So it’ll be Shawn Chacon, the guy with the sweet smile and baggy pants, squaring off against Daniel Cabrera, the dude with the scowl and the red ass tonight at Camden Yards. As Cliff mentioned to me in an e-mail this afternoon, Chacon would start a one-game playoff if it comes to that, but this may be his final start of the season. He could also wind up as the Game One starter in the ALDS if the Yanks pull this thing out without a one-game playoff. Meanwhile, the Yankee offense has to remain patient against Cabrera, who has a live arm and can be a tough customer.
Only five games left. Every ball and strike, every foul ball, every everything counts, as we sit back helplessly and watch it all unfold.
Keep the faith and let’s go Yanks!
1. Thank g*d for all the fun political stuff today so I'm not 100% tense.
2. The Yanks will win tonight.
3. The Yanks probably won't get the help from other teams beating Cleveland/Chicago/Boston as yesterday.
Tampa vs Cleveland
TAM: McClung (6-11, 7.11 ERA)
CLE: Lee (18-4, 3.90 ERA)
advantage: Cleveland
Toronto vs Boston
TOR: Lilly (9-11, 5.72 ERA)
BOS: Arroyo (14-9, 4.29 ERA)
advantage: Boston -- Arroyo has not lost in September. Lilly just got rocked in his last start.
Chicago vs Detroit
CHW: Contreras (14-7, 3.66 ERA)
DET: Douglass (5-4, 5.62 ERA)
advantage: Chicago
So the moral of the story here is that Chacon needs to win. Unfortunately, this is the closest pitching matchup of the four AL games that anyone is watching.
NYY: Chacon (7-10, 3.49 ERA)
BAL: Cabrera (10-12, 4.58 ERA)
4. I think the Yankees will steamroll 'em tonight. Revenge for last night, y'know.
5. I'll make no predictions, i'll just sit on my couch, rocking back and forth a' la Leo.
6. I hate to be a killjoy, but I have a baaaaad feeling....
7. SSTN, good analysis in 3. I think you've got it mapped out nicely.
How 'bout this for a very optomistic (and perhaps unrealistic) view of those same pitching matchups:
1. Sweet Lou is starting certified lefty-killer E. Perez tonight, and hitting him 4th (Cliff Lee being a southpaw and all). Besides, by the law of averages, isn't McClung due for a shutout now?
2. By LOA again, Arroyo must be due for a September loss, and Lilly is clearly due for a win. Plus, certified Sox-killer Reed Johnson is playing tonight.
3. LOA again, Contreras has won 7 straight starts - time for a loss, Jose! Meanwhile, Douglass is a far better pitcher at home (3-1, 3.52 ERA) than he is on the road (2-3, 8.33 ERA) - and the game is in Detroit.
4. Chacon always comes through when the Yanks need a win. And boy do we need this one . . .
Faithfully helpless, that's us!
8. I'm optimistic and everything but why is Bernie playing CF. I mean everybody knows that he can't play there anymore, anybody paying a tiny bit of attention has noticed that when Bubba is in CF, Sheff and Matsui are much better, that's an automatic 3-position upgrade.
I know that Sierra can hit a fastball and he's better from the left side, but can't they just stop the experiments and put Bubba every day in CF and let Bernie DH or sit him and let Sierra DH.
Does anybody disagree with this?
9. Earlier this season, Bernie supposedly worked out in LF and wasn't comfortable, even though his agent, Scott Boras, has said he woould be willing to play LF next season.
IMO, Torre should have insisted that Bernie play LF regardless of the way he felt, but that's not Torre's way with "his guys."
10. I would play Bubba every night - somewhere. Left, right, or center. (I was really impressed with how he covered CF, BTW.) He's hitting okay, and he hasn't done anything phenomenally stupid on the basepaths lately.
We could really use some more outfielding talent. Maybe we could pry Jason Bay away from Pittsburgh.
11. I think the Yankees have to acquire two OFers over the off season because Sheff is really a DH and Matsui can't field that well either, and you know he's staying put.
12. I would appreciate any explanation (reasonable or not) for Ruben being in the lineup and hitting ahead of Jorge and Cano, to boot.
13. Red Sox already losing 2-0
14. Go Jays~~~ 2-0 on top of Sox~
15. Boston down 2-0
16. Thank you, V. Wells.
20 pitches from Cabrera, 9 strikes, 3 outs.
17. Bill, he's 4 for 10 v. Cabrera... That's an explanation (you asked ro reasonable or not).
18. What an amazing play by Cano!
19. damn renteria just homered
20. Thanks Tocho. It's not much but enough to keep me from going insane.
21. After a 20-pitch inning comes a 9-pitch inning. Nice Jorge.
Although Matsui and Sierra did hit the ball pretty hard.
22. Shit! HR by Lopez
23. Oh shit, here we go again
24. After 2 bad breaking balls you could just know he was going for the fastball and Javy was just waiting for it perfectly. Damn
25. Runs...
26. yes, we need many of them...like now
27. This is an absolute must win. Offense needs to show up.
28. 1 out double for Tek
29. Mora robbed Jeter. I hope it hurt.
30. A-Rod's overdue for a moon shot.
31. Lilly starting to fall apart, as expected
32. Do you get the feeling that BOS is stepping it up after seeing BAL go up by 1?
33. ANOTHER K for A-rod. Why is this so common lately...
34. A-Rod down looking again. :-P
35. Not a strike.
36. Another K looking for A-Rod, this is getting old. Just hit the m--- ball.
37. And our offense, once again, has vanished
38. Come ON, Yanks! You got a reprieve yesterday. Don't #$%@ it up tonight.
39. To make this game even less enjoyable so far, the F'n Baltimore feed drives you nuts. These guys do more interviews during play than anyone I've seen. Last night they the Gov. of Maryland gas-baggin' for two full innings...
40. Pesky HR for Frankie K!!!
41. That should be Frankie C! 3-1 Jays
42. Tigers-WSox tied at 1
43. BklynBomber, at least neither of the announcers is the Hawk.
44. Here they come guys. Cabrera is due for a whippin' by JG, Sheff and Matsui!
45. Now snap out of it, Yanks! Get some baserunners and start rakin'!!!!
46. I want some runs.
47. As Steve "Was Watching" mentioned earlier today it's hard not to notice that Rodriguez has been whiffing a lot lately...and getting called out on strikes too. In his first at bat, that fastball was low, right in his wheelhouse. The second one, a heater on the outside corner froze him. But give credit to Cabrera there too--the first pitch of the sequence was a good change up for a strike. Actually, if Rodriguez had been looking for it--and why would he have, Cabrera hadn't thrown one yet--he could have hit it to kingdom come.
Got to work Cabrera into trouble, boy. Grind it, as they say.
48. rbj, — true, Hawk is hands down the most unprofessional. Palmer is actually fairly decent.
49. YES!!!! 5-1 Jays!!!!
50. boy those pitches to Giambi look like the pitches to ARod. 2 more feet Sheff. Damn
51. Can we please get some freaking hits, rediculous
52. C'MON!!! Hit the ball!
53. Is it just me, or does the team look tired. There doesn't seem to be any snap, almost like they're looking ahead to the weekend.
54. Yo, I hate watching Ruben Sierra hit. Nice pick by Mora in the third, now Gomez in the fourth. No luck O so far.
55. Where did the O go? It looks like Sheff and 8 Womacks up there...
56. They've looked tired to me all week. No surprise, really. They've been playing without a break for a long time, almost every game like it's Game 7 of the World Series.
57. This "making Daniel Cabrera look competant shit" needs to stop.
58. This is getting frustrating. Cabrera is really dominating them.
Sierra is now 4 for 12 v. Cabrera Joe, is it time to sit him now? or do you want to wait until he's 4 for 14? OK, I thought so too.
59. Ok, now's he's 4-12 vs Cabrera. Can we take Ruben out now?
60. Shit. Come on Shawn.
61. This sucks.
62. We are the ones that are getting tired. At least they get to play the games. We only get to helplessly watch them as Alex says. The latter is worst.
63. 2 on for Sox, 1 out (Ortiz pops up)
64. Ortiz has been not coming up big a fair amount of late. Such is baseball.
65. That was close. :-(
Let's go, Yanks!
66. The last week of the season on the road is BS. Wonder if there are any Yankee-haters in the MLB scheduling office, especially with Boston getting the opposite treatment. Anyone have Oliver Stone's phone number?
67. Why is it that with us down only 1 and the Sox down 4 I feel that we are losing by so much more than the Sox are?
68. Great. Now we have hockey interviews during play...
69. God damn it, Cabrera sucks, HIT HIM
70. The strike zone is very inconsistent tonight.
71. 2 on, 2 outs for Sox (Manny struck out)
72. Bernie's the only one who can hit this guy!
73. Bernie Baseball is carrying the offense. STEP UP THE REST OF YOU.
74. Bernie understands the significance of this game.
75. Follow Bernie guys, just hits, we do not need 5-run home runs... yet
76. Cano's late on everything. All fouls to left...
77. The Yankees have given up.
78. We hit into a DP (and suck) and Tek gets a very very generous ball 4 call, bases loaded, two outs, Millar up
79. Millar pops up!
80. Damn it!
I get the feeling that Bernie may be contemplating retirement, and wants to go out on a high note.
That's why he's the only one hitting tonight.
Though I have to give Giambi credit for the walks, and Sheff for almost hitting a HR.
81. Yankees are mailing it in tonight (except for Bernie and Chacon) so we damn well better hope Boston loses.
82. This game sucks!
Only 69 pitches by Cy Cabrera through 5. Its going to be a long night of lamenting if they don't step it up.
Good thing Millar sucks and flied out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
83. Thank God for Kevin Millar
84. Cano is looking great in the field at least.
Too bad hit isn't hitting.
I noticed at Saturday's game that the Yanks were not patient at the plate at all. At least tonight they seem to be running up the count.
85. Well, at least Chacon's pitching well.
86. AHHHHHH I CANT TAKE IT ANYMORE
87. I don't care if he strikes out, it's plays like that that make him the clear MVP.
88. Only 69 pitches for Cy Cabrera through 5. If the Offense doesn't wake up, there's going to be a lot of lamenting tonight and tomorrow morning in Yankeeland (especially at the Bronx Banter). BTW, what a great site guys!
89. Jays two on, no outs...Yanks, none on, ever...
The Sox Jays game is on pace to finish waaaaaay after ours...
90. KYK, it seems the Yankees version of "being patient" is taking called strike three
91. If the final score of last night's game was 19-8, I'd be really worried right now...
92. C'mon Cap, let's get it started!
93. The starting pitcher for the BlowSux in the tie-breaking game doesn't look real sharp.
94. They got to get to get Cabrera out of the game before they fall too far behind. Chacon pitching great but Cabrera who we knew could be tough is doing a little better. Meanwhile I hope Lilly can last a little longer than usual in Boston. He's been able to wriggle out of trouble so far.
95. Haha 91, I get it. I'd be freaking out, I never want to see that score again.
96. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK
97. God Dammit, hit the freaking ball. All of a sudden we are totally punchless. The rollercoaster Yankees continue
98. Are you guys serious, we're down 1 run, Chacon is dealing and the O will wake up. Have some faith and relax a little bit. I definitely don't think the yanks have given up in any sense of the word. eh, maybe im just naive or ive been stuck in providence too long watching gameday...btw arroyo loads the bases
99. Thank you, A-Rod!
100. Finally!!! A-Rod!!!!
101. BOOM
102. MVP!!!!!!!!
103. AROD!! MVP!
104. No K Alex, this time.
105. And folks, we have our MVP.
Now ADD ON
106. AAAAAAROOOODDDD (I proudly take back my words, for the moment)
107. Am I seeing right? Bases loaded, no outs for the Jays?
108. I think the Jays have bags full with no one out And an A Bomb from A-Rod
109. Like I said, if Cabrera leaves a breaking ball like that up in the zone when Rodriguez is looking for it...
110. Bases loaded, no outs top of 4th. Go Jays.
111. 2 run double for Frankie C!!!!!
112. Good call, JRNYY at 98, and not just because of ARod's hr.
113. How could you even consider the fat man over this guy? I mean, most prolific right handed hitter in YANKEE history...
114. Are you guys serious, we're down 1 run, Chacon is dealing and the O will wake up. Have some faith and relax a little bit. I definitely don't think the yanks have given up in any sense of the word. eh, maybe im just naive or ive been stuck in providence too long watching gameday...btw arroyo loads the bases
115. Two run double off the monster for Candalanotto (sp)
116. 7-1, Sox into bullpen early
117. 7 - 1 Jays. Someone send Catalonoto a fruit basket.
118. Sheff is the MAN. He has many ways to take a pitcher of the game...
119. Jays up 7-1
We gotta win this one.
120. Haha, MVP-Rod would've made that play.
121. C'mon Vernon put these guys to bed!
122. Tampa's pitching staff is doing us proud. 0-0 vs Tribe, top 7...
123. The Yanks saw the scoreboard and are going for the kill! Let's do it!!!!
124. Let's hope ARod's HR is the wakeup call for the offense.
125. Lets go Ruben
126. Prove us wrong Ruben (and Joe)!
127. Why is Sierra still in??????????
128. Why is Ruben in the lineup? He's suppose to come OFF THE BENCH.
129. OK, we were right about Ruben...
130. At least we're starting to get to Cybrera...
131. Needless to say, my outrage over Ruben being in the lineup has just gone out of sight
132. Ruben...
133. Fat Hinskie k's with the bases loaded, 2 outs
134. And the SOB swings at the first pitch!!!!!!!!!!
135. Score's tied, it's getting late. We can win. Boston's losing. Time for a beer.
136. It seems the Jays have had the bases juiced every inning in this series.
137. Jays leave bases loaded, crowd and espn announcers react like they swung the momentum towards them, who knows. What I do know is that 7-1 in the 4th is not a big enough lead at all
138. Sierra is totally fucking worthless. The guy is an out machine, why is he in the lineup?! ANYONE ELSE! Bellhorn! Phillips! Lawton! Proctor! I don't care! At least show the intelligence to get the fucking guy off the roster. We're here to win ballgames, folks.
Sorry to be a filth-mouth.
139. Lenny DiNardo the new pitcher for Boston-double two runs in and runners on second and third still no one out damn they load the bases and get out with nobody else scoring. 7-1 Jays. Shit I I think they needed at least one of those runs but maybe 6 run lead will be enough. I kinda doubt it
140. Berman might as well be wearing a Sox jersey.
141. Damn. C'mon Shawn settle down!
Here comes the DP.
The jays left them juiced. I can't believe its still the 4th. inning. I would not bet that they will lose this one.
142. 138- I like the Proctor idea. He should trade places with Ruben, it's an upgrade in two departments.
143. Come on, Shawn! Hang in there. If we have to call on the bullpen now, those thuds you hear will be Yankees fans throwing themselves out of windows.
144. How can you compare A-Rod with one great play after another at 3rd with Ortiz who just goes to the dugout and stuffs his face when he's not batting.
145. Sheff makes me crazy with that one-arm catch!
146. Sox go easily in 4th, heading into 5th, Lilly vs. Dinardo.
147. I'm listening to the Orioles feed on my XM and that sounded like a double from the announcers reaction before Sheff caught it.
148. Nice catch by Sheff. I guess his leg isn't bothering him anymore. At least our D seems to be there.
149. I hate those basket catches.
150. Someone made the argument that Ortiz doesn't waste his time as DH; he reviews tape in between innings.
...WTF?!?! IF AROD HAD TIME TO REVIEW TAPE BETWEEN INNINGS INSTEAD OF GOLD GLOVE DEFENSE, HE'D WIN THE TRIPLE CROWN AND HIT 60 HOME RUNS.
151. #144 - marc, that can't be said better...
152. I'm going crazy here.
I have to remember, I'm having fun, I'm watching a game, I'm not working, I'm having fun.
153. Nice Shawn, why can we never score runs for the poor guy?
154. Good thing Oritz doesn't play 3rd base for us.
155. Nice job Shawn
156. Show up offense.
157. Runs pleaaaseeeeeeee.. I can't take this..
158. Good point #150 yankz.
So should every teams' fielders review tape between innings? Oh, that's right, they've got to play defense. /sarcasm.
159. Sheff did that because it was the only way he could catch with that bad shoulder. Now he's use to it and until he screws up probably won't try to go back to catching like he use too.
160. 144, and 150. OK he stuffs his face WHILE watching video.
161. Whoever is with Berman on ESPN just endorsed AROD for mvp, Berman of course waxes poetic for Ortiz
162. Chacon only has like 77 pitches or so. So if things don't go bad he can make it to Gordon and probably all the way to Mo if need be and he's doing well
163. So the ESPN announcers are throwing the BS that if Ortiz was out of the lineup, they'd be in worse shape than the Yankees without ARod.
Based on that logic, Mo is the MVP.
164. Based on that logic shouldn't Woe be the MVP.
165. Nice, Jorgie!
166. Need. Runs. Now.
(For the Yankees, just in case confirmation is needed)
Good start, Jorge has a hit. Ruben cannot screw this up this inning.
167. Nice hit Jorge. We only need one more run. Then the two headed beast: ChaconMo.
Way to take one for the team Bernie.
168. #164. - Hahaha
Finally, two runners on, no outs. Let's go yankees!
169. Jays leave a runner on 1st, going to bottom of the 5th, Ortiz up third, berman "getting him ready" in the lockerroom
170. Big inning. Let's go.
171. The other guy on ESPN is (I believe) Jeff Brantley. He's always struck me as pretty balanced if not pro-Yankee. You should've heard him go gaga over Jeter even during the 0 fer 32.
172. #169 - Post of The Night nominee...
173. Textbook bunt for Rob ROY!
174. Edgar hits a one out double, Ortiz up
175. EXCELLENT
176. Perfect.
177. one of these two needs to be able to knock these guys in
178. Hey - he got the job done...now it's up to the Cap & the MVP - here we go Yankees!
179. Ok, we got to their bullpen. Surely they are exhausted after last night.
Now is the time to get them. Byrdak, Kline, Julio, whatever. That Chris Ray guy is their best bullpen pitcher (ok, maybe B. J. Ryan, but he sucked against Sox).
180. 172- Sounds good.
Captain's going to show them how it's done.
181. How can you really call a grown man "Big Poppy"
182. I guess Byrdak was their anti-bunt one out guy (ABOOGY)
183. Ortiz RBI single
184. Cleveland's down. This inning is huge.
185. FUCK rbi for asshole.
186. D'Rays lead Cleveland 1-0. Just get 6 more outs.
187. Crap - Ortiz drives in a run,
I guess he got to watch a lot a video of Lilly while eating a sub.
188. That sac is bad with a runner on first and 0 outs - is it better with first and second?
189. Does anyone remember williams when he was with the Yanks? He doesn't even register in my memory.
190. Nice Derek!!
191. Classic Jeter!
192. Keep it moving MVP, keep it moving
193. YEAH. Come on A-Rod!
194. yankz - you called it, brah. That's why he's the Cap'n.
195. TOLD YOU HELL YES FAVORITE PLAYER
One more bomb should cement the MVP
196. Lilly throwing 8 mph "darts" that are going all over the place...
197. 2 on, one out for Lilly
198. Rather, 68 mph, not 8
199. While do I feel like ARod is going strike out?
200. SHIT
201. He looked safe to me.
202. Ah, crap.
203. HUUUUUUUGGGGEEE diving catch by Reed Johnson to rob Tek of a two run double
204. We wuz robbed. Bernie was safe.
205. Fucking bullshit.
206. This guy is the worst. Not only are his call behind the plate erratic at best but that was ridiculous what he just called at the plate. Was he saying Bernie never touch the plate? Unbelievable.
207. Damn. He was clearly safe.
Now make it hold Shawn, just one more inning.
208. Replays showed Bernie was safe
209. Bernie got under it! Ump blew that one!
210. Safe...not even that close a call. Hope the call doesn't cost us, because it was terrible.
211. Baseball gods owe us one.
212. Orioles announcers say Bernie was safe
213. Damn!
Ok, keep them there, Shawn.
G-man, Sheff and Mats up next inning, and please, someone, anyone PH for Sierra.
I would go with Andy Phillips.
214. A golden arm.
215. When you have total job security you can call them anyway you feel like.
216. So, does Joe bring in Gordon in for the 8th?
Or do we stay with Chacon? He's around 85 pitches.
217. Lilly barely survives the 5th (Millar pops up again with 2 on) 7-2 Jays heading into the 6th, Still Dinardo vs. Lilly, though Lilly should go, hes got nothing left and got a huge boost from Johnson in that inning. DiNardo is coming up big for the Sox by eating innings
218. Get Gordon ready fast.
219. Millah fucks up again
220. Bernie was out - he slid too high and just plain missed the plate. Watch the replay again, and you'll see him kick up a dirt trail the entire length of his slide. It was a bonehead play by Bernie - you've GOTTA touch the plate - and yet another example of Bernie's horrendous baserunning.
221. By the way - that throw is why he's the MVP.
222. "Get off your knees, Ump. You're blowin' the game."
Bad call on ball four there...
223. Crap, walking a guy like Matos is a bad idea.
224. lead-off walk for Chacon. Not a good start. Still has only 87 pitches so if he can get it together he could go through the 8th but first has to overcome this walk
225. Chucksax,
That's not how I saw it. And I Tivo'd it 5 times. The ump is killing me
226. Dead.
227. Huge CS there with the Lopez double
228. Okay, after that double, I think Gordon has to come in now.
229. Damn. I didnt know Gomez got any hits
230. Thank you Jorge.
231. Dinardo, channeling Cy Young, pitches an easy 6th.
Joe asking for inning plus from Gordon, lets hope it works out
232. No way Bernie was out.
233. Chuck you're dead wrong, Bernie was safe.
234. Yeah, that was an egregiously bad call on Bernie. Couldn't help but think about that Schwarz article in the Times today, but no matter how much slower he is now, he was safe by a mile. Horrid call.
Another nice outing from Chacon. It's up to Flash to get out of the jam, and up to the offense to put up a few insurance runs.
235. WTG, Gordon. Great outing by Chacon.
236. Thank you baseball gods.
237. Flash! Okay now we need to score a few insurance runs.
238. I want more runs.
NOW
239. 228
I think Chacon stays, I dont think Gordon would be a good idea in the middle of an inning.
Not that it matters, but anyway. So far so good.
240. I recall reading that the ump crews assigned to both this and the Sox-Jays series where among the best rated in the game. I'd hate to see what, say, Texas vs Seattle has to put up tonight. Yeesh!
241. Nice 1 pitch out for Gordon, thats huge. Lilly still in in Boston, 2 outs bottom 6th
242. i wasn't sure Gordon was better than Chacon. I was hoping Chacon would go through 8 but i guess it worked out well so for now Joe made the right move. I've lost my trust of Gordon. He must of fucked up recently that I can't recall
243. vernon Wells needs a fruit basket too.
244. Chacon is such a stud.
245. HUUUGE play in Boston: Graffanino hits a double to left center, but wait, the ball carooms widly right to Vernon Wells, who throws to second and nails Tony for the third out of the inning. Graff can't believe it, but no replay as of yet.
Top of the 7th, 7-2 Jays
246. TB beats Cleveland 1-0, go Baez!!!!!!
247. Wo better steal now.
248. Giambi on.
Roll the dice and go with a PR?
That's what he does. But is it necessary with Sheff batting behind Giambi?
249. Replay shows good acting by Hill at second, no tag, but doesn't matter, lucky call. Sox fans will be up in arms and call for the 2B umpires' prompt execution
250. C'mon Yanks... big inning here!
251. Game over for Cleveland
GO D-RAYS!!!!!!!!!!
So its not only the Yanks that lose v. them.
Shaun P in 7 is 1 for 4 thus far.
252. Graff was indeed safe, oh well.
253. D'Rays owed us, and they have done us a huge favor by winning series against Boston and Cleveland.
It is upto us to make that count.
254. ugh.
We need this run. Mora and Tejada coming up.
255. is that Final I see on TB beating Cleveland 1-0
256. Come on, Mat.
257. Mats is due....
258. As long as Woe has his carcass out there, why don't they run?
259. So Woe is simply going to stand there on the basepath?
Damn!
260. Please bring in a Pinch Hitter, PLEASE Joe. You can do it. C'mon it doesn't take very long. You can even ask Girardi to write it down...
PLEASE
261. Just as a quick look, I wanted to see what Baltimore's team bullpen ERA was (it's 4.26 btw - just a shade over the Yankees at 4.11). While looking at this, it amazed me that Cleveland has a team bullpen era of under 3 at 2.90. Holy crap = that's gotta be nice. Both Chicago & the Angels have under 3.5 ERAs as well. Just FYI for the pla...I won't jinx it.
262. Proof that Joe is getting Bronx Banter notes passed to him...
263. Woe finally steals a base, and Ruben walks...
shocked
264. Womack is among the league leaders in stolen bases? Wow.
265. This is for the AL East lead, Jorgie! Grind it!
266. god are they gonna let Ruben "hit"
267. Up to Gordon to keep it like it is.
268. I guess Mo may be coming in whenever Gordon gives up a hit or walk
269. I was surprised to see old man Sierra walk, but I'm not surprised that Posada struck out. BJ Ryan throws GAS. Boy, he'd look good in pinstripes next year, wouldn't he? =)
C'mon Flash, let's nail this one down and get us some sleep!
270. FWIW, thanks the Orioles feed (which ran the replay from multiple angles) and the frame-by-frame advance on Tivo, I can say conclusively that Bernie was safe. Palmer thought so as well. Not that it matters now . . .
271. Lilly one on, one out in 7th, Oritz bunts for a bizarre reason and they get the runner at 2nd, so one on, two out, Manny up
272. big inning now in Boston. They trail by 5 starting the bottom 7th. Shit a walk to Rentaria.
273. Lilly leaves
274. Ortiz bunted? Isn't this where he's supposed to hit a big homer or something?
275. Flash, your job is not to have Mo get 5 outs tonight. Just do it!
276. DP
277. Just as Gordon gets a HUUUUGE DP, Manny pops up to end the 7th. Going into the top of the 8th, Dinardo still in, 7-2 Jays. Still a very realistic chance Ortiz will come up again in this game
278. Wow!!! Talk about a timely DP! Now let's add, say, 5 or 6 runs... just in case ;-)
279. DP!!!! Nice job Flash, lets go boys
280. Onions, Flash, onions. Tejada is now tied for the league lead in double plays, no?
281. Flash does it, Lilly does it.
Now up to Mo.
282. Um, HELL YEAH!
283. Manny popped out to end the threat in Boston. And after popping out, i'm pretty sure he was laughing.
284. WHooo - way to go Flash!
285. HUGE DP there - WTG, Flash!
Now we need some runs - let's go, Bernie - make up for that horrible call by the home plate ump.
286. Somehow I ended up doing play-by-play for the Sox game, sorry to all those who don't need it, I am stuck in a manic superstitious routine
287. HUGE DP!!!
Make it count guys! Some insurance for Mo now.
288. Zack (and anyone else), though I am "watching" on Yahoo!, FWIW, I appreciate the commentary. Yahoo said Ortiz "grounded into a fielder's choice, Renteria out at second." No mention of a bunt.
Rob ROY! Rob ROY! Nice hit there.
Let's go, Cap'n!
289. Thank god I got my asthma meds refilled today. This team is gonna put me in the E/R one of these days.
290. #286 Zack — keep it comin', bro...
291. OK Mo, be Mo.
292. Oh who cares, Jeter already did his part. Now Enter Sandman...
293. Ok here we go, fingers crossed, toes crossed, eyes crossed...
294. What's with all these late hitting into DP's by Jeter? Shit, I hope we can win. 1 run is nothing
295. Uno...
296. They ought to calculate how many bats he's broken.
297. Dos...
298. Going into bottom of the 8th, 7-2 Jays...Tito using his kids in the bullpen, something we would never do...
299. Our boy Mo - one more to go!
300. First place Yan-kees!
301. YYYYYEEEEESSSSSS!!!!!
302. Hallelujah!
If A-rod isn't the MVP, Mo is!!!
303. the Yaaaneeees Wiinnnn
304. YES!
305. Anyone else just let out a nice, vigorous "Yeah!"
306. Mo-VP!!!!!!!
307. AutoMOtic nails it down. 1 run is indeed enough for Mo most of the times.
Still at the top of AL East, and at the very least, sole possession of WC lead.
308. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
309. Jays need to get five more outs.
310. 1 out bottom of the 8th
Now that the Yansk game is over, i can finally begin to function for the rest night
311. Alright, I'm two for three now 7 , tocho 251! I'd LOVE to go 3 for 4 - only 5 more outs to go in Boston.
312. 305- The most vigorous of the season
313. Alex, I did the "clap hands once and let out a Yes!"
314. Alex, mine was a "F* Yeah" and a patented Jeter fist pump.
315. a walk to boston. that pitcher should be shot.
316. 2 on and 1 out in bottom of the 8th for Sox, Chaulk pitching
317. Great omen. After an out-of-control slugfest and pitching meltdown last night — we respond with pitching, defense and timely hitting.
And yes Alex (#305), the whole neighborhood heard mine ;-)...
318. YES, God Bless Mo
319. Nice way to curse it, Belth. Olerud walks, Mueller singles. Two on, one out in the eighth.
320. Hey Gibbons, time to take Chulk out, don't ya think, eh?
OK, there we go - let's get those last 5 outs, now, eh? Wish I had a Labatt's 'bout now . . .
321. boston now 2 on 1 out in the 8th. This game is 60-40 in favor of Jays at the moment
322. Hallelujah!!! 2-1 is a pretty win. Great pitching. Chacon for President.
I'm all over Sox/Jays on Gameday. I feel like I'm there cheering in the stands. Go birds!!!!
323. Stealth mode Gameday at work now. Luckily, the Japanese teachers around me probably can't read English so well. ;)
324. Shawn was definitely the player of the game. Moose oughta give him his paycheck this week. :)
325. 2 outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd after a pitching change and Nixon ground out to first...
326. Please keep posting the Sox-Jays updates... if I watch it, the Sox will win for sure.
Thank you.
327. A double play would've been nice, but I'll take the out there. Gotta get the sure out. Hinske made the right call. Four to go . . . you haven't jinxed anything, Alex!
328. Graff pops up!!!! Going into top of the 9th!!!!
329. Thank you Scott Schoenweiss. May you get as many outs as you have letters in your name!!
330. OK, pop up for Graffanino and we head into the top of the 9th - some more runs for the Jays would be nice, eh? ;)
Bklyn, we'll keep you up to date - but I'm sure you could turn the game on and the Sox will still lose. =)
331. this is like the 7th game of the World Series with 4 teams playing. At least it's not 6 anymore tonight
332. Shaun P, its best not to mess with fate and karma here, some things are far too important...
333. And I do believe Ortiz will somehow manage to come up in the 9th yet again, amazing
334. Feelin' fine about now!! More Jays runs would be a plus!
335. Alex, Schteeve, I'm with ya. I definitely belted out a ''fuck yes'' with the patented Yankee fist pump. Must've looked so lame hehehe...
336. Cleveland's season may just come down to tomorrow. If they lose and the White Sox win, they'd be 4 back with no chance for the division. They'd need help from the Yankees or Red Sox to get the WC.
Ouch. 1-0 was a tough loss for them today.
337. I don't know if it's been mentioned but Sox-Jays is on ESPN.
338. Let's go here, Zaun. Reed Johnson, certified Sox-killer, is on deck. More runs, please!
339. 311. 3 for 4 is great, and especially being right on the money on the performances, I would have never predicted (i) the TB shutout (ii) the Arroyo loss combined with the Lilly win and (iii) Chacon coming up great for the Yanks.
Now, you need to predict the performance for tomorrow... How will Clement do? Can Small be big again? and will TB pull off an amazing sweep?
340. Zaun grounds out to Myers to end the inning, bottom of the 9th coming up, here we go!
341. OK, 3 outs to go, and sleep awaits. Let's make it quick Toronto, eh?
342. Shaun (#330) — Thank you! Let me know when it's totally safe to pick up the remote. Just want to see the early effects of 'The Curse II' on the faces of Sawks fans ;-)
343. tocho, don't count that Sox game over just yet, please!!
344. Is it Batista? No Gameday update yet.
345. Nope Schowenweiss still in for Damon...
346. Good. I like Scotty-boy.
347. tocho, at least half of my credit has to go to Start Spreading The News in 3 - he inspired me to make totally subjective choices by posting all those stats first. ;)
I have no idea what to expect tomorrow - except that we'll all be back here, helplessly watching and keeping the faith.
348. Ugh. Full count.
349. Great play by Hinskie on a sharp grouder to 1st to nab Damon...now Edgar
350. BTW, Batista is now up in the pen. Nice play, Hinske!
Two to go!
351. Yes. One out. Damon on a grounder.
352. Schoenweiss still in
353. way to get ahead on the count.
354. Edgar goes around on an 0-2, strike out, 2 outs, Ortiz up...shot of Clement and his chin beard in the dugout (such a bad look)
355. LOVE THE K!!!
356. Renteria strikes out, only one to go!
And oh, Schoeneweis is a lefty. =)
357. Schoenweiss still in
358. C'mon let's see the Big Pop-out.
359. Just as brently says the Sox have lost, ortiz lines a single to right center
360. Damn. A single by Ortiz.
361. We are all masochists. We are all suffering to get to a stage were MORE suffering will go on, and for longer periods of time.
Big, fat, cookie monster singles. Stupid, lazy, ugly manny coming up.
362. Ortiz lines one into right, just above Hill's glove. No worries, Bkyln.
363. 1 more strike!
364. Manny pops up, GAME OVER!!!!!!!!!!
365. theeee Jaaayyys win!
366. Bklyn, no shots of the fans, a quick send out to the Angels/As game
367. Popped him up. A game in the books on the Sox.
Tomorrow is our day people. Win and we are in the drivers seat!!!! WOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
368. Bklyn, you can turn it on now if you like. =)
There we go, boys! First place all alone!!! Its been fun - have a nice day in Japan, mike, and a good night to everyone else.
369. Thanks, Shaun — I'm tunin' in. If they come back, it's on you! ;-)
370. Magic Number down to 2!!
371. Whew! Thanks for the updates, my brothers...
Back where we belong!
372. Did you guys catch Ortiz signing for fans after the game? I don't care for him on the field (#1, he's good, #2, he hangs over the plate and is never brushed back, and #3, he has an arrogance about him), but that's pretty cool of him.
373. Today was a good day. Yanks win, Tribe, Sox lose. Tomorrow is another day. Yanks just need to win three of their last four. I say "just" like it's no thing. Of course, it's a formidable task, but so long as they take it one at a time...Anyhow, tonight we go to sleep happy. Then we start all over again with the worrying and the pacing and the shouting and the pleading and cheering and the cursing tomorrow.
374. Just taking a step back to admire the record set by A-Rod tonight. We have to be aware that we are very lucky to watch this guy play. He gets all kind of crap about earning his pinstripes, and coming through in the clutch, that its just the result of a tremendous bias against the highest paid player.
The fact is he is hands down the best player in baseball right now. They can give the stupid MVP to the cookie monster if they want, but if they do, they were not paying attention to what this guy does on the field AND at the batters box.
Our grandsons will ask us about A-Rod they way we ask ours about Mantle.
375. it's unbelievable the help we're getting.We lose last night and so does Cleveland and Boston, no harm no foul. we win today and Cleveland and boston lose again so both lose twice in a row against D-Rays and Toronto. Frankly the D-Rays have just been a good team the second half and with the loss tonight I suspect Boston's record against Toronto is no better than our record against the D-Rays. I guess that's what's great about baseball versus most other sports besides no clock; you really only have a small clue about who's going to win any specific game.
376. good point tocho. I mean who the hell can hit like that, hit right handed homers in Yankee Stadium as if it didn't make much difference, steal bases when he thinks it's worth it, and field a tremendous gold glove year having just been changed from short all his life to third. It's almost unbelievable. Frankly he's underpaid. The Boss should give him a raise.
377. tocho- that was excellent. it really is a privelege.
man f you ortiz.
378. AMC is showing Field of Dreams right now. How apropos. Think I will hunker down and enjoy the wonderful sport that is baseball
379. #374 — Well said, tocho. And we're yet to see the best of him...
380. How important is Aaron Small tomorrow? You have Downs vs. Clement at Fenway, and Small vs. Bedard at Camden.
If Small can win tomorrow, he will have earned a special place in Yankee fans' memories forever.
Think about it for one second. Small wins and we go into Fenway a game up. The first game at Fenway features Wang vs. Wells. Wang gets a similar opportunity. Winning the next two games with virtual unknowns at season's start would put us in a position to win the division with Randy Johnson on the mound. It's a big if, but who would have thought we'd see Small and Wang in a spot like this?
Great drama.
381. Actually, if Small wins we go into Fenway at least 1 game up, possibly 2 which would be really awesome!
382. 2 would be nice, but Clement has been the Sox best pitcher much of the year and I wouldn't get my hopes up too much. The season is on the line for the Red Sox tomorrow and I'm guessing they will win in a rout.
That having been said....
Clement is 0-2 vs. Toronto this year with an 8.66 ERA and a .282 BAA. He's made 5 September starts this year and he is 1-3 with a 5.79 ERA and a .273 BAA.
About two weeks ago (9/13) he went 6 innings against the Jays and gave up 6 runs.
Here are his BAA and OPSA breakdowns on the season:
VS. LEFT: .273 / .786 VS. RIGHT: .240 / .646 HOME: .258 / .705 AWAY: .256 / .736
Look for Frank Catalanotto, Eric Hinske, and Corey Koskie to test out the Pesky Pole against Mr. Clement. We can only hope.
383. Clement has been their best pitcher for most of the year, but he really has been shaky as of late as your numbers support, so I'm hoping the trend continues.
Most importantly, are guys just need to focus on the task at hand and earn another win to at least maintain the lead, or better yet, take advantage of an unlikely loss by the Sox!
Sure better than being tied or behind, that's for sure!
384. Small is the key to the whole shebang right now. If we can hold the fort on a one game lead, the Sox will have to sweep to knock us out. That ain't happening.
Small's win tomorrow would virtually guarantee us a one game playoff in Yankee Stadium. That's how I look at it.
385. For the record on the MVP race...after the last game A-Rod and Ortiz stand with 589 and 588 ABs respectively. A good point for an even comparison.
Shall we?
AVG. A-Rod .319, Ortiz .296
OPS. A-Rod 1.03, Ortiz .993
OBP. A-Rod .421, Ortiz .392
SLG. A-Rod .610, Ortiz .600
HRs. A-Rod 47, Ortiz 46
RUNS A-Rod 119, Ortiz 115
HITS A-Rod 188, Ortiz 174
TBs. A-Rod 359, Ortiz 353
SBs. A-Rod 18, Ortiz 1
HBP. A-Rod 16, Ortiz 1
GIDP A-Rod 8, Ortiz 13
Ortiz leads in the following stats:
2Bs. Ortiz 39, A-Rod 28
RBI. Ortiz 144, A-Rod 129
BBs. Ortiz 98, A-Rod 90
SOs. Ortiz 120, A-Rod 137
XBH. Ortiz 86, A-Rod 76
SFs. Ortiz 9, A-Rod 3
Plus, A-Rod plays a Gold Glove 3B every night. A-Rod has played about 1360 innings in the field this year, which translates to 151 full games. He has had 406 Total Chances between 3B and SS and has only 11 errors.
Ortiz has played 10 games at 1B and 78 innings, which translates to a little more than 8 full games in the field. He's had 82 Total Chances and has made 2 errors. In fact, in Ortiz' CAREER he's played a total of 221 games in the field and 1093 innings at 1B.
Let me repeat that....he has a career 1093 innings in the field....A-Rod has 1360 this year...at 3B!
More argument needed? I think not.
386. Can someone clarify the Division winning math for me? What's the combination of Yankee wins and Boston losses that clinches it for us?
387. How happy was I to see this line in today's NY Times:
"Wright, who is now in the Yankees' bullpen . . ."
Now if we can just get Crosby into the lineup tonight instead of Sierra . . .
388. I don't see how it's even a contest. If you could choose to have either A-Rod or Ortiz on your team, you'd pick A-Rod. Anyone who says otherwise is lying.
A very sweet win, that a lot of people contributed to. A-Rod was huge, Chacon was the player of the game, Jeter drove in the winning run, Mo was, well, Mo.
And special props to the oft-maligned Jorge Posada. He was the winning run, and his gunning down of Matos saved the Yankee lead. Probably sucked to be him Tuesday night, with that awful stuff from eight different pitchers, but he stepped up for this one.
389. Bags, I believe our magic number is 4 - any total of 4 Yankee wins and Sox losses and we win the division.
I guess the only outcomes that matter right now are tonight's (in order from best to not so good but not terrible either):
Thursday
1. Sox lose, Yanks win = Yanks two games up, need just one win for the division, Sox need a sweep for the division
2. Sox win, Yanks win OR Sox lose, Yanks lose = Yanks 1 game up, Yanks need 2 wins for the division, Sox need a sweep for the division
3. Sox win, Yanks lose = tie, first team to two wins gets the division
If I've done this right, the nice thing is that, thanks to last night, the Yanks have to win only two more games, regardless of what happens tonight. Boy, I hope I've figured this right . . . someone please let me know if I haven't!