I feel much more confident tonight than I did last week. I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing.

Utley uh-oh ...

Cliff - your masive series preview...RULED!!! the best, per usual. : )

interesting 8th inning out there in LaLa land!

i can't wait for the Yanks game! i'm feeling pretty good about it, too. Yanks in 6.

Good Lord, but it's cold.

Brrrrrrrrr.

[3] STOP TEMPTING THE FATES!!!!

(Take it back, please?)

[3]

I second that emotion .... as good or better than anything from Baseball Prospectus.

[5] don't forget though he is nostralarmis

yeah - just got another fister from cowchip

more fisting out there in porn land...

Happhazard on to pitch

what a scenario - bases loaded, 2 outs, Ethier at the dish...

1-1 count

it's been the bottom of the 8th for close to an hour or so

that's gotta be tough .... 4pm sun in LA, trying to hit pitch passing into shadows ...

full count

manny on deck

wow walked him

Aren't you glad we have Joba, Hughes and Mo?

[11] about as long as it took me to read Cliff's awesome preview!

walked in the leading run.

manny up.

broxton warming, i'm sure...

2-1 Torre's

A couple of innings ago, Caray stated that Phillies bullpen had been so good for most of the year .... uh huh

i didn't see any of pedro's outing - why did manuel pull him - he ran out of gas or lifted for a ph?

[16] yeah cliff's previews are wonderful

Utley really is turning into Knoblauch. He was lobbing a bunch of throws in there last night on routine plays, it was deja vu all over again.

My God, how many pitcher changes do you need to make? Should've stuck with Pedro- it's reverse Grady Little disease.

Man, this is killing me. I don't know how I'll ever make it over these 7 or so games- thank God I know you guys are living and dying with every pitch as well.

[17] one of the dipshits also said that because chan ho park used to be a starter that would help him slow down la's running game

Ah.. 7:57 first pitch time..thought it was 7:57am local time here..time for Jazz Jt to watch Curious George on tv first then..

Furcal still has a gun. i used to love watching him throw here in Atlanta.

tbs is glad kobe is at the game

dodgers win. 1-1 in the series.

ok, let's move right along. i'm ready for some YANKEES baseball !!!!!!!!!

dodgers win - that's more exciting than phillies going up 2-0

If you want something to do til game time .... Emma's enemy Terry is currently losing on Jeopardy ...

[26]

never mind .... now he's leading going into final jeopardy ...

Terry loses!!!!!

[28] how could you stand to watch him again?

[0] thanks for the mention, Cliff. Not quite the air-conditioned car wash I was expecting, but it's dank out there. I'm just glad the snow melted off my roof out here in NW Bumphuck, NJ, and my Direct TV dish is thawed out and receiving.

LET'S GO YANKEES!

How's the weather looking? Sunny, crisp autumn morning here!

Watched the first round of the Japanese baseball playoffs last night, they give the first place-teams a "bye" in the first round, I like it!

The Rakuten Golden Eagles beat up the Softbank Hawks last night 11-4. the Golden Eagles are managed by the VERY grumpy Nomura Katsuya..one of the greatest baseball players of all time! He played 25 years as a catcher and hit 657 home runs (admitedly a very small stadium in those days, but still impressive).
http://www.japanesebaseball.com/players/player.jsp?PlayerID=410

Ahhhhhh. David Wells just said: "I just farted". Fantastic

chip caray. joe buck. steve phillips.

is this really the best baseball can give us?

crap.

where was that 0-2 pitch though?

Yanks rockin the arctic gear.

SIDDOWN CHOAD!

these guys are cracking me up with the cold weather gear... Teix looks damn near like elmer fudd out there.

i;m NOT rooting for boBBy here! : )

dude. that was strike THREE! it crossed the plate over his knees!!! : /

YEAH! there it is ...

[38] he got me screaming too

If it's really that cold out there, it would suck to take one off the hands

damn. solid contact on the hanging slider.

good job, exceedingly large man!

[33] I got Sutcliffe here for some reason...not any better...

[36] i don't think anyone has robbie beat

[45] Robin-hood Cano

[44] i would certainly trade "up" for Sut !!!

[45] Which black manager 'mentioned' that latino players were better suited for very hot game days? Does thatr mean they are more bothered by the cold?

ok my plans got canned. so I'm here! go YANKS!!

We can beat this guy. He's just a lackey.

the cold weather gear is hilarious.

[50] ho ho ho! :)

Wow. Jeter wearing mittens at bat....

jeter - where is your balaclava?

[48] i think it was Dusty Baker...

[49] good! : )

WORK THAT PITCH COUNT!

i love derek jeter!!!

OMG. That was pretty funny.

nice ab jeter

Timmy is BRILLIANT!
Jeter will go to RF with 2 strikes!

mind you. i'm in total solidarity with the team! woot Jeter!!!

Anyhow, as i was saying, the furnace is broke so i'm sitting here in hooded sweatshirt with blanket and spaceheater! :)

way to work Slackjaw, Jeets!

it sounds very loud there now. it is a different channel though.

Lackeydasical

[61] that stinks - no space heater?

[65] i have a space heater. just no furnace.

[61] [65] sorry seamus - i read the space heater and saw sewatshirt again - still stink - been there last year

oh, HELL YEAH!!!!

Glad we traded him!

Lackey sure is a mouth-breather ...

good way to get a hit damon

Hey .... the LF ump called it correctly!

[67] thanks ms october. it is your time of year which is so nice!

plate 'em both, Tex !!!

bollocks.

do it up, Alex!!!

bummer

[73] maybe yelling for the yanks will keep you warm :}

STUPID STUPID STUPID!
First game... first inning... and still
it ALWAYS comes down to ARod !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i like the green light though.

not the best swing tex - just get the runs in alex

ARod's mantra this series MUST be...
TALK THE WALK

All right, Team, kids are in bed, let's party!

Well done, Alex!

i'll take it -

i'll take the early run!

alright i'll take it!

wow he just missed that

or TAKE THE WAKE

I hate to let Lackey off with just 1 run here...

Yankee lefties will learn to poke that outside stuff to left ...

HA!!!!!!

HOLY FUCK!!!!

yeah dipshits!!!

we'll take it!

OH YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that RULED!!!!

O
M
G
!

Shades of the Mutts!

No freakin way... Play the game the right way, boys!!

Remember when what's his name, the catcher for Arizona lost two foul balls in one inning?

Luis Castillo School of Popups ...

[89] is poke the new fisted?

oh boy.
last 3 hitters all just missed the pitch. lackey's getting a little lucky here i think (well until that play).

That’s the best goddamned thing I’ve ever seen. Atta boy Snoop.

that said, Matsui fucked up there. lackey totally missed his location and threw a fat mistake. Mats missed it. i'll take the result, but we can't be giving away mistake pitches like that.

(geez, i sound like William, haha!)

i got my 2 runs plated! : )

4 hitters in a row getting under the pitch a bit

Good inning, Team!

Even the outs (though I didn't see Teix's) were promising.

That was weird. The balaclava block his ears?

Or did A-Rod throw his voice from the dugout, and yell "I got it"?

[100] how's my hair look

[102] Exactly, just a bit!

Wait til second time through!

I guess the Angels were too busy reading [88] to catch the ball?

[106] hi weeping - yeah could be promising

[101] willielarmis!

[105] nicely played!

[108] Hi Ms. O! Let's send this ugly mf crying home to his mommy! I want ten runs!

[101] Willlarmis or Nostralarmis?

[105] fabulous! i dig the 'flat iron' look ; )

[103] Tex's out was anything but promising...

[110] haha - thanks

[111] good thinking. i see mlb still hasn't mandated his ugly ass wear a paper bag on his head

One pitch, one out!

Dumbass!

[105] Snoop + Choad = Intense hatred. Ha. Good play, Jete.

is time warner trying to destroy me?

[112] let's stick with "Nostra" please, i don't like the [109] name! : )

117 Cablevision choppy in NJ, are you having problems?

I love that it was scored an RBI single!

[119] yep - exactly, choppiness - i guess it is fox then - very annoying - sorry you have it too

Just finished Cliff's preview..seriously, why is Mathis playing for the Angels?? I know Sciosia is the "best manager in the game" but...

117, 119 Comcast stuttering in NJ, as well. It happens to me ONLY during sporting events.

let's render that hit pointless, right here and now.

Just spent an hour watching the ol Alma Mater. 40 degrees. It's all about the layers. Warm as toast.
: D Adverntures in Swisherland. Oy.

that was wierd - at least he didn't play it into a double

frack! my landlord just called. furnace is dead until Monday. Bigger job than expected. Warranty ran out FIVE DAYS AGO!!

[123] fios stuttering here in pittsburgh. seems like it is fox.

[123] yeah me too - i don't what the hell it is all about

that sucked.

Dear Mike Scoscia,

Thank you for playing Jeff Mathis.

Yours,

Every Yankee fan on the planet

phew, what a gun on Cano.

woulda been close w/ a fast runner...

Is Howie Kendrick hitting 950 against us now? Bastard. Good play, Robbie.

nice play - robbie's arm at 2nd is so valuable on plays like that

128 Stay warm man, good night for some hot cocoa and some cookies.

Nice play, Robbie, but is it just me, or did CC pull up from that in a weird, lazy kind of way?

Just like he loafed in failing to cover home in that wretched Posada inning.

Is he hurt or something?

[127] ah man, i'm sorry you have "my" luck. : (

two 15 pitch innings in a row for CC

[136] didn't think he really had a chance on that as a lefty. and i didn't think he looked bad on that posada play, i think posada fucked it up and cc was surprised.

[135] thanks. i have the cookies. only my cocoa is cold an alcoholic.

Its pouring here, but I'm in Vancouver, its always raining here I'm told.

[127] sorry seamus - lots of hot drinks this weekend

[136] i certainly hope not - but don't think so - he's just a big dude that only has so much energy and those plays are a bit tough for him

It's about time Robbie started lacing balls all over the place for about 2 1/2 weeks.

[137] you can have your luck back! well, that ain't fair. i'm ok with it. you've got a gig later. i'll hold it for tonight.

oh i miss coney

Damn.

Nicely struck, Robbie. Keep it up.

Time Warner cable choppy again. WTF? Different network too

Time Warner customer here ... we've had some choppy video here ...

Damn, Cano's swing is just gorgeous.

rosenthal doesn't look that cold

[141] thanks. The one thing i'm stumped on now is that I have a friend crashing here tomorrow night. She is in town for a conference. Talk about a bummer - "Yeah, normally I have heat..."

[138] [141] Good, so it's just me then.

[143] thanks bro and smart move on the alcohol! none for me tonight - had my fill last night and plan on it again tomorrow night...

Everyone's under it but Robbie and Derek.

Did they just show a guy wearing a PINK Yankees cap? seriously? These are the hardcore fans at the game?

a lot of fly balls. mostly getting under the ball though.

[154] you afraid of pink?

[156] No, but the schmuck was also on his cellphone. Way to enjoy the game.

Damn, has Lackey's ball always had so much movement? I mean, I'm sure it has, but I've never quite noticed it before.

Man, we're going to pound this ugly mf next inning.

damn that was too fast.

[150] think of other ways to keep her warm! ; )

damn, waaaay too easy of an inning... : /

If Lackey continues to have trouble throwing his curve for strikes he's going to get hammered. Just not yet. Damn.

damn still getting under it - drive those balls team!!

Trivia answer: Indians

Game looks ok on TW now. Really weird that that's happened more than once on different networks ... or maybe not, I don't know what I'm talking about.

Hello everyone! Do we know if anyone is braving the elements at the game tonight? (Sucks that you have to brave the elements at home, seamus!)

Looks like things are going quite well so far - and whoever said thanks to Scioscia for playing Mathis over Napoli, let me second that!

Jeter as a little boy really looks like a Peanuts character.

[160] haha. not that kind of friend. but maybe i need to make a date for this weekend. start random calling womyn.

[160] thelarmis, i was thinking that but refrained from commenting!

2 pitches, one out. Thank you Angels.

Why is it always an adventure with him?

Did you see how he caught that ball?

I mean really, wtf?

[167] Suzyn has a lot of free time now..you can talk baseabll AND Broadway!

[168]

GMTA ... lol

[171] ok can the date idea. hahaha.

[165] i haven't kept up with all the posts the last few days, so not sure - but maybe william

i considered it, but it's too damn cold for mr to be sitting outside for 3 plus hours

[123] I had that with Comcast on EI ONLY. Turned out to be a marginal signal, which they fixed with a larger capacity wire.

[168] i'm *always* thinking about that! ; )

very nice CC !!!

what a perfect pitch!

I know this is a constant theme, but the announcers are so bad. I mean, talk about boring and trying to suck the life out of a big game.

CC thy name is Ace..

In Heaven I want that caught looking of Choad's k on an endless loop.

CC looks good...I like. I also like two quick runs, capitalizing on Angels miscues. One solid hit and pile of bloops and pop-ups...not so good.

i'm still NOT rooting for boBBy! : )

[127] Bullshit! Heating companies usually work 7/365. People can die over a weekend without heat. Your landlord seems lazy to me.

gorgeous!!!

Beautiful.

Oh man, CC is dealing tonight.

[178] My fondness that Buck and Timmeh! weren't Chip Caray last all of a half inning. Maybe not even that long.

My gosh is CC something else or what?

[183] he's not. he is actually really good. Heck I had him here on thanksgiving. He told me the details but I think the crux is that they need major parts.

That's twice Posada acted like strike three before the call on Bobby. Nice.

carsten charles is sharp as shit

now drive the ball god damnit -no more loud pop-ups

nice work CC!!!

I agree, let's jump on Lackey now. As bad as that play was by the shortstop, it really bugs me how he glares at his teammates when they screw up. Didn't Jeter chew a pitcher out for that once? Wells maybe?

I've always said that, sure, they have beautiful weather in California all the time... but it MAKES THEM SOFT, because they don't get used to suffering like we do.

True, I was just saying that to make myself feel better. But maybe there's something to it!

[knocking on wood]

Blow these bastards out. Sit on that lame-ass Lackey fastball.

[193] They do have wildfires and earthquakes. I'll take sleet anytime.

[189] The ump says "Yes" before doing his schticky call so Jorge and Bobby knew it right away.

damn. i really wanted Jeter on base there...

[196] Oh sure, ruin my fun with your facts.

luckily for cc it is warmer while he is pitching

[127] I'm fairly sure if the temperature falls under a certain amount in your apartment, you can check into a hotel and your landlord must reimburse you. Check the state housing laws.

[196] It's too bad they don't do those "Little League World Series" factoids about umpires, because you know "Naked Gun" is his favorite movie.

shit. c'mon Tex!

Has this game become inert or what? That's fine as long as it stays that way for both teams.

[198] I'm always fair & balanced, man! :)

Sutcliffe actually not too bad tonight..only one awful tangent about productive outs..

there you go tex - nice swing

Nice.

So if I understand what the announcers just said, the extra umpires down the line are there to make sure the ball on the line is called properly, unless they make the wrong call.

Thanks.

Make Lackey's neck hurt.

That pitch should have ended up in the stands. Tex just a bit on top of it.

crush it, alex!

Yay..a seconf solid hit. Let's go A-Rod, drive the playoff Score Truck!

Come on Alex, you can do it here.

Ok, Sutcliffe just blew it..said there is no more important defensive position than 1B...sigh...

mathis is looking at arod a lot - wonder if that is influencing his pitch selectiob

What did I say, Team?

Second time through?

nice! please score more here!!!

alright alex nice and easy back up the middle

Come on Gojira, you can do it here.

[213]

Yes, because in Sut's world ... if a girl lets you get to first base, you can easily steal the other three ... :-)

Wow, a Sojo special. I'll take it.

[214] Mathis a big Goldie Hawn fan, wants an intro

5-0 sure would look good.

[214] i think he was just trying to get a closer look at the purple lips!

RATS!

damnit, struck well, but right at him...

[222] It would have. Guess the Score Truck stalled. I hope the cold isn't affecting it.

damn - least they got a couple of good hits that inning

[221] haha - here i was thinking about baseball - but mathis was trying to figure out how to ask alex about goldie hawn

Aw, damn!

Well struck, though. They seem to have made some kind of adjustment, especially Alex and Hideki both hitting it hard on the ground instead of lofting it in the air.

C'mon, Big Fella. Another quick 1,2,3 and get those bats back at it.

[226] In this weather you have to let the Score truck warm up...if you push it too soon, the engine block will crack.

[221] i'm a big Goldie fan! always have been. i sorta met her once. i was playing a gig in Greenwich Village, back in like '92/'93 and she and kurt russell walked past, with Kate and her brother. they were all really nice and cool and just having a fun family night out in the City. i refrained from going up to Goldie and giving her a big hug, which is what i always told myself i'd do if i met her. prolly a wise move...

btw, i was playing that concert at Kenny's Castaways. is that place still around?!

[225] struck well

[228] well struck

Derek Jeter catches pop-ups, because he's clutch.

BTW, it's nice to be back at the Banter during an actual game. It feels like more than a week. In fact, it has been more than a week.

these coaches interviews are an abomination that i wish would stop

226 It's a truck, diesel right? Takes a while to warm up.

Vlad with a Reggie-like swing on 1-0. Good thing he missed.

[234] you were missed!

damn vladdy wanted to swing at that

[231] Yup, still around. It was 2 blocks from my old place in NYC.

Nice play-by-play call there.

shit i thought that was out

That was weird.

Bad call by Jorge. Couldn't catch up the the fastball. Lame.

whew. i thought it was a goner. another hanging slider. damn. let's strand him...

[236] vegetable oil is all en vogue nowadays...

lucky us. i thought that was gone too.

[240] cool, thanks. i played there quite a few times, as did plenty of my friends....

my heart stopped when i heard it off Vlady's bat...

[238] I'm flattered...you are too kind. Somehow, I'm sure that you all soldiered on without me.

How was that not a HR? Looked way gone off the bat.

245 Have a friend who bought a kit and converted an old mercedes to run on veg oil. Got the grease from the cafeteria and fast food restaurants.

McCarver was on The Fan today discussing why catchers make good managers. All I could think was he would make a terrible manager. Hence they stuck his mud brain in the booth.

[248] oh, and he is called willielarmis now.

[249] wind knocked it down...? i'm just thankful it stayed in the park. let's strand him at 2nd...

TW getting choppy again

okay - let's strand him at 3rd! : )

[252] oh, that was uncalled for seamus. i take it back! I am feeling feisty. gotta stay warm somehow!

crap

[252] noooooo. i am NOT!!!

fucking shit fuck.

Fuck

Has the Impaler put on some weight? Maybe its the HDTV - I don't remember him looking that way. I remember a svelte, slim Vlad.

Damn the Angels and their classic bloopy-bleedy things.

Guerrero comes home anyway

[258] sorry. i got carried away.

Kendry Morales is a good hitter..almost "professional" I would say..

Oh, man, I take five minutes to clean the kitchen and we've coughed up a run?

c'mon CC!

Finish them. No more of this 2 out bullshit.

Not to worry. Stop this here, and then let the bats wake up in the bottom of the inning.

"He misses nothing"?

[260] yeah he has gotten heftier - probably can't do much running to stay in shape

but i saw him in person once - that is one big mf

[250] yeah, i know a bunch of musician cats that have done that and they all seem to drive old, 70's Mercedes...

Hideki hits one on the screws and gets out. Kendry is fisted and gets a rbi. You just can't.....

Pfew!

Thought that was falling.

alright just 1 run - get it back plus some - lackey is an oaf

[271] :)

[262] no worries, pal.

let's get that run back...and then some!

shit, i just realized i have to go to work in like 45 minutes...

[271] Does John sit in his recliner at home and announce the game? You know Kay is probably explaining to his wife about the fallacy of etc etc..

271 I thought on Fox it was poked not fisted.

Seamus, hope you're staying warm! So sorry about your furnace!

[270] Those old diesel Mercedes last forever. I have a 1983 that is still going strong! Though I haven't tried the vegetable oil thing...

[272] oh good. must not upset nostralarmis!

[277] if by wife you mean his gerbil - yeah i am sure he discusses the fallacy of the predetermine outcome with gerrard the gerbil

crap. make this ugly mf WORK!!! : /

Now batting ... Bazooka Cano ...

[279] thanks weeping! it's a little distracting but the Yanks are winning so far so...

"great profiles ..."

???

shit.

FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, Robbie - don't you know??? not to swing at that shit?

boo

Crap 4 pitches this inning, c'mon Swish!

hey, a Penn State jacket!!! : )

[292] hey, penn state got 7" of snow the other night. maybe last night actually.

swish!!

good shot, Swish. yeah man, say 'hey' to them grandparental units! : )

I'm not entirely liking the trajectory of this game at the moment. Yay Swish...c'mon Melky, do something, anything.

there you go swish

having swish break-up the impatient twins is a good idea

Nice hitting, Swish.

god damnit swing at good pitches

How is it that Melky lays off that pitch once but not twice?

shut up, timmay. just. shut. up.

[293] cool! i bet the campus looks breathtakingly beautiful. it usually does, outside of the constant construction. i loved walking around school in the snow!

Actually, I would think about sending Swisher here.

Melky looks jumpy in the postseason. Maybe Cano too?

Good, Melky.

I don't give a rat's ass about the fucking Phillies and Shane Victorino!

We have our own baseball game going, thank you very much.

For fuck's sake!

[301] i can ask one of my co-workers on monday. she was headed there tonight. but you are right, it usually is gorgeous.

Well done, Melkius. Well done.

good ab melky

how is melky even making contact on those pitches?!

nice.

let's go Captain!!!

nice at bat melky!

[309] melky has a surpisingly quick bat. i've noticed that of late.

Happy B-Day, Tim. Now fu#$%ing retire already.

Melky proving me wrong. I'll take it

Melky not so hacky against Lackey in that AB. Let's go, Cap'n.

[305] i was actually manging to tune them out until just recently - what blowhards

McCarver really sounds like a doddering old man, on top of his other assholery

thelarmis, you going to miss the rest of the game? where's the gig?

Ugh, rare ugly swing by Derek.

oh jeter, why'd you swing at that??? : /

c'mon derek that was awful get it here

Damn it.

.....

Uh-oh. I hope Sabathia gets it back together. The Yankee offense is looking shaky and/or Lackey's looking pretty great now.

Uh-oh. I hope Sabathia gets it back together. The Yankee offense is looking shaky and/or Lackey's looking pretty great now.

shit shit shit

Very un-Jeter-like

77 pitches through 4 for Servant. So that's good I s'pose.

dammit!

[317] neh, it'll be on at the gig. i hate watching while setting up and playing and around other people, but it should definitely be on the big tv, that i can see from the stage.

i'll miss part of it during the car ride. but i might be able to get it on the radio, or i'll call my mom...

That was a weird looking 3-unassisted.

Hold the serve Big Fella. One big pitch inning for the top of the order and we can slice up the bullpen underbelly.

[327] that is good. if we just keep at it he'll be gone in no time.

CC is literally TWO of me (in lbs.)

[303] I can't tell if Cano seems nervous or not because HIS ENTIRE HEAD IS COCOONED IN WOOL.

[333] he looks ridiculous.

[330] very expressive tonight - i like it :}

Good scoop Teix.
[332} I bet your hair weighs more than Choad. : D

[333] haha that girl they just showed better watch out before robbie borrows her coat

captain!!

that's more like it big man

Good inning. Serve the Servants.

YES!!!

great inning, CC !!!

it's Score Truckin' time, folks!!!

[336] Choad is bigger than me! plus, my hair is not very thick... : )

[333][334] Then again, it's ridiculous to force MLB players to play the post season essentially in winter!

69 pitches thru 5 for CC

Just saw a highlight here of Pedro whiffing Manny in the 7th inning..he pitched great but LA pulled out the win..good series there.

So..is the Score Truck in need of some anti-freeze?

[342] i take that back - i'm a coupla inches taller than Desmond DeChone Figgins. he outweighs me by quite a bit though...

nice jd

Slump over.

Yay, Johnny!

oh yeah! another double for Johnny!

please plate him!!!

[333] Reminds me of the GI Joe character, Beachhead.

[346] You can take him.
This is the time Teix. LET'S GO.

do it up, Tex, let's go!

Good grief.

shit again

let's go alex

ugh!

fucking crap. : /

Not professional hitting there Tex..

FUCK!!!

how 'bout stealing 3rd?

Good sign again, laying off the down and away...

they're not pitching to him

Relax and take, A-Rod. Just like you did against Nathan.

And if he walks you, Matsui will come through.

they aren't going to let arod hit.

Shades of 2005 with Rodriguez, nothing to hit.

make them pay matsui

good AB, Alex.

let's go Mats!

That a boy, A-Rod. Well done. Your turn, Godzilla. Don't hit a ground ball!

Not even close to pitching to him..

Oh God..why is the music afterthe walk there by Journey?!?!

Bring on the soft underbelly

Can someone please take Scioscia and his big stupid red jacket and put him in the middle of a bullfighting ring.

bp up!!

[369] that is pretty frightening.

hey, i like Journey!

Score Truck! Beast Commercial!!

nicely done mats

YAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

OH, FUCK YEAH!

What the hell, Alex?

wtf alex

Godzilla!!!

A-Rod, not cool with the baserunning dude. Not sure I would have done that.

oh, FUCK!!!

well, good on the hit and the run scoring, but...

...but not a good base-running decision.

Oh Alex, what the hell are you doing?

Geez, A-Rod. You're not exactly speedy these days.

[375] :}

i hope his hip is okay...

oh damn. how did he not score there.

he was safe ....

I love the aggression, though!

Alex wants to win.

Rivera Swisered it. A-Rod. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If he slides it's probably a foot under the glove. Oh well.

A-Rod might have done better by just sliding there.

Nice job, Matsui.

What the hell was Alex thinking? He could have hurt himself.

OK Posada, drive the score truck home . . . or not.

[387] i don't think he ever touched the plate.

Oh well, Big Fucking Hit by Hideki. Beautiful, vintage Matsui.

lackey is flustered

[387] Yeah, he wasn't exactly tagged...but I'm not sure A-Rod ever touched home, either.

[390] yeah, but i like the collision. he didn't shy away that says something about where he is playing at right now and i do like that.

[393]

the overhead shot shows him getting the tip of the foot under the glove, and the glove never touched alex ...

A-Rod taking out his frustration of not seeing strikes by being a dickhead on the basepaths. Again, oh well. One more inning closer to the shit pen.

A-Rod run through the sign? It wasn't very close..

Good job though 松井！　Beast Commercial time! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOhUTnFhFwI

pretty sure he was swiped right before his foot came down, and i think he definitely hit home

[389] Damn you! [390]

[393] Damn you! [396]

Rivera looks bad out in LF. ARod with a bad play... would have been one out and Po up.

[385] That's what I was thinking. Crashing into the catcher hip-first might not be the brightest move.

[398] i must have been typing and missed it.

He went back and touched the plate after the play as well, so he touched it twice. But yeah, he should've slid.

[397] Agreed.

instant replay!!

Wow.... it was a 'the-ball-beat-you-so-you're-out' pla... even if you're safe.

Where. was. that?

But Damon makes it all good.

Wow, nice play by Damon.

scary scary scary

FUCK YOU UMP . STRIKE 3. But it gives a Damon web-gem.

Instant Replay?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD3Oc-6Brdw

Ok, at least he made the catch.

[409] Yeah, I love how if umpires always blow a call, it's OK. because they always blow it.

Hope Damon is OK, he is swinging a lot better.

beautiful mother fucking play

Oh, Teix!!!

What a fucking stretch!

oh he was safe. lucky us!

Giambiesqeu. Fuck you Scioscia you fat bastard. FUCK YOU MCCARVER.

Out. I think.

wow, 2 AMAZING plays!

abreu was struck out. glad johnny's not hurt, that was scary.

great play by CC-Tex!

Bull shit, McCarver.

You can't see his toe from that angle.

nope he was out. his foot was still on the bag!

throw his ass out

McCarver is senile

mccarver is a fucking idiot he looks at the replay and just repeats that the foot was off the bag

I think his foot was on the bag, just barely. Hard to tell.

Great play by CC.

That angle shows nothing about his toe!

"To me..."

Fuck off, Tim.

What feed are some of you getting with McCarver? I'm getting Sutcliff and some other stiff up here in the Great White North.

you are an old asshole who can't see - stfu mccarver

oh that was bull! They get the screen capture showing him ON THE BAG with the ball IN THE GLOVE and McCarver gets all quiet before pretending his foot was off the bag.

Yeah, the slo-mo clearly showed it was the right call.

Is it "fat-ist" of me to wish that Sciosia would lose some weight? Looking at him and Charlie Manuel in their uniforms...whewwww....

[430] the regular fox broadcast

His arch comes away, but we just can't see his toe!

oh mccarver would go on what hunter thinks! great idea. why have instant replay when we could use the honor system?

[434]

Have you seen the Jets new coach, Rex Ryan?

Great swing, Vlad!

hell yeah - good work cc!!

YES!!!

80 pitches thru 6.

Sabathia is dealing again. How far should they push him tonight?

Wasn't Vlad just up?

Seems like Tex got him to me. Torii can argue all he want - and no Timmeh, he did nOT have the best view of his right foot, unless he stupidly was looking down while running and not straight ahead . . .

CC!

[430] Sutcliffe for me too..does MLB mandate a different team for broadcasts outside the US?

Looked like his foot had the bag for a split second, then came off.

Was someone worrying about CC's health earlier based on his fielding? He was all over that bunt.

The runner never thinks he's out McCarver you FUCKING asshole. Just Admit you're wrong. BIG FELLA ROLLS ON!!!

I guy can only take so much of McCarver. Really - and people complain about Michael Kay?!? Sorry Tim - time to hang up the microphone.

[444] yep. the Mets are playing instead of the Yankees in all areas outside the USA.

[442] If he keeps going through the Angels quickly, might as well just let him go until its Mo time.

Tim McCarver is a douchebag

[435] Then what feed am I getting? And whom should I thank?

[442] On 8 days rest? 100 pitches easy. He should start the 8th but have Phil getting loose in the bp.

[438] No.. I stopped watching football after catching a close up of Mike Holmgren bending over to pick something up..Sumo wrestlers would be scared of an ass that size..

Carry on.

well folks we didn't even make it 2 hours before mccarver's complete assholishness, idiocy, stubbornness, and complete and utter bullshit came out

Come *on*, Robbie.

Oh, right, now he's not afraid of the wall.

I can deal with McCarver as long as Fox keeps delivering with the replays. If this were TBS we'd never see anything twice let alone all these angles and close ups.

oh damn!

Just got under it.

[450] I have no problem with that. I wonder if Girardi is thinking about three-day-rest.

oh damn frosty the canoman almost got that one

I'm still going over that ARod play at the plate, and guessing ARod was trying to protect his hip by not sliding. Booking home the way he was, he was forcing a perfect throw. Unfortunately they executed. Good aggressive baserunning. Should he have slid? probably would have been safe, but he knows his body better than any of us, and maybe in the moment he thought he shouldn't risk it. At the last second when he realized the throw had beat him, he turned his hip. Thank God he's okay. Holy shit that was close to a crushing injury.

Abreu was OK around the wall on those kinds of plays where he could slowly back up to it, as I recall.

How much longer can they keep Lackey in there? He's got to be getting close to being done.

[466] He's a little scared to go to his bullpen I think.

[456] If we get lucky, the Yanks will sweep the LCS and then the Serious, and we'll only have to put up with Timmeh for 7 more games.

Ugh.

[452] I am pretty sure that FOX has the broadcast rights only within the US, and not abroad - that's probably why you are getting ESPN announcers. It wouldn't surprise me if they have the global broadcast rights - after all, how would a broadcast (non-cable) network send the signal around the world?

[462] I see your point, but Phil was not good his last times out, so I might keep CC in there. 100 really isn't that much for the big guy.

[453] Im thinking forward not backward...he's slated to start three times if the series goes seven games. I was just speculating/wondering if anyone would pull him early to "save" his arm for the rest of the series.

Hopefully the Yankees score nine runs this inning and render the whole debate rather m...

104 pitches for Lackey.

[466] I would be too.

I'm selfish. If Lackey exits this game allowing only 3 runs..............bleh. I'll blame it on rust. if the Yanks faced him the day after they beat the Twinkies he'd be showered and dressed by now.

[469] I missed your comment here before typing [470]. Actually, I agree with you ebtirely.

mlb.com's postseason.tv feed has 0% McCarver .... ahhhh

Yeah, it was a great play, but you apparently don't have to tag the runner so that's one less thing to worry about.

[468] Makes sense. Sutcliffe and the other guy are reading emails from around the world now..people watching in Brazil, UK, Japan, etc...Sutcliffe > Timmy tonight..

I can't wait to see Brian Fuentes in this series, their pen is goign to blow at least one fame...

Ball 4 Melky. boooooooooooo Ball 5 boooooooooooooo Take the walk dude.

I would not pull CC if he is effective, other than for Mo. Bob Brenly did that crap with Schilling in the World Series as I recall, saving him for a game 7 while the Yanks were on the ropes in game 4.

another great AB by melky.

Good eye Melky!

good job melky - he is having representative abs tonight

[478] Settle down Beavis.

Is Gardy in for JD after JD's next AB?

another good long AB for Leche!

c'mon Cap!

I don't understand how sometimes Melky can lay off and others he can't. It's like a crapshoot.

(And yes, it was a great ab.)

[477] Yup. Actually--and I hate to admit this--I haven't found Sutcliffe and Friend too bad tonight.

[464]
I like the play, it was aggressive. I'm not sure when he decided to book it to home, but I think he saw the misplay in the outfield and decided to go for it. It's sure easy to say it was wrong when he was thrown out, but I think putting more pressure on the opponent is a good thing

OHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

nice!

sloppy baseball boys

nice!

bring him home, Derek!

Angels = Gritty fundamentals

[486] see Baseball, Can't Predict.

Yay! Speed kills!

HowdoyalikeitScioscia?

[489] I think it was a good risk too, Rivera looked like he was going downhill on a slip and slide there.

there it is !!

nice hit derek

Absolutely terrible defense for the Angels.

oh FUCK YEAH motherfucker!!! : )

OH, HELL YESSSS!!!!

DEREK JETER, ladies and gentlemen!

Holy shit! Gift wrap this game

those angels are ballplayers! woo hoo!!!

Awesome defense angels

Tough error. Morales should have caught that.
SCORE TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!

Beautiful!

[494] Hopefully that meme will die as quick a death as the Twins = gritty smallball fundamentals did.

and Hunter flubs it!!! Another nail in the does the little things coffin!

The worm has turned. McCarver may even get hit by a cab later.

Angels..Playing the game the right way in 2009!

how bout another hit Johnny?!

i want more before i go to work.

gotta get ready...

Goodbye, Fugly!

fuck off lackey

[511] He's going to take his mouth breathing to the bench...

[508] sheeeeeeeeeeeeeit - not a cab, the score truck

Catch you guys later ....

[513] she's a nice girl, i like her just fine, but she's a mouth breather!

[512] High five! :)

[515] bye Diane!

The weird thing is that I have never felt any particular animus toward the Angels. That said, I'm pretty much enjoying the way things are going right now.

I feel like they've made way more than three errors

I guess Rivera was positioned correctly this time.

wow that was great positioning.

[514] sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttt. nice one ; )

Do you guys put Gardy in CF and Melky to LF?

OHHHHHHHHH!!!

I screamed, I thought that was falling for sure.

Had him played perfectly.

Johnny looks back on track and that's what matters!

[520] well, they didn't give an error on the pop fly that dropped in the first inning.

[519] You need to pay closer attention. : D

[519] Great, you love 'em so much, why don't you marry 'em?

[524] I think that would be wise

good contact JD, no dice.

alright, i'm out.

LET'S GO YAN-KEES !! !!!

[514] The Angels have been driving me batty since 2002. I soooooo wanted the Gaints to win that Serious.

[526] The biggest bullshit in scoring.

[517] fist bump back at ya

[518] yeah where is diane going in the middle of the game, to console fugly?

[524] Very, very tempting given that Johnny probably will not have another meaningful AB this game. Maybe wait one more inning to see if CC can hold the three run lead to the 8th?

[526] True, I realized that just after I posted.

But how is that not an error?

[524] yes

[535] It should be, and the rule book allows for it, but for whatever reason that is NEVER called an error. Now, if the wind blew it and the ball actually ticked off the SS, it would have been called an error for sure.

[523] :}

yours was clay at the trial

[531] why?

[535] No one touched the ball, and who's fault was it? My mind, the SS gets the error as he is in charge, but also in better position (behind the ball) to catch it.

Are you effing kidding me, Buck? CC has "really matured as a pitcher"? When, this year? Oh you have got to be kidding me.

Pitching to contact my ass.

K/9 for 2009: 7.7
K/9 career: 7.6

And now you cite his wins! And then you bring up that his K/9 went UP! Dipshits.

Nasty pitch :-)

cc!

cc is throwing some nasty pitches tonight

[541] Hey, wins and losses are how you judge a pitcher's performance..so said Hal of Famer Joe Morgan!

[539] I've always cheered for the team playing the team that beat the Yanks, going back to 1997 - except when it would require cheering for the Red Sox (though I don't think it has). That was my primary reason. My other was because I was tired of hearing about Erstad and Eckstein and their scrappy goodness. Having Bonds and Kent beat them would have been very satisfying.

[541] That got me too. I like Eiland, but are we really going to credit him with all of SABATHIA's success? Please...

would you care to tell who that action in the pen is asshole?

[541] Good find. These guys talk in one running cliche. I don't think they have any stats other then what is given to them.

They talk about Abreu like he's a golden God.
For Swisher they said he 'wasn't a great OFer' and 'only batted .249'... but was great in the clubhouse. What they failed to mention was Swish had a better year then Abreu both at bat and in the field

Why bother with the stretch in this situation? Just go after the batter and forget about the runner.

Damnit. A walk in front of Howie "Ty Cobb" Hendrick. Get this lill' fucker out.

way to go frosty

Mo next to a . . . was that a Flavia coffee machine? . . . in the bullpen.

Robbie Cano!

whaddya know cano!

I love you, Robbie.

Robin-hood Cano!

Put a star on that one. Way to "snuggle" up to it.

[552] hah ah ah ha hah ah ah ahh aha!!!!!

PERFECT!

He looked so goofy the first time I saw him, like he was in the Arctic!

Too funny.

[557] :} oh man - i bet robbie has a fucking snuggie in the dugout

(Of course, it's a well-known fact that black people don't like the cold, so this black person empathizes most heartily. :)

[559] but then he'd have killer snuggie fuzzies all over his uniform!

[556] Heh heh eheh!!! That's nice too!

Ack, Napoli. Go get him, CC!

I hope he comes in as a pinch hitter in every game. The more PAs Mathis gets instead of Napoli, the better.

[549] Cliches indeed. All they do is repeat the same tired bullshit the tradmed has been peddling in advance of this game. Listening to their "preview" was excruciating. "The Angels will run on the Yanks' OF arms, especially Damon." "Sabathia struggled against the Angels this year, going 0-2."

[546] i guess, but i never liked bonds. i usually do root against whichever team beats us, but not always. i definitely did in 1997, i hated that indians team. in fact i think i hated that late 90s indians team more than any other team ever, including the sox.

CC: what are you doing here Joe?
Girardi: just taking your temperature.
CC: It's cold, now go sit down
Girardi: OK.

Let the Big Fella go 8 for Fuck's Sake. He's feelin' it!

49,600? It just doesn't sound right for Yankees' playoff attendance to be announced below 50,000 or 55,000.

Country hardball, CC...

[560] weren't you in iowa for awhile?

OHHHHHH!!!!!!

fist pump!

hell yeah!!!

Yes!!!

Now pull Johnny.

FUCK YEAH, BIGMAN!

I love CC!

[569] I know!!!!

cc cc cc cc cc

hell yes - good stuff carsten

CC chants. Nice.

How long does he stay in? Start the 8th and then go batter by batter?

so who is singing?

[565] LOL

[564] Bigman!

so the gba mystery replacement remains a mystery!!

Cut to highlights here..they still singing that Irving Berlin abomination? Did they lose the Irish tenor?

Where's Giuliani tonight?
And didn't Kate Hudson look smashing tonight?

[552] Frosty the Cano-man, was a very chilly soul.

With a secondbaseman's mitt and batting gloves and a hood covering his all.

"We ain't the Red Sox, son."

[566] Will he feel it better on three days rest with less pitches tonight?

CC w/98 oitches. I go batter to batter in the 8th.

[584] She did.

[584] he's there - they already panned to him once or twice

Wow, seven fucking strong!

Man, I'm shivering with the sick joy of it all.

Win tonight. Let CC go 8.

[585] nice - we need chyll to document it

Right, because I want to be thinking about football right about now.

[584] I think he's back near his old seats to the right of the dugout (facing it).
and yeah, she's fine.

[588] Not a huge fan but surely better than the old Japanese men they just showed in the stands..

GEICO RUNS. Get the bats warm for the morrow.

Dear FOX - right now, this lifelong Giants fan doesn't give a rat's ass about Sunday's game. Stick to the topic at hand.

[594] yep that is where he was

I missed the lovely Miss Hudson, our heroine. I'll have to pay more attention!

damn that shift

Oh, that was terrible hitting, Teix.

I'm so happy i'm hardly listening to the booth assholes.

[597] i care but those ads are a real rub because they aren't showing the Giants game here. bah!

i'd let cc pitch one more inning. i don't think he'll be any less ready to go on tuesday.

Perfect tack on stat time.

this situation may not be clutch enough for arod.

Way to hang in, Alex.

Nice check, nice check...

ABomb here

aAAAAgggggh!

RATS!!!

or a strike out. Ouch.

ah hell - don't start falling for that bullshit alex

[603] Fortunately with the Pats playing the late game on CBS, I will get to watch the Giants.

So the Mathis great play entails catching the ball, getting run over, and not tagging the runner. OK.

Gardy should be in this game.

stay awake cc

[617] that was a classic shot.

Mike Harkey is a big man

Hooo. Nice break.

Pitch the Big Fella. That's the last time I'll say it. I'll shut up now. : D For the time being.

Nice swing, Hideki, hang in there.

CC's grand canyon yawns suggest he's done.

Nail it down, Big Shoes Hughes.

Oh, yes!

Beautiful, beautiful ab, Hideki.

nice AB Matsui. Some good ABs tonight.

Good ab, Ziller. Let's go, Posada.

did thelarmis leave? I forgot to question him on his love for Journey!

Cmon Jorgie, Juice on into the bleachers and break this thing wide open

rev up the score truck po

Good eye, Jorgie...

[627] yeah i think he had a gig

Could PR for Matsui and make a defensive switch at the same time. I'm sure glad Girardi is carrying two extra catchers and two extra speed guys.

[627] yeah i think he is gone. i want to be here for that questioning though...

Yes!!

Nice ab, Jorgie.

Hit this one out.

pinch run for Matsui, Joe

This Bulger character seems to go three balls on everyone

[631] :}

Look at us! Grinding it out, relentless!!

Well with any luck, that mistake will have Napoli back behind the plate for Game 2.

Uh-oh, Cano up with RISP . . .

[631] heh... yup

[635] maybe he is whitey bulger

He slepwalked through game 1 of the ALCS, he is the aciest man in the universe. Damnit Cano. I root for you more than anybody. Knock a wall down.

Come on, Frosty!

Ohhh, bullshit, ump!

Strike? REally?

[636] Cripes, if I were Girardi, I would PR Guzman just to say I told you so after the game to critics like Monkeypants!

[638] Ack! Mathis, I meant Mathis!

Don't listen to me, Scoiscia!

[627] [632] What's wrong with Journey? I don't love 'em but I don't mind 'em either.

[632] Maybe he's onto something though..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQbZRMLKozk&feature=fvst

he's not passive - he is fucking freezing

mccarver thinks cano is 0-2 because he's taken balls in the dirt early in the count

[645] haha - just wait -

Ouch.

poor frosty -

Good God, that's got to hurt.

In this cold, that's gotta hurt

Ouch. Hope Frosty the Cano-man is OK.

Let's go Swisher - give us runs!

[647] why would you torture me with that link?

I'm going to guess that they walk in a run here

C'mon Swish!

c'mon, clear the bases, Pigpen!

[648] Does BR keep stats on batters dressed like Randy from "A Christmas Story"? : D

C'mon Swisheroo.

[655] loving this Frosty the Cano-man guy!

[656] If he ever hurts you, true love won't desert you!

Yes, yes, walk Swisher, walk him! Then Girardi could pinch hit for Melky with . . . ok well I suppose Gardner, right?

[656] Journey's career earnings in e excess of $175 million.. we must watch and respect!

Cmon Swish!!!!

[655] hah ha hah ha ha h hah haha !

Is it weird to say I like this Ump's strike zone? Blasphemy! prolly!

still keep cc in with a sort long bottom of the inning?

damn swish that was ball 4

Ohh, Swish!

Good ab, all the same!

damn.

Shit...I was hoping for a big lead so Girardi could use some of the spare parts to close out the game.

[665] i'm pretty sure mcclelland is the only good umpire in baseball

[667] It was, but that was a good pitch.

[667] Clearly he guessed fastball

With Robbies getup tonight, does he remind you of this guy?
http://66.129.69.121/nemo.jpg

Hey Swish, notsogood.

The Big Man returns.

[676] Ace

nice. I thought he was done.

Cano and Aybar are like me when I was in Mexico. NOT a fan of the clime.

Hey everyone. Nice game tonight. CC is the man! We just got in tonight from record high Oct temps in Orlando -- Disney World is full of Yankee fans!

[674] he is frosty

[679] it probably would have been nice without the ski mask

[674] More like Aybar, with that red!

Well done, CC!

Back to the corner, Snoop.

[679] Mexico is stupid hot. My white ass buckles in that heat, but good times down there.

[682] It was a tad stifling climbing those ruins. : )

Mo for 4 outs? It needs some work, yes?

[685] Heh heh he!! See, and of course I loved it! I mean, yeah, it was hot (as was Rome, for that matter, really fucking debilitatingly hot), but better debilitating heat than cold. Any day of the week.

Four outs to go!

Do we see Mo in the 9th? Hows about Joba?

What a bunch of circus clowns!

Whooo-hoooooooo. I am loving this game. Goddamn CC. You the man. Sit down Bobby.

Ohhhh!!!!

Strike two!

That was sick, poor Bobby!

[687] i think mo could close out a game if you found him in mid january

[687][689] I'm still holding out hope that the Yanks tack on a few more runs and Girardi uses the dregs for the ninth, saving the real BP for tomorrow.

A C.C. chant. That's new, no?

wow
cc cc cc cc cc

standing o man - that was superb

CC's the fuggin MAN!

(Bobby's a good hitter.)

CC?

You.

Are.

Da.

Man.

ClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclapClappityclap

We're not worthy! We're not worthy! We're not worthy!

Props to FOX for having Buck and Timmeh be quiet so we can just listen to the crowd cheer CC.

[700] I know, I know!

Remember Randy Johnson?

[694} Save them? After 4 days off and off on Sunday?

Those shots of Girardi and the rest of the brain trust suggest (unsurprisingly) that CC is done. The only question now is Mo or not Mo.

[695] yeah, he's finally feelin' the LOVE! NY slept on him all season. But this is his best performance yet.

[695] i heard it when i was at the stadium when he threw that gem against the red sox in august

[699] TinyClapClap is your friend.

[702] Agagin, you are looking backward and I'm looking forward. I would rather not have to use the good relievers today, with a three run lead...so they are potentially fresher tomorrow if the game is tighter.

i would like one more run so that maybe girardi will go to hughes in the 9th (i would go to him with the current lead but that's unlikely). hughes is the one i think could use a little work.

[706] http://www.instantrimshot.com/

Anyone want to splain why CC had to use up 113 bullets up by three with a potential short rest start coming up? Pardon me if this got addressed a few hundred posts ago.

nice night for melky!

Great game by Melky tonite.

Yay, Melky!!!

I *love* our hitting tonight!

Nice, solid ab, from top to bottom, nice ground balls, line drives!

This bodes so fucking well, we are *locked in!*

melky has had quite a good night

[709] THAT is awesome!

[702][707] And especially because head case AJ Burnett and magic no-hit battery partner are starting tomorrow. What a luxury it will be to be able to, say, go to Hughes for two AND Mo for two, because they aren't used tonight.

[710] he's a workhorse, he was still throwing gas, and one extra inning isn't going to make a difference.

[706] I've never done that before. But I picked a good night to break the cherry. : O Let's go Jete.

710 You win the game in front of you. And 20 pitches shouldn't throw off a horse like CC.

jesus fuck timmy - gardner does not come in to play lf - pay attention

mccarver is an idiot. no gardner does not play LF. he plays CF. melky then shifts to LF or RF.

[705] yeah, you're right. They did give it up for him that game.

[688] yeah, Rome's hot, but not as pizza oven stupid as Mexico, at least in my experience.

Tim is such an idiot. Has Gardy EVER played LF?

If you didn't think Mo was coming in you're crazy.

[721] Like minds....