by the Bills first because that would be so unexpected.
Are you bay area guys familiar with Trent Edwards
Was QB at Stanford and lauded by Bill Walsh. He's looking good filling in for Losman in Buffalo. Maybe he'll show Tony Romo up. :-)
did romo go to USC?
No, he went to some small school in Illinois
wasn't even drafted
i know (stanford - usc game)
it was a joke, b/c i remember you're a usc fan.
If he did, I might like him better. :-)
and that Stanford win was a fluke, right? I don't think the Trojans will allow themselves to be embarrassed again, so watch out Cal Bears! Ok, I'm trying hard to be optimistic.
USC is done
they should just disband the football team and use all that money for academics (give it away to ucla, cal tech...).
And I was just thinking Mussina should probably
retire. That was a good inning.
Damn, I just missed Romo's 3rd interception!
Buffalo hasn't been on MNF in 13 years. They are thoroughly enjoying this.
At least I saw his FOURTH!
Bills don't even need an offense to win this game.
Thank you, Byrdie.
I'd let him start the 6th and go batter to batter, but with a short leash. Meanwhile, I'd score 3-4 runs this inning--but that's just me.
with 3 straight early exits
(for the first time EVER) the Yankees are starting to resemble a certain team we know that couldn't get past the fist round.
only their departures have been somewhat boring compared to ours.
That was a pretty gutsy move on Mussina's part
And I think Grady was out.
Never in my wildest dreams
could I have conceived of a playoff game where three calls have gone against the Yankee's. It just may not be George's century.
Maybe Steinbrenner will
fire him over the PA system tonight.
He heard something about "The Voice of God"
and got jealous.
Dunno. Doubt that they are intimidated at all.
But they can be influenced by managers that are known to contest calls vigorously, especially on a national stage. It's human nature to take the path of least resistance.
Waaaaay premature--
And bad karma besides.
LOOOOOLLLLLLL
You have no idea
of the self restraint this comment is generating.
Well, it's certain that ole Joe
isn't safe at home tonight.
I didn't know you could make roster
changes in the middle of a series. I thought you had to wait until the next round. Does that mean that Clemens cannot be brought back for the rest of the post season? And yes, I mean the Yankee roster.
I think it was new this year and he's out of the
ALCS should they inconceivably get that far.
Murphy's Law:
If you go "batter to batter" with a pitcher, he will immediately give up a HR.
come on DP
there you go
I do what I can
but I make no promises.
That was totally ARod's fault.
Mr. Choktober
Is there anything sweeter
than a big DP by Jeter?
AND IT RHYMES!
This game
is very long and very boring. If it weren't for the chance that the Yankees could be eliminated here, I'd have tuned out long ago.
i'm sick of seeing this bald dude
Seriously. Some variety, please?
Dr. Tynan?
To bad for you....he's interviewing for Oakland next week.
The gap between
the final out of the top of the 7th and the first pitch in the bottom of the 7th was about 5 minutes 45 seconds, which is an excessive disruption to the game IMO.
if anyond cares , , Boys 13, Bills 24
about a million ints by Romo
I care. It's more entertaining to watch
Jerry Jones squirm than just about anything.
I assume "cd" refers to "cross dressing"
OH YAY! Another Dane Cook commercial!
Shootme.
AAAAHHH
frank tv AND dane cook, back to back.
Are we doing an out countdown yet? Ok, I will.
8 more to go
Right you are. Crap I hope I didn't jinx it.
:(
With any luck,
we can avoid the braying of Bankee fans about Choke Rod and such. Unseemly.
hahaha
I'm sure, despite the fact that Jeter grounds into double plays and sucks and ARod is actually scoring runs, that they'll still blame ARod for losing this series. Assuming they do.
A-Rod sucks
What's wrong with that guy, hitting a solo homer when they're down by 4? How selfish, fattening his homer totals without caring about helping the team.
Whoo!
Go A-Rod!
Ideal game would have been A-Rod 5-5, 3 HR, 8 RBI with the Yankees losing 10-9 when Jeter GIDP with the bases loaded.
If this score holds, we'll have something similar.
Cmon Cleveland. You really need to score in the
next inning.
Thank you Tony Gwynn. Now it's his fault not
mine if the Yankees win. "Seven outs away"
no, it doesn't work like that
only WE in this game thread control the fate of the universe.
Who from the A's BP to use in this case?
Who would you use if you were a manager from the A's BP in this situation?
And what about the 10th?
That was not a strike
ok. the NLCS is going to be REALLY fun.
every game they say no one knows about sizemore
i think pretty much everyone who has followed baseball over the last 3.5 years has heard of the guy.
If you want to know how old he is,
just ask Dane Cook.
Interview with Alyssa Milano
on the postgame.
I'm really mystified by all the Alyssa Milano stuff by MLB. Does someone there hate GNGG or something?
I think its more like
someone there hates every female baseball fan I can think of. lol
"teen steam"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsyO2...
A lot of baseball players do, evidently
I think of her like my parents
I love her, as long as I don't have to look at her or litsen to her talk or anything.
I do
I know I am probably a small minority of people on here that like her, but I do. She actually seems like a pretty good person. Yeah, she's dated a lot of baseball players, but she's also a HUGE baseball fan. I've read her blog on MLB.com and other stuff about her and she seems genuinely knowledgeable about the game. She's been a fan since she was a kid and was raised on baseball. Plus, I really like how she's trying to help get more women and other people interested in baseball, by doing things like the clothing line, and more personal interviews with players. And she does a lot of work for UNICEF and other charities. I can understand why people wouldn't like her, but she's been a favorite of mine for a while.
jeter = mvp
JETER SAVES THE GAME!!
Peralta Jetered that really well
I think he's a pretty good Jeter.
He might even Jeter the Jeter glove this year.
Then again, Jeter will tough to Jeter.
So long as he doesn't try to out-Jeter Jeter.
after hearing about steinbrenner going to fire
torre lets remember this is the guy who kept hiring and firing billy martin
by smasfan on Oct 8, 2007 8:20 PM PDT reply actions
Yes, but in George's defense
(and I can't believe I just wrote that)...
Billy Martin was pretty nuts and completely unstable. Torre is the opposite.
WTF
he just said kei igawa was a product of the yankees system!
well, to the extent that the yankees system is overpaying free agents, i guess that's true.
tat's ok
I once had a Yankees fan go off on how wrong I was that David Cone wasn't a product of the Yankees farm system.
a yankees fan once tried to convince me
that bubba crosby was better than bobby crosby.
that story was a lot better when bobby crosby had just won rookie of the year.
OK, I've been with TBS audio tonight
but I'm switching to Sterling and Waldman on XM for the 9th inning because I want to hear the sobbing...and believe me, no one moans more than those two do when things are going against the Yankees.
Ahh, a connoisseur of Schadenfreude!
Love that show.
Those pesky Cowboys could very well win tonight,
so Cleveland really has to hold on and win this or my night of sports will totally suck.
Heck, the last 3 days will suck:
Trojans
NY Jets
not the Tribe
There is a God!!!
Romo intercepted for the FIFTH time at the Bills goal line!
My night is almost complete.
Jerry Jones pacing
T.O. running his mouth on the sidelines
noooo
not borowski!
the next game isn't until thursday, so why not friday's starter, carmona?
Carmona was a pretty bad closer last year
My question is, why isn't Betancourt the closer?
A couple of reasons
Carmona was a reliever last year, and he sucked. You would be putting him in an unfamiliar position, one he wasn't good at before.
Borowski is the closer, and that's how managers do things.
I will feel a lot better with more runs, though. I remember Cleveland's last World Series fiasco.
Okay, bear with me
I spent my early childhood in the Cleveland area, so the Indians were my first major league baseball team.
I evolved into A's fan long ago, but Cleveland is my second-favorite team. And the prospect of them knocking the Yankees out of the playoffs is very exciting.
So I'll be unbearable for the next few minutes (I hope it's only that long, unless Cleveland goes crazy against Rivera - and there are two runners on with nobody out).
I lived in Cleveland for 3 years
so the Indians are my 2nd favorite team too. People there have so little to get happy about, I'm really glad for them.
Assume nothing with the Indians
especially with a shaky closer in a hostile ballpark.
This is a cursed team, and has been since before I was alive.
We can bear you, bear!
Hold on a little longer Cleveland!
damnit
I think Betancourt is twice the pitcher
Borowski is, but I'm just going to keep chanting, "45 saves...45 saves...45 saves..."
Isn't that sweet?
They're clapping to the rhythm of Yank-ees Suck!
hah!
Eric Wedge is looking nervous
Is Borowski the reason his beard is gray?
Jeter
has really been the goat thus far, hasn't he?
among the hitters
but wang probably has the lowest win probability added.
oh shit.
That was immense
and, I hope, completely irrelevant.
On the bright side...
At least Borowski isn't putting runners on base.
You knew he was going to give up at least one run.
gross
perfect ending: a-rod walk/single
followed by a posada DP.
This has been a countdown of last time you'll see
players/coaches in pinstripes.
Funny how...
Given all the things spewed his way, that A-Rod has become a sympathetic figure. I want him to do well, even as the Yankees lose and die a horrible death.
On that note, what a clutch leadoff pop-up by Jeter!
Jeter knew that A-Rod would pop out
and didn't want to overshadow him. He's so selfless!
Borowski would have respected/feared Jeter more
if he had a big "C" on his jersey. Most likely would have served up a fastball down the middle.
Too many Fox-style reaction shots
I do know what nervous baseball fans look like, thank you. I'd rather watch the game itself, m'kay?
yeah, how was that shallow
whew i thought that was gone
Scutaro would have pulled that fair
Yankees choke artists.
WOO HOO
Hurray!
There is justice in the world!
Cleveland beats the Yankees!
Well, that's pretty cool. I've waited a lifetime to see this.
WOO HOO!!!!!!
see ya, yankees!
Cowboys are a 2 pt conversion
from tying this football game.
Thank you Cleveland!
thanks for the heads up
wow, glad i switched over
and the Bills STEAL it out of TO's hands in the
endzone!!!
The cowboys don't deserve to win with 5 INTs and a fumble.
now if the indians can beat the red sox
all the evil teams will be eliminated.
with sabathia and carmona both going twice in the seven game series, they have a decent shot.
Man, the Yankees haven't even won
a postseason series since 2004.
Heh.
Yes, it's amazing what you can find
when you Google image search "Yankees suck".
that's a waste of a perfectly good flame...
whoa, cowboys recover the on-side kick
If they win, I will have to actually root for the
Pats next weekend, which is very hard to do. But living in Texas is unbearable when the Cowboys are winning.
Yeah, as if it could get any worse
Jerry Jones is smiling. He's so weasly looking when he does that.
Tony Romo will get his own Bible
if he pulls off a win
The season of called time outs to ice the kicker
Me happy.
Life good is.
Little wrap up is up...
couldn't resist ;-)
Season is now complete
Yankees lose in the post season. The planet is safe for another year.
by Mr C on Oct 8, 2007 8:51 PM PDT reply actions
cowboys win!
argh, time out right before the kick
this time out before the field goal rule needs to be changed, it's getting out of hand.
at least this time it didn't change the outcome
That makes me ill
How bad do they have to play to lose???
against the bills?
even worse than this.
Maybe the Bills and Yankees fans can comiserate
together.
Tomorrow's Star Telegram headlines
Cowboys win a stunner in Buffalo!!!
World Peace, page 12.
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