The first two games of this World Series could have gone either way and did. CC Sabathia allowed just two runs in seven innings in Game One, but Cliff Lee allowed just one unearned run in nine as the Phillies cruised to a 1-0 lead. Pedro Martinez was sharp in Game Two, striking out eight in six innings while allowing just three runs, but A.J. Burnett was better, striking out nine and allowing just one run in seven, setting up a six-out save by Mariano Rivera which tied the series at 1-1.
The conventional wisdom is that when the road team splits the first two games of a best-of-seven series, they’ve succeeded in making it a best-of-five series in which they have the majority of the home games. That’s true, to a point, but it overlooks the sizeable advantages the Yankees retain in this series. To begin with, they still have home field advantage for what are likely to be the two most important games of the Series, Games Six and Seven, both of which will find at least one team a win away from the championship. The Yankees also have the edge in at least three of the remaining pitching matchups, including tonight’s and tomorrow’s.
Yesterday, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel announced that Joe Blanton, not Cliff Lee, would start Sunday’s Game Four. Lee will only have had three-days’ rest heading into Sunday, and he’s never started on short rest in his major league career. He also threw 122 pitches in his Game One shutout. Thus, Blanton, which gives the Yankees a sizeable advantage as Joe Girardi announced today that he will indeed start CC Sabathia on short rest in Game Four. Pitching on three-days’ rest in Game Four of the ALCS, Sabathia held the Angels to one run (on a solo homer) in eight innings. Sabathia also dominated in three consecutive short-rest starts for the Brewers as the 2008 season drew to a close (0.83 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 21 K, 4 BB, 0 HR in 21 2/3 IP). Until he was bested by Lee in Game One, the Yankees had won all three of Sabathia’s starts this postseason, and with Blanton opposing him in Game Four, the Yankees have to be heavily favored in that game as well.
Entering the Series, when it seemed that Manuel would start Lee on short rest, tonight’s game looked like most favorable pitching matchup for the Yankees. Cole Hamels pitched the Phillies to the title last year, but this postseason he’s been just shy of awful, posting a 6.75 ERA while allowing six home runs in just 14 2/3 innings over three starts (that’s 3.7 HR/9). That bad run actually extends back through Hamels’ last three starts of the regular season, giving him a 6.89 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over his last six starts.
The Phillies have actually won two of Hamels three postseason starts, both against the Dodgers, but did so by scoring a combined 18 runs. That doesn’t seem likely to happen tonight as Andy Pettitte has been his usual reliable self. Pettitte has lasted 6 1/3 innings in all three of his starts this postseason, walked just one man in each, and only once allowed as many as three runs. In fact, Pettitte’s last six postseason starts dating back to the 2005 NLCS have been quality starts (2.15 ERA, 4.0 K/BB), and in his last 13 postseason starts, including all of the 2003 playoffs and World Series, he’s posted a 2.64 ERA and turned in 11 quality starts. In his one regular season start against the Phillies this year, Pettitte gave up four runs in seven innings, but three of those runs scored on a home run by John Mayberry Jr., who isn’t even on the Phillies’ World Series roster.
Hamels is starting at home, where he his ERA was nearly a run and a quarter lower than his road mark this year, but Pettitte was significantly better on the road and has allowed just one earned run in 12 career innings at Citizens Bank Park. This matchup clearly favors the Yankees, and it will be on the offense and the bullpen to cash in these next two games, especially with the dominant Lee starting on full rest in Game Five (likely against A.J. Burnett on short rest).
Judging by the starting pitching matchups alone, this Series should return to the Bronx with the Yankees leading 3-2 and should find Sabathia, pitching on short rest for the second time in a row, lined up to face Hamels in a Game Seven matchup that also heavily favors the Yankees.
The only catch is the weather. If any of these games is rained out (and there’s a 70 percent chance of rain tonight, though the teams believe they’re going to get the game in), it could wipe out the Yankees’ hopes of starting Sabathia twice more and could line up his then-only-remaining start with Lee’s on Monday, thus making CC a near non-factor rather than the expected difference maker. If that happens, it will make taking advantage of something like tonight’s Pettitte-Hamels pairing all the more crucial to the Yankees’ success in this series.
Nick Swisher returns to the Yankee lineup tonight. He’s never faced Hamels before. Hideki Matsui rides pine due to the lack of DH at the National League Park. Expect a pinch-hitting appearance from Matsui in the late innings, but don’t expect to see him in the field unless there’s a substitution crunch (the Yankees have Gardner, Hinske, and Hairston who can go out to the field before Matsui would have to), particularly on a wet field. The Phillies’ lineup is standard.
[0] it could wipe out the Yankees’ hopes of starting Sabathia twice more and could line up his then-only-remaining start with Lee’s on Monday, thus making CC a near non-factor rather than the expected difference maker.
Since this looks like the game thread, I'll re-post from last thread:
Yeah, that sounds right. And just think of it abstractly: why couldn't Sabathia just pitch on whatever days they were planning for him to pitch, irrespective of which game it is?
[2] OK, I have to retreat from the longer discussion a few threads back...
Yes, it all comes down to whether the team thinks that starting CC an extra time (predicting a high chance of victory) outweighs sacrificing the a game with Gaudin (predicting a high chance of lack of success).
Here's a crazy thought, that no one would ever admit to. If they think that Lee is basically unhittable, they could throw Gaudin in game five...basically concede the game...and line up CC (twice), Andy, and AJ against the rest of the Philly staff. The downside (among other things) would be that the Phillies could build a big lead and pull Lee early, setting him up for a long relief appearance in Game 7.
That's perfectly reasonable. But no pitcher has ever been that good! Don't be dazzled by Lee's recent success.
[4] True. But more broadly, I have always wondered if it is better to "match up" with your opponent (your ace v. his ace, your #2 v. his #2, etc...), or is it better to create as many game advantages as possible. Thus, start your #5 v. his #1, but your #1 v. his #2, your #2 v. his #3, etc.
[3] nah - i don''t get conceding a game - cliff lee is extremely good, but not "bascially unhittable" that you just give in to his start and i don't think you take that approach in a ws anyway with a team that is as good as the yanks , especially one that is now best of 5
[5] I think if you are worse than the other team, it's an advantage to "mismatch".
I've never worked this out thoroughly, but I'm pretty sure it's right.
ugh - sammy b just said it is raining - i really hope they get this game in with no delays
[8] It's supposed to rain all night, at least of an on, from what I read. The catch is that they predict (guess?) that it will rain much harder late tonight. So, I bet they try to get it in rather than delay it.
Or the Phillies recognize the tactical advantage of a rain out and push for the game to be cancelled.
i know we have the starting pitching matchup advantage tonight, but i'm still terrified. i'll catch the first hour here, then prolly the last hour from the stage. i think i'm gonna miss the middle innings. either way, i'll be plotzing the enitre time...
GO ANDY!!! GO YANKS!!!
[1] Yeah, I flaked on that one. That's of course what they should do if tonight is rained out. If there's a weather issue tomorrow, however, they could be screwed, that is if they use the off-day to play the makeup.
[10] thelarmis: Invest in a DVR. It's one of those "now that I have it I can't live without it" things, plus you never miss a pitch (you just have to avoid the score until you get home, or I do, at least).
Twitscape reports Hamels is heading out to warm up, so they're gonna try to get started at least.
Happy Halloween, all.
According to the book Haunted Baseball, the most haunted ballpark is Huggins-Stengel Field in St. Petersberg, FL, once the Yanks' spring training facility. People report seeing a heavy-set man in a #3 uniform - yup, the Babe.
For instance, one groundskeeper reported seeing a stocky man in a gray #3 uniform walking across the field one day. He looked so real and solid, the groundskeeper thought he was a real person...until it walked through a wall.
Later, he and his boss checked out the spot where the ghost disappeared, and found footprints burned into the grass, leading right up to the wall, then stopping.
On another occasion, two clubbies stayed in the clubhouse overnight, to catch up on work. All night long, they heard the sounds of a party. A poker party. Talking, laughing, glasses clinking, cards being shuffled, and the smell of cigar smoke. They kept looking for the source of the sounds, but found nothing.
Rain or no rain, Let's Go Yan-kees!!!!!
[14] I'll have what he's having. : D
It's hard to complain about the weather with all the weather rellated tragedies that occur, but c'mon, It's the World Series for Mo' sake!
Dear A Rod, pressing is OVER. Get ya sum.
Rogers Sports Net is reporting a rain delay? is this true? I need some help up here!!
[12] thanks man! i'm not sure what tivo or a dvr is, but i think you're right. my brother was just mentioning that to me. i'm hoping to move in the next month or so - cross all your digits that this comes thru!!!. if i do move, i'll prolly change things up like cable & internet. i *might* join the 21st century soon, we'll see...
[18] Noooooo.
[18] yeah tarp is on the field - looking at the fox set on the field it is intermittently raining hard and then letting up some
the fox pre-game buffoons have said that mlb is planning to play the game and think that the game will be able to be played through
From Lohud:
is that a tarp on the field or a little ice rink for Dorothy Hamels to practice his pre-game pirouettes?
Yanks are gonna eff you up Dorothy Hamels!
weather permitting.
Weather Gods...we need baseball. And a Yankee win!
[24] W.C. Yankee = Weather Conditions Yankee?! ; )
i like your forecast of a pinstriped victory!!!
Mariano might say he doesn't hear anything while jogging in from the bullpen, but he simply HAD to have heard me screaming on the top of my lungs MA-RI-AN-OOOOOO!!! when the Yanks were in Atlanta end of June. hell, my throat still hurts from yelling his name! i was so loud, i was shaking!!! : )
Ugh. Looks like there might be a window between 11pm and 1 am, but that's kinda late...
They have to get this game in tonight, I have so many Halloween puns to use. For instance, although the team that is down 2 games 1 is in a grave situation, they won't be dead, indeed you could call them undead.
[28] boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I mean, boo. : D
I just hope the Yankees don't make any early mistakes that haunt them later in the game.
Walks will haunt
I really really miss the years 1998-2000 when I never worried about losing a series. Even when the Yanks trailed Cleveland in 1998 I wasn't a bit concerned. In fact, I was so spoiled by the success I got a little bored. I am so nervous about Game 3. AND I'm sweating bullets that the game's going to rain out.
I want baseball. Trick or Treat is for kids. Gimmie some baseball!
they better fucking play and the yankees better fucking win. period, end of.
[34] Fuck, you are scary.
This image is encouraging, looks like the front will pass, though a possible larger one looms in the distance.
The Cleveland show? Baseball, Baseball!!!
[35] you should see my punim!
If one of these games is rained out, is the Series pushed back a day, of do we lose the off day on Tuesday?
[38] Oy.
[39] The latter.
my gig goes until 2-2:30am tonight, so i'll miss the whole thing, regardless...
there's really not much difference between the cartoon they're showing, and that Nick Swisher interview. Seemless transition by Fox there.
[41] Hey man, I am heading out now on a job so am actually happy about the delay. I should be back now to catch the last few innings!
One lame thing about this rain delay: Japanese broadcaster shows WS highlights from the past, so I just had to watch Randy&Curt, then 2004...blechhh.....
seamless, that is.. too much coffee and Halloween candy.
tarp's coming off! per LoHud
tarp coming off per sammy b
[42] haha - you are definitely our resident funny man
I really really hope we smack the shit out of Cole Hamels..he seems like a Biff Tannen-level butthead for some reason..first pitch at 21:15 your time..
Lohud
UPDATE, 8:50 p.m.: With Tenth Avenue Freeze Out playing throughout the stadium, the tarp is being pulled off the field.
[48] that dee -tective work of yours is paying off :}
[50] Hahhah, unfortunately not paying off so much that I can avoid heading out on a Sunday morning!
I predict a solid Andy P and a positive Banter tonight. Hope to get back to a safe lead and no sign of Brian Bruney...
Pregame BS starting here on rogers, so I assume we start in about 30 minutes.
i'm off to work. have a great game, folks.
i think i might bring baseball cards of our starting 9 + joba/phil/mo with me and have 'em on the stage. damn superstitious drummers... : ~
GO ANDY!!! GO YANKS!!!
[47] ah, I'm a dime a dozen around here.
[53] go git 'em, thelarmis! Go Yanks!
Just watched Young Frankenstein earlier this evening, I just have two words for Cole Hamels & all the other Phillies horses:
Frau Blücher!
[55] Love it!
I hope Andy can scare up lots of 1,2,3 innings tonight.
this game features some wicked witch-hitters
Dear Yankees, please destroy the Phillies.
Your friend, Santa Claus. BTW, no WS Crown, you get nothing.
I've got a good feeling. Nervous, but good feeling.
Damn I am absolutely as nervous as a long hair cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
I just hope we can get an early score off Hamels and he can't get going....I am worried that he'll suddenly be sharp as hell. I know the Yanks have the best OPS+ in baseball and that I can't see the forest for the trees, but it seems like too many pitchers get "well" against us sometimes.
Yanks are gonna burn so much Cole tonight they're gonna cause acid rain!
[60] good, most of your predictions have been accurate
two balls called strikes....Let's hope the plate is that wide for Andy.
That was a sub-optimal start.
if hamels gets those type of calls all night - this will be frighful
[60] Monkey, man, I need you to be right, dude!
All year long it seemed struggling pitchers spelled bad news fot the Yanks.
"Yankees suck"? How original, Philadelphia.
Couple bloops and walks would be nice here....Foul of 15 pitches, Johnny.
[70] Off that is
glad jd is fouling some of this off
ok, how about a 7 pitch walk by Tex and a blast by Arod....I could live with that here.
So we have another Cy Young on the mound tonight, right?
He's going to keep us off-balance the whole night.
At least it's nice to hear some life at the game.
[69] At least you can here them...maybe it's just acoustics or the microphones, but the Phils' park is much louder---and the crowd sounds more "into it"---than at NYS.
He really seems to deliver the ball from high up.
[76] ...hear them...
I can't believe this shit.
Andy has to match pitch by pitch.
Fuck a mummy.
uggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhh.......Cliff Lee Part Deux.
Let's hope Andy can be sharp until our hitters settle in.
damnit - awful start
hamels is pounding the zone - albeit a high strike zone - but i think he will be hittable
I know, they have some serious fans.
Good for them.
[82] Not if he continues to locate like that.
Fuck a duck, c'mon boys this ain't little league.
look, we're not going to lose this Series to a fan base that waves white kerchiefs.
Not this fucking year!
By the way, just in case anyone's wondering, Hamels mostly pitched in the low 110's this year (with far more games under the 110's and even under the 100's than Cliff Lee) and only one game with 120 pitches.
He threw 13 pitches that inning....
[82] Gameday had pretty much all of his pitches in the zone on the edges, with a couple just off the zone.
Here we go, Andy...
how about going through a game without walking Rollins.
[80] That would be a monstrous thing to do.
Does give MILF another meaning.
Ok Arod pick us up next inning.
Man, that's the second time he's done that
[90] Your fault.
Is A-Rod getting paid off or something?
E-6 in my book. Lame. Move the feet Alex.
For some reason, I keep expecting this lineup to break out, but then they keep having awful ABs to start the game.
Oh, God, he's tipping his pitches.
C'mon Andy...keep it together....Just get through this inning.
I'd sign up for a Yankee hitter just hitting the ball as well as Rollins did...even if it turns out to be a groundout.
[98] You think?
DP Barbarino.
Shut up, Tim.
[88] bb pitch fx too -
[98] ?
[101] Not really, but I had a bad flashback because of that hard foul down the thirdbase line on the curve.
I don't know how the batter was so on that, like he knew it was coming.
This could be a loooooong game.
how about a pitch out here?
OK, Andy, let's keep these next two in the park.
Andy..punish them, destroy them, DOMINATE!
another chutkey dp here would be nice
Ok Fox, the king of meaningless stats, just showed how much Andy threw over to first during each of the prior games he's pitched.
OH, FUCK YOU, ump1!!
That's a strike!
That caught the fucking plate.
I like Davey Lopes' zombie mask.
this asshole is giving the high strike but not the low one
FUCK YOU, PHILLIE!
Lay the FUCK off Andy!
I wonder what Andy's record is on the road when he has a couple days of scruff on his face...surely fox will share that with us.
[112] ESPN show the same stat, and the announcers actually made it relevant by noting how much he controlled opposing basestealers in his PS starts.
Concentrate on Utley!
Wait, I thought that was ball 4? Gotta pay more attention.
please do not let the ball end up in cf
Strike, fucking ump.
[121] You'll figure it out, Jorge.
Jeter towers over Rollins.
Good pitch, Andy.
I hope the Yankees remembered to bring the ghosts with them from the stadium.
They're fouling Andy's curve hard.
fuck it...give him a pass and face Howard...I can't take this anymore.
I would sign up or a Yankee hitter to strike a foul ball like Utley's!
looks to me like they're sitting breaking ball.....
...which is certainly how I'd approach Pettite (assuming I had, you know, ability)
Sweet, Andy.
nice pitch andy -
Beauty.
ok I was wrong on that one.....great pitch, Andy.
That's more like it.
That was HUGE.
Nice, Andy.
Nice pitch!
Now, just forget about rollins and work on Howard.
Andy tricking Utley is always a treat.
No hangers. No hangers. No hangers. No hangers. No hangers. No hangers.
it looks like rain coming down again
Utley bobbin for apples there.
Nice block by Posada!
Just Fair trying to get over his closetphobia this Halloween.
cole looks like, um how shall i put this nicely, a pussy
OH, good pitch!
another good block
[146] as Borat would say, I think Hamels looks like a "back pussy".
[145] It's more of a MummyDearestphobia. : D
Good pitch!
c'mon andy - just make your pitch
Eat shit, Phils. Atta boy, Andy!
there you go andy - great work after that bs hit by rollins
There ya go.
I think those moves screwed up Howard. Nice.
20 pitches for Andy....BUT at least no runs...I expect he'll have some faster innings. Yeoman work there, Andrew.
YESSS!!!
FUCKING A, YES!
That's our Andy.
Spooktacular comeback by Andy.
YES!
Now, where the hell is that Score Truck? What is it, like 100 miles between NYC and Phila.?
OK now Yankee bats, suck the life out of Philly.
Ok, Arod, do NOT let the zone get expanded...Work the count and get a walk or a single....stay within your Centaur self....
[156] About half of those were against Utley. He'll be able to work more efficiently against their more hacktastic players. Six innings tonight, easy.
[159] are we relying on a score train here?
Dorothy Hamels is a figure skater with a changeup.
Fuck him UP, Yankees!
and pull on his face just to make sure he's not Cliff Lee in a Cole Hamels mask.
Domination...Live it, love it. Make the Phillys eat it!
[160] Oh, vampire bats!
"C'MON COLE....keep pounding the corner." OY. That fucking cap commercial is the bane of my existence.
I'm sorry, you shouldn't be in a commercial while you're pitching in the world series.
That's just gauche and unholy.
Someone please hit the ball hard now.
The announcers (esp. Sutcliffe) have been pounding on A-Rod's failure so far this series...maybe someone should start to talk about Howard?
Centaur! Kabbalah! Buddah! Kiss the Mirror! HAH!
Take it.
[169] Or get hit hard by a ball.
damn on the elbow
Fuck you Cole!
pee on it jorgie
[163] Perhaps so...and if it's run by Amtrak, that explains why it hasn't shown up yet.
[164] Dorothy Hamels? Hmmmpf...I got in trouble around these parts for changing Sandy Duncan's name! I hope you weren't one of my critics!
Elston Howard, the great Yankee great.
Great work, Tim!
Meanwhile, Po finds another odd way to look silly.
At least Jorge hit it hard. : / GODDAMNIT
Jorge has really had alot of horrible ABs this post season.
I sure wish someone would hit the ball hard.
jesus this high strike is something
I am at a complete loss for why this offense has just stopped having good ABs.
What is he looking at????
Why can't we hit the baseball?
This is really getting out of hand.
[184] The high strike is made to hit hard and far.
Oh, Christ.
Here we go again.
Don't want those belt high fastballs, Robbie. Swing at some of that inside shit and look stupid.
Frightening AB, Cano.
Ok Nick show some attitude here....11 pitch at-bat and a homerun....
[188] if you are adjusted to it and swing at it
That AB is why the Yankees aren't hitting. They keep taking hittable pitches early in the count before swinging at pitches out of the zone. This team needs to wake up and adjust.
Every last fucker is totally off-balance and perplexed.
Wow. Maybe Hairston should start over several players...Swisher, Johnny, Cano...
I'm going to hang myself.
We are in BAD shape.
2 hard balls that inning. They're on the right track. b double o
At least Nick hit it to the OF.
these guys *appear* unready (yes i just made that word up) for their abs
That's ok. Their on pace to get Hamels out of the game...in the 12th inning.
[201] they're
Sheesh...I need more coffee.
[196] maybe we should just say fuck it and start Gritner, Matsui and Hinske in the outfield and Molina at Catcher...Matsui could be a statue and Gritner could cover his area.
By the way, I read somewhere (actually I think it was Pete's new blog) that several Phils have the flu.....let's hope so.
More futility...I think we've seen enough to know that this isn't good Phillie pitching, but just very bad Yankee hitting. When you can't come up with one well struck foul ball for long stretches, it's says something.
This post season, just about every starting pitcher has used the Yankees patience agains them. They pump mediocre strikes early in the count before expanding the zone. After 12 games, why haven't they adjusted? Only Jeter has been attacking early strikes, and not surprisingly, he has been performing consistently.
[204] frustration
Andy definitely doesn't have the good stuff tonight. That doesn't mean he can't grit out a 6 inning, 3 run performance, but that wont be good enough with the way the team is (not) hitting.
fuck
Well, then.
Fuck. indeed.
How the FUCK did he hit that?
Goddamn.
How was he able to stay back on that?
We are really watching two different teams. One is loose and having good ABs, while the other is tight and seemingly unprepared for theirs.
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhh
I'm officially lowering my expectations for this season to hoping we make the world series this year.
Maybe that'll wake up the Pinstripers. It can't make them any worse.
way to put it behind you Andy.
Good, Andy.
I'm still not worried, so long as Andy keeps the damage limited. Someone on the Yanks will accidentally poke one over the fences here. But william is right [206], Andy can't give up much more than one or two.
I fucking hate Jayson Werth.
C'mon, Andy. Buckle down.
This game could get u-g-l-y.
This looks eerily like Game 6 in Arizona.
andy beter be more careful with these rh hitters
[211] Fortunately those two different teams have the same record in teh WS...so far...
Nice catch Swish.
They're totally onto Andy.
I don't like this at all.
Nice. Andy..you really need to strike these guys out. Seriously.
jesus now he isn't throwing strikes
He is laboring out there.
Come on, Andy.
They're on every fucking thing.
[212] Careful, with the way the Yankees have been hitting, that may not happen.
[222] Thanks to AJ. Over the first two games, I thought AJ was great and CC was very good, but thought Lee got away with a lot of bad pitches and obviously Pedro performed a magic act. With the pitching they've received, the Yankees should be up 2-0, but the offense has prevented them from doing that.
Now, for the first time, the Yankees are facing a bad start and have done nothing to show that they can compensate. Either this team is not prepared for how the opposition has adjusted to them, or they are collectively scared.
When Andy pitches like this, it tells you he has little confidence in his stuff. The Yankees are in huge trouble in this game.
See Andy, the point here is to throw fucking strikes.
A Hamels single here would put a nice cherry on the clusterfuck that is the beginning to this game.
pllllllllllllllllllllleasse get the pitcher.
oh my fucking god
My. God.
what the fuck was that.
OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!!!!!
GOD HELP ME.
Holy crap. How did he get on?
[233] yep a clusterfuck about sums this up - all we need is prezbo to shoot someone or something
Not what I had in my mind, but that's even worse. : (
Not getting an out there is inexusable. Arod has to be standing in front of Hammels.
The Yankees are self destructing...why is this team not prepared to play Game 3 of the World Series.
Posada is an awful catcher.
This is good, because rather than Cole sitting in the dugout resting, he now has to stand on the bag.
Come on, Andy, you can do this.
You're a golden god.
[233] your fault
we're going to walk Rollins here.
andy has lost the zone
WHY THE FUCK HAS DAVE EILAND NOT VISITED THE MOUND??????????
Girardi has to have Aceves up...when Andy doesn't have it, he doesn't have it.
Right now, I have to agree with the Philly crowd. The Yankees do indeed suck.
Andy... this isn't rocket science. Throw the fucking ball and make it a strike. what are you new?!
Well, he's gonna walk in the run with Rollins. Concede that. Then he has to attack the LHs.
Looks like the Golden God is trying to walk a run in.
Double play Andy. Let's go.
[248] andy "battles" about as much as anyone when his stuff is shit
not good
the score truck has obviously arrived.
Why is this happening?
Andy is finished. Letting him face another batter could end this game.
Come on, Andy, that's it.
That's it.
What The Fuck? Andy...oh whatever, just strike the rest out...please.
Jimmy Rollins has a .296 OBP and has walked 4 times this series......How does such an impatient hitter suddenly become so patient? Sample sizes be damned!
This is fugly.
That bunt replay was FUCKING HORRIIC. I don't want it. Do you want it? I don't want it. inexcusable
They're obviously terrified of Damon's cannon arm.
get one more out and get out of this 3-0
That's an 0-2 pitch? Pettitte is lucky Victorino didn't park it.
Girardi has to PH for Andy in the second. He is done.
[257] This is happening because the Phillies are better than we are and they already know they are going to win the 2010 world series, much as the Yanks used to know in the 1990's. The rest of this series is just perfunctory.
just get us out of this inning with out too much more damage. Grpound ball, pop up or god forbid a strikeout would be nice
I really didn't the Yankees would lose this World Series because they wilted...it's kind of sad to put that kind of cap on this season.
[263] Your typing is HORIFFIC!!!! Hold them at 3. Still early.
[263] That was awful. Consensus is that was Posada's fault. But that ball got pretty far toward the pitcher...I'm not sure whose fault it was. Should Andy have charged harder? Should Posada have pounded faster? Once it got out past Andy they weren't going to get anyone.
OK Yankee bats, show some spirit.
okay could have been so much worse
[271] yeah i agree, maybe po didn't get up fast enough but it seemed to be too far away for him to make the play
[271] The play should have been made. Let's just leave it at that. I no longer care even to point fingers.
[273] Yes, that's true.
That could have been worse. It could have been better...but it could have been much worse. Andy has to get his act together and muscle through four or five innings, until he is PH for in his 2nd AB.
Get your fucking shit together and bury them. It's not a hard concept to comprehend.
andy already at 51 - he has to settle in the next few innings or this will be a gaudin/aceves kind of night
All is not lost. This gong to be a 15-12 rollercoaster. Once our side starts, you know, swinging at strikes and laying off crap, kinda like they did all year. BOLLOCKS! Let's go already!!!!
alright melky let's get it going
Here's your clue boys...hit the fucking ball...really, really really far.
shit hard hit right at him
Well struck, Melky.
That is the best hit ball the Yankees have had all night and it wasn't even hit well.
Giving away an AB here...I would PH Sabathia and got to the bullpen.
Wow, Andy had two hits?
A third baseman that use his glove . hmmmmmmmmm
So annoyed right now.
Derek keeps swinging through those fastballs.
Po has the play in front of him and an easie throw. Po has got to call it and jump on it.
Jeter swings through an 89mph fastball right down the middle. I guess no one is going to hit again this series.
Is this an old team wearing down? What's the reason why this great offense hasn't been able to hit less than stellar pitching in the post season?
Agggh.
I said before the PS started that we had to hit to win. I thought we got very lucky in the forst 2 series, with a lot of gifts. No so this series.
I hate Werth.
Oh Cole you're my hero!!!
Sorry... that should be foist 2 series.
hamels is basically only throwing his fastball and changeup
i really think the yanks will get it together even though they don't look good at all right now
[297] Their secret plan is to keep him in the game as long as possible before dropping the hammer!
[293] They got some good breaks and Arod was a monster. With Arod not hitting and the Yankees playing tense instead of the Phillies, it's really hard to see a way the Yankees can win this series without AJ-like pitching. They aren't going to win games that they have to fight it out.
[296]I think this is the frost series, as in the Yankee bats are dead cold.
good start andy
at least howard is clueless at the plate
I don't think you can depend on offense to win in the post-season. Bats grow cold sometimes. Good pitching beats good hitting. Etc. During the regular season, it evens out. During the short post-season, there may be no time for cold bats to heat up. That's why pitching and defense win championships.
[297] I thought that against Pedro and Lee, but also Saunders, Pavano and Blackburn. That's not exactly Verlander, Lester and Lincecum.
[302] Have the Yankees really been facing good pitching though?
good inning andy
Nice recovery, Andy.
OK, things are leveling out maybe. Of course, they can't win if they don't score. So...let's score!
Hit. The. Fucking. Ball...real hard And keep doing it until...fuck it just keep hitting the ball!
It would really help if Johnny can come alive a little.
Another pop fly. Another two pitch AB. Hamels will go 20 innings tonight.
Starters faced by the Yankees with ERA+. There are some good pitchers, but nothing that you would look at as overwhelming. It's not good pitching shutting down good hitting....it's bad hitting by good htters.
Duensing - 114
Blackburn - 103
Pavano - 89
Lackey - 119
Saunders - 99
Weaver - 121
Kazmir - 93
Lee -126
Pedro - 118
Hammels - 99
Gee, I didn't realize Cole was pitching a no hitter.
Somehere in that lineup is an acecdote to this fucking bullshit.
Teix caught a break there.
it often starts with a walk!!
Alright! Made him work a bit...got a close call...got on base...let's go A-Rod!
Haha, nice walk
1 close strike replay for the Phils.
swing at strikes alex please
That swing by Arod is depressing.
Atta boy, Alex, atta boy!!!
FUCK JUST MISS IT.
alright good work alex
Oh, so close. Come on Posada.
Yay! A-Rod!!
Damn I wish that would have gone out because I have no confidence in Posada.
[315] It is ironic how base clogging sometimes leads to a rally...you just can't pre-
A-Rod! Damn...that was almost out.
That's a home run!
HOME RUN FOR FUCK'S SAKE
HOME RUN
please be a hr!!
Instant replay!!!
That's a HR!!! It hit the camera. They better review it!!
Oh, please, please, please...
Come on umps, don't blow this.
Wow, I just filled the cup...can we please get some more?
IF they fuck this up I will go beat up a trick or treater.
so instead of reviewing it these fat fucks are going to stand in the middle of the field and chat
Replay!
I shit my pants if that's just a double
Was it coming down when it hit the camera? Jeebus, man, of course. You idiot.
Damn, conclave of cardinals.
[337] I'm right behind ya.
if buck thinks it is a hr it better god damn well be one
I'd like to see the video from that camera :)
It hit the camera...it's a HR!
Wait...shouldn't there be a replay from the camera of the ball hitting the camera?!?
If they don't call this a HR, I don't want to hear another word about replay because the whole inclusive evidence excuse is what kills the practice in football.
yes hr!!!!!
Is this the first World Series home run review? A-Rod was involved in the first one in history as well.
YES!
Damn right.
YAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY!!!
Woo hoo!!!! Instant replay gets it right.
Thank god.
Well, Girardi was not asleep at the switch on that play!
All right, Andy, keep us the fuck in this.
They got it right....now move that fucking camera back.
3-2 team - life is back in this game
Thanks for that, Jorgie.
And Jorge goes back to swing at crap.
Molina might as well catch every game.
Way to keep the pressure on, Jorgie.
That is why that call was so crucial. You can not count on Posada.
Wow... ARod passes Molina.
shove it timmy
Robbie, you suck my ass.
Pettitte should be hitting before Cano and Swisher.
Po and Robbie right in line with a couple of smashes.
So, the Yankees are now getting zero production out of the 5,6,7,8,9, and 2 spots in the lineup.
A walk and a home run sandwiched between a trio of two pitch at bats
Right back to the shitty swings....nice. Hopefully Arod has arisen because it's going to need to be a one man show.
[360] How about Cervelli. I know he's not on the roster but us zombies want a reason to scream "brains, braaaiiins, braaaiiiiiinnnssss!"
Hey, guys, you want to hear something funny? Cano hit .320 this year!
[356] Yep...no excuse to have the camera overhanging the fence. Though I am pleased that it helps the Yankees this time.
feinsand says that was the first hr replay in the ws
[369] And a dubious walk at that.
I blame Teix for clogging the bases and A-Rod for killing the rally.
[373] It didn't really help...the ball would have gone over anyway.
So, the Yankees have hit one ball well tonight in 4 innings (one ball...not one ball in play). Having 2 runs is a miracle.
ugh - alex what is up with your fielding?
Come on Arod!!! What the fuck.
Je-sus Ch-rist.
Why is Andy not getting swings and misses with his curve?
Wtf, Alex?
We can't afford this shit.
That's his 3rd error in 3 games in my book. For fuck's sake.
We've never seen the Yankees play like this in the World Series. There is no Beckett, Schilling or Johnson standing in the way.
[383] i got the same book - i might throw it at something or someone
Andy....concentrate on fucking Ruiz damn it.
has feliz stolen a base in his life?
attention andy and jorge - be ready for the bunt
That's OK...nice play by Jeter in the hole. Now please get the pitcher out.
Better throws, Jorgie.
[385] I vote for the douchelords in the booth.
okay - that is how you do it
now get rollins
OK. Now walk Rollins, because he's going to walk anyway, and go after Victorino.
For all that's Mo and Holy, do not let Rollins get a 2 out rbi.
Andy has nothing.
[393] I think Andy is.
stfu buck - it is not that complicated
Good, Andy.
good.
That play was very close to the one in Fenway.
If Andy gives you 5-6 innings with only 3 runs, he deserves a lot of credit.
Knock them the fuck out. Now!
[397] I thought the Girardi interview was a little excessive too
Very nice inning.
.
.
Mid game strategy time: PH for Andy this inning? He probably only has one or two more innings in him, right?
[395] that is a bit extreme william - he is off but he had a good enough two innings and is doing his oft-repeated batllecat with sub=par stuff
[399] Which one, the O'Neill one?
I wonder if Vegas had a line on first player to be inolved with a World Series homer? If so I'm guessing lots of people picked Alex. : )
[402] definitely - those drive me crazy, and tonight's was especially annoying
[404] He has no command of his fastball and little break on the curve he drops in for a strike. I am sure Andy will say he didn't have much out there and he had to grind this one out. It's not really an insult because most pitchers would be taking a shower now.
Hey I'm back...did I miss anything?
[402] What did he say? I'm not getting the Fox feed, so no annoying interviews mid-game.
This team is so easily kept off balance. It's almost sadistic.
good rip nicky!!
What the HELL was THAT?
Thank you, Swisher, thank you!
Praise Jesus.
Way to go Swish.
2 curves in a row
He's alive!
This makes Andy's AB tough.
Fair ball!
I hear the Score Truck coming? he asked tentatively.
I wish they would sit first pitch fastball.
Good cut, Melky.
I don't think Girardi trusts anyone to pull Andy yet. I don't blame him
Good, hang in there, Melky.
[410] the part i found annoying (well besides the whole god damn thing) was buck's line of questioning - especially on the replay
Motherfucker.
so no ph
Melky has been really awful, too.
ok, I have to say this.....pinch run Gritner, steal, and then pinch hit Matsui....
HELL FUCKING YES!!!!
way to fucking go andrew eugene pettitte!!!!
[425] NOPE!
Not the time to shit the bed Melky. Is Long even suggesting to them that look first pitch fastball?
HOOOOO!!1
HOT DAMN!!!!!
Fucking Andy!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHA!
[427] once again, I know nothing!
Uh-oh, now Andy needs to run the bases. Maybe he should just wander off the base and "accidentally" get picked off?
FUCK YES. Andy wakes up the offense!
[431] Long has been replaced by Terrence Long.
Swishalicious read on that ball. Any hesitation and he's out.
leave it to swish to make a slide into home wacky
90% of players would have reacted angrily to being shoved by the catcher like that. Swisher bounces on his head, pops up and jogs away.
[434] Don't worry about. No one knows anything, because...
.
.
.
.
You just can't predict baseball.
Ohhh, he missed the ball!!!
Damn it, it sucks that Pettitte is slower than Molina.
[435] surely andy had some practice with the astros
boooooooooooo said the ghost booooooooooooo whoooooooooo boooooooooooooo
Stop taking that fastball!!
FUCKING BEAUTIFUL
All right! YES!
YAAAAYYYYYY!!!
HOT FUCKING DAMN!!!!
WOOOO!!!
yeah offense the score truck has been insprired by ine andy pettitte
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELLLLLLLL FUCKIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGG YESSSSSSSSSS
Jeter almost caught Andy!
Mo for 5 innings!
um....is this the score truck?
BOOM! BAM! POW!
(superheroes knockin on my door tonite)
Because I can't let it does, that is how Wang should have been instructed to run.
[453] :) Don't give Girardi any ideas.
Whooooo hoooooo!
keep the line moving tex
We have a pulse, ladies and gentlemen.
We have a pulse!
Keep going guys, don't let up.
[456] I was thinking about Wang there too, we probably all were.
[456] i felt confident that would get brought up by you :}
Come on Tex....lay off these...hunt the damn fastball!!!
[454] This is the Score Minivan. The Score Truck will arrive shortly after the arrival of the Phillies bullpen.
Let's knock Hamels out right here.
C'Mon Teix. Get on base.
Come on rally killer!
[441] So you FINALLY agree with me!
Oh yes!!
Come on, Alex!
Here we go, my man!
A base clog is as good as hit. Now come one, rally killer!!
Kill the ball. kill it!
good night back pussy
Buh bye, Jack!!!
Aw, such a ghoulish performance by Cole.
No mention of Alex hardly getting any of that ball for the homer. Just an opposite field laser on a late swing. Meanwhile, Werth's golf shot was an amazing sign of his power. Oy!
[464] But the minivan gets better milage.
[476] The truck has more power and can carry a much larger load.
[456] "Because I can’t let it does".
Wait... I take exception to that.
Some serious decisions for the Yankees, too, though. Andy has to face the heart of the order in the bottom of the inning. Do you leave him in? How long is his leash? I can't believe he'll go more than one more inning...and with this rally, he might be up next inning.
[475] plus the insinuation that the yanks were lucky to get that call and that is what changed the game - i hope those two get some serious trots tonight
New pitcher, new op to knock that fucking ball out the park!
Tonight's Score Truck is powered by THE MUNSTERS. ; D
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i61/Salt_the_Catgirl/munsters.jpg
Hamels did look pretty sharp out of the gate.
[475] I was thinking the same thing. We heard Werth's life story, testimonials from everyone going back to his kindergarten teacher, etc. etc.
[479] You keep him on a short leash for one more inning only. Then you go to Hughes and hope he'll be more composed earlier in the game.
[479] basically have to go bater by batter with him and ph for him next time he is up
[475] ARod has something beyond Power. The balls he hits just travel much further then they should.
A-Rod, just hit it hard.
Fuckfuckfuckfuck.\
ah damn - right at him
Dammit...that was one of the best hit balls tonight.
End of the bat. D'OH!
That was an inch away from being an 8-3 game.
Damn, well struck ball by Alex.
[487] And so he did. Good sign.
Let's go Jorge!! Let's go.
c'mon jorgie - make william say something nice about you :}
Well shit, c'mon keep the score truck going!!
REDEEM YOURSELF JORGE!!!!
Jorge, put a stake in the Phillies.
Ya know, when player call Hor-hay 'George', it just sounds SO wrong.
Oh, Jorgie.
Jesus Posada, really?
that is not going to do it jorgie - fuck man
[498] Unfortunately, not this time. Rough night.
A horror show, Jorge, a real horror show.
That's how you want to go out on 3-0. Atta boy, Jorge. SHIT!
Posada just isn't very bright.
Good fucking God.
Ass.
Goat.
Fuck.
Girardi had better have one of his lefties up and ready this inning, in case Andy weakens.
Jorge should not have a green light. He really seems to be the least intelligent baseball player I've ever seen of that tenure. I love him and he's our guy, but geez.
nevertheless very good inning team - anyone who thought hamels was going to get knocked out of this game before andy raise your hand
and then give sterling a call
Hey all!
Way to go Jorgie, way to let him off the hook you dumb bastid.
In Jorge's defense, he thought it was 2-0.
I can live with swing 3-0, but to be caught out in front really makes me think he just decided to swing. That was a knockout chance and Jorge really choked on that AB, just like he did in Game 6 of the ALCS.
Jorge.
Melky.
Cano.
Really... the old Yankee Stadium MUST have had lead water pipes.
Welp, it would be GREAT if Andy could manage to get six more outs here.
[512] Hey, Alex!
Jorge frustrates...but things are a heckuvalot brighter now than it looked a couple of innings ago, no?
[513] :) Oh my God. Too funny.
I don't recall him doing this stuff years ago. It's like the more he plays, the less he seems to understand the game.
513] Actually, he was trying to lift the ball for a sac fly.
[508] i guess my lasting legacy on the banter will be the name ugly for youk and some variation of the phrase fuck a goat in the ass.
my mom would be so proud :}
0-2, nice, Andy.
Sit Barbarino's ass back on the bench.
[518] Jorge has never been the best post season performer, but with the bats not on all cyclinders, everyone's failures have been magnified.
[518] in all seriousness maybe he has been "knocked senseless"
Hang in there, Andy...don't lose him.
Let's go ANDY!
Whew, nice catch, Melkius.
Nice. One away.
Melky scared me on that.
Phewwwww. That was a rocket.
These are the big outs, here.
[520] :)
bad feeling here...
No matter what, all outs are frustrating. Arod just missed and it sucked, while Posada gave away an AB and it sucked. When one happens, you think you'd prefer the other, but that's really not the case.
Nice play!!!
Nice play, team, nice play!
Wow, NICE play all round there.
good play
Good play!
Andy's been running a little bit tonight.
Andy is going to need the entire offseason to recover from this start. Eiland should come out to give him a breather.
Any time a PS record is mentioned, the WS record should also be mentioned. It's not fair to record holders of yesteryear to not differentiate between a 19 game PS and the old 7 game PS.
So Andy for 6....Marte for Howard....Phil for 2/3....Joba for 1...Mo for the 9th>
Now, just keep Howard in the park...you can do it, Andy.
Not good enought for a replay, though. Yet. FUCK YOU FOX!!
good for po to come out to the mound
[542] Yep!
FUCK you!
Bad feeling about Howard here. He's due.
NICE
OK, nevermind.
great work andy!!
Time for Robbie to show up!
Bravo, Andy, bravo.
You're a golden god.
Pretty cool the way we have handled Howard.
clapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclapclap
Popped him up. Well done Andy!! Ya'know, he may get those six innings yet. What's Andy's pitch count? 90 or so?
Classic Andy. Keeping us in the game on garbage.
Bury these fools now. NOW!
[542] Yeah but batting average at least isn't impacted....
Speaking of Gehrig.....I'm still amazed by the fact that in 1926, with 2 outs and the winning run standing in the batter's box (Lou Gehrig), Babe Ruth was thrown out stealing to end the world series.
Obviously Ruth made up for that screw up in spades over the next few seasons and it's largely forgotten by history (Most fans prefer to discuss Old Pete's hangover pitching) but can y'all imagine if Arod did that?
[557] 83 pitches for andy
Get him some runs, sticks, get him some runs!
That was Andy's best inning...not only results-wise, but location-wise too. Really hard to figure. Girardi did a good job sticking with him so far because I was ready to yank him. Joe Girardi is outmanaging me big time.
[560] I read a bio of him a few years back and I think that was a pretty big deal back then, and I want to say Lou was really, really pissed but I could be wrong.
[563] I'd rather have bad Andy than anyone who might replace him.
Criminy, Robbie.
Robbie.
Fucking.
Sucks.
1-10. Bollocks.
Maybe Hairston should start for Cano for a game?
Nice AB asswipe.
[563] i have certainly been wrong tons, but i thought it best to stick with andy because he is able to pitch with diminished stuff and if everyone goes on short rest the pen is needed the rest of the series
I didn't realize Cano was going as an out tonight. Jorge too.
Maybe Posada isn't so dumb after all. He was probably thinking, walk....why? Cano is on deck.
Cano hit .320 this year.
I really want to see more than one inning with hard hit balls.
i wonder how much of robbie's struggles are weather related - all those slow starts - he was dressed like a fucking snowman durin the alcs games
HELL YES!!!!
WHOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Nick is swishalicious!
Swish has come home!!
Whew! Yeah, Hairston should play for Cano- it works! :)
fuck yeah, Swish!
Swish! Definitely not a rock in your goodie bag.
Hey everyone, the Score Truck just pulled up and dropped off Nick Swisher.
swishy has come back this game in a huge way!!!
and fuck off word press
Hot FUCKING Dog
Looks like being benched lit a fire under Swisher.
One thing to keep in mind about Swish. The Yankees had played 7 of 11 games at home, and Swisher was awful at home.
Damn. Hit hard, too.
[575] Satisfied, my friend?
[564] Luckiest Man or The Big Bam? I don't know which "him" you mean but I'm guessing it's one of those.
Melky hit that pretty hard too.
So tomorrow bench Cano, Posada, Teix, Damon et al. Get everyone hot for Monday. : )
well swish and his lady were supposed to be sumo wrestlers gor halloween so maybe that is related to his big hits today
Andy should hit a homer. Just sayin'.
[590] Yes, well, not totally.
I want to work through their entire bullpen...
Good Swing. His battery mate should try it sometime later.
Ok, four more defensive innings.
Andy for one more, Joba starts warming right away?
[591] I read them both, but I just pulled 'Luckiest Man' off the shelf and it claims that the stolen base actually ENHANCED the Babe's rep as a "fearless swashbuckler". It also says Gehrig was on deck, which doesn't make any sense to me- it says Meusel was batting. I always thought Lou was up and always batted behind Ruth.
i think it is good actually to clear the pitcher's spot now - go back out with andy since he had such an easy inning last inning and then you can ph for that spot next time with matsui and not feel the need to even get tempted to double switch
[593] shhhhhhh let's not get ahead of ourselves.....just burn through their pen tonight and go after Blanton hard tomorrow....
I wonder if Cliff Lee ends up starting....
This is an ENORMOUS inning for Andy and the Yanks.
[600] Oh wow, I didn't realize Meusel was up. That's odd that Ruth and Gehrig wouldn't bat back-to-back
I read both of those two and they're great.
[599] Now that Andy has batted, and with only 83 pitches and a three-run lead, I might push him to start the 7th if he can get through the sixth with relative ease.
[591] Iread Big Bam, and Montville said there was little criticism of the decision. Ruth's excuse was he ws trying to get into scoring position for Muesel and Huggins backed him up.
Strike One. We Likey.
so andy has the 3rd highest batting average for this ws
Fuck me.
Fucking Mouth Breather.
Uh oh.
jesus christ he nailed that ball
[606] To be fair, it's Babe freaking Ruth. Dumb decision, but it's babe Ruth.
Aw crud, that Werth can hit, huh?
[602] I really doubt Lee will start...he sounded like he really likes to work on five days rest with his regular routine.
Fuck...hate to give that run back. Werth is a very bad matchup for Andy.
Well, that wasn't good. But I'm not too worried just yet.
Man, what a BOMB.
[615] yeah andy has to pitch around him
Come on Andy...settle down now.
Got to get out number one here.
Well, he could've at least hit the Cancer sign.
[605] OK, let me rethink that...
[600] Meusel was batting behind Ruth that day and based on the number of plate appearances of Meusel and Gehrig it appears he was at-bat when that occurred.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA192610100.shtml
Aggggh!!!
Where was that?
Andy is very close to his limit now.
Okay, GOOD, GOOD.
Well done, Andy.
Well done.
there you go andy - 2 more now
Bloody good thing Swisher hit that home run. Werth is really something else, especially against lefties and especially at home.
Andy has really settled down.
Where was that?
C'mon!
Got one there.
[623] See, nowadays we would be killing the manager for batting Gehrig 5th.
Fucking Andy, c'MON.
don't walk this shitbird - c;mon
well let's win this game first....I like how Andy recovered with the strikeout after Werth's homer....
I know that Mo can only pitch one inning --- I hope that our mix and match pen can get 6 outs to get the ball in his hand...
Also -- It might be nice if our offense rang up some more runs.
Andy, it's Feliz.
3-2, now finish him.
Come on, Andy...get through the righties...
Werth is an insanely good hitter.
FRENCH ONIONS!
simma down na simma down na...
one more out, Andy.
Oh, yeah, fuck you, Jack, sit down!
whew - big k andy
That a BOY, Andy! One more!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Coming back from 3-1 rally jazzes me up. Awesome pitch, Andy.
Andy doesn't have great stuff tonight, but he's been awfully good. Basically, all of the opposing runs were produced in large part by Werth + shoddy defense.
2-0, c'mon...no meatballs here.
shit - one more andy - no walks
Is it me, or is this strike zone even worse than Thursday night's? And is that even possible?!
"shoddy defense," his own included...but agreed.
Aggggh.
What now?
Shit. One more? Or pull him here? I'd let Andy take his shot at the PH.
Now, Andy's night is down to one BIG OUT.
That's a huge BB...curious why they pitched so carefully.
Paul Bunyon? Make quick work of this bush leaguer.
Isn't Bruntlett some scrappy backup infielder type? I didn't know he was also a mountain man.
[651] it started very high with nothing low being called - now the low strike is being called but very little on the corners - so yes it is awful
Knock this punk the fuck out!
[652] That's true. Though the consensus here was to blame Posada. As you intimate, I'm not so sure that wasn't Andy's ball on the bunt.
Bruntlett had an OBP of .224 this year. So who knows what will happen, but that's insane.
Come on Andy, let's go!!!
Get this Viking bastard out.
Pettitte's fumes are on fumes.
alright andy really tiring - get out of this now
Andy's a golden god.
YES!!!!!!!!!! You the man, ANDY!!
niiiiiiiiice. way to battle back, Andy.
I was kind of hoping for that out to lead off the 7th.
Score truck, where's that damned SCORE TRUCK?
Thank god!
great job andy - you obviously can't pitch to werth - but a great night when you really didn't have shit - that is our battlecat!!
So who pitches the 7th?
Pretty nice night, Andy. Take a seat and watch the Score Truck carry this one to the BP.
why the hell did they show the stadium with the lights out? That was weird.
Hate giving up that run, but Werth/Andy was scary coming in. Considering that he gave up 2 bombs, but only 2 runs, I am ok with tipping my cap.
[674] i think he mixes and matches with robertson and cokey or maybe just joba
[674] It will be Marte...I still want to go to Hughes. If Hughes could be Hughes, the Yankees would be back to playing 6 inning games. I really the idea of giving up on him so quickly.
So Andy comes back out in the seventh, right?
I hated giving up that homer there big time, BUT....
1. It was a solo shot
2. Andy minimized the damage on a night when he has shit for stuff.
3. They've used up a PH (now we can use one too)
4. They've spent another pitcher...Our pen is vulnerable (though I sometimes think we're basically 4 innings away from being dominant again -- such is the nature of bullpens) but so is their bullpen..
Let's get some runs!
Bruntlett "hit" .171/.224/.238 this year, .229/.315/.333 vs LHP (.263/.352/.386 for his career). THIS is the best thing Manuel has to send up as a pinch hitter?!
Suddenly I am not worried by the Phillies at all.
[678] Rollins and Victorino are better against righties, so I think he goes right to Marte for those two and then Utley and Howard.
Please hit Durbin!
No way Joe lets a righty pitch to the two big lefties...
[678][674] Utley and Howard are coming up...we're gonna see Cokey/Marte for sure. Joba to start the inning against Rollins is my bet.
[680] i don't think so - he seems spent - starting to lose the zone again a bit
More runs would be nice.
Damon or Tex should really take Durbin deep!
[680] No way, he's done.
Oh JD. That was a foot off the plate.
wow....Joba is the 7th inning answer....
Let's just hope it's the answer to a question we like.
[671] Hopefully it will show up here - I looked up "soft, chewy underbelly" in the dictionary, and Chad Durbin, he of the 5.19 career ERA, was pictured.
More rain? Better call the game now. It is late after all.
Tex TIME!
It's on you Tex...this guy is made for you!
BRUNEY RUNS!!!!
Send Johnny, or lay back with Teix/A-Rod up?
let's start this rally killing hr with some good old fashioned base clogging
wow, stats be damned (even small samples), Johnny was heretofore 2-16 against Durbin, albeit with 2 BBs....how about a steal Johnny?
[694] I think all playoff games have to be played to conclusion now.
Come on Teix!
Go deep, Teix, go deep!
Let's go...
Tex is only 1-1 against Durbin
[659] And thanks for confirming, ms october. I've been in and out of the game all night, but what I've seen of the zone is not good.
Good eye...
Here it comes...
HORRIBLE call.
What an awful call.
THAT's not a fucking' strike.
Wow, that was way way outside.
[701] They do, but they'll pick up with the same score and inning.....
And then Tex goes after a pitch he should just let go....:(
[709] Yep, and that went from 2-0 to 2-2 real fast.
oh i am surprised that wasn't a strike
Sub-optimal.
Love them 55 footBULLSHITFUCKING changeups.
gonna walk him
Teixeira really saddens me because I thought he was post season slump proof. I thought the same thing about Sheffield, but was wrong there too.
The ump on 2-0 screwed that at bat up.
Arod is 1-7 against Durbin (yes SS) so why walk him?
christ make them pay alex
Show Werth a real tape measure shot.
That was a better pitch than the one to Tex on 2-0.
OK Posada, base hit here.
Motherfucker.
jesus stop hitting him
Stakes are too high for retaliation.
And once again, an opportunity for Po's redemption.
Posada...damn.
That's fine. He looks comfy now again AND he'll be pissed off.
I have absolutely zero faith that Posada will do something good here. Absolutely none.
Hip, Hip, Jorge!!
[719] BUT he has certainly played good defense and you can't argue that Tex hasn't had a few key walks and homers?
***He walked against Minny which set up Arod's homer in game 2 of the ALDS
***He homered against Minny to win the same game
***He homered the other night to tie the Phils.
I disagree that he's in Sheffield Country.
MLB must have ordered fox to stop show the strike box.
Can't blame Jorge for THAT call.
How fucking far outside was that?!
c'mon ump - get a fucking clue with this zone
JUST TERRIBLE
See, I thought Teixeira would struggle a bit because he seems to be such a rhythm player to me.
This ump better call these for our guys!
Fuck.
REDEMPTION!
Hell yes!
[735] How glad are they that TBS isn't showing the Serious?
I'm all for Posada walking here, but do we want Cano to come up with RISP? Then again, he's about due for a big hit in the Serious, isn't he?
Never mind, that'll do Jorge!
[708] through [711]
No joke... even gameday agrees that was a ball. look how far outside it is!
Nice hittin, Po!
FUCK you Philadelphia and all your citizenry!
Oh, wow.
Thanks Po.
Thank you for sucking Mr. Umpire.
good job jorgie - it has been hard but i have kept the faith with you
Redemption! Jorge rises from the dead!
Make those FUCKERS Pay. Redemptiion song. C'MON ROBBIE!!!
C'MON ROBBIE, You are DUE
smoke one outta here, Robby...at 10-4 I'll call this one...
Cano, you can put this game near out of reach. Please do it. Please.
I really don't remember what a Cano hit looks like.
That was a foot outside too.
Hey ump, you didn't like that pitch?
dammit.
[755] They are a mythical creature.
FUCK
YAY ROBBIE. WAY TO SWING THE BAT!!!
Cano looked like he had no business at the plate there. That was an AWFUL at bat.
Oh well...we got Werth's run back...
All those in favor of walking Werth the rest of the night please say "I"
if the ump has such a shitty zone it is going to be hard for someone like cano who already has poor zone recognition to do anything
If I was Long, I would tell Cano to just go back to swing at everything.
OK, come on Joba.
The bottom of the lineup has been pretty rough. Luckily Swisher and Pettitte brought their bats tonight!
Was that last pitch in the zone or not? I watched it frame by frame twice, and I couldn't tell.
Maybe Joba gets 2 innings if he goes 1,2,3 here. That would be real nice.
[764] Very true...after the first awful call, Cano's second swing was almost like saying, "fine, then I am swinging at everything". Then, after missing the pitch, it's almost tike he said, "wait, I can't swing at everything; I will swing at nothing".
Here is how Cano needs to approach is ABs: pretty ball, pretty ball, pretty ball....BANG.
Per Pete Abraham at the Extra bases blog, Andy's hit "was the first RBI for a Yankees pitcher in the World Series since Jim Bouton in 1964 against the Cardinals."
By the way, and I think this is a little sad because I like Petey, but he literally (and I mean LITERALLY) has no comments on his three posts tonight...Why even bother going to the game and blogging about it?
Okay, STRIKE ONE to every hitter now.
[769] Going to a righty here would be very risk business (although I would go with Hughes). Still, if you don't use a lefty here, it makes no sense to have them.
[768] Looked like a strike to me. It's the first base side of the plate where the ump is screwing everyone.
[769] No way Joba faces the big lefties coming up.
[771] Why is he blogging about this game? Unfortunately, Pete is going to learn that the big media websites have no feel for or care for blogs.
This is balls by Girardi.
Scary............
NICE.
Good start.
Is it wrong for me to wish Joba would buzz Rollins like he's Youkilis? Nah...I'm glad he got the out...I just can't stand Jimmy Rolllins...It makes me glad I don't root for the Muts.
[775] Yeah, kinda getting ahead of myself. : )
Stay on the outside corner, Jorge.
[770] yeah robbie is a see the ball hit the ball guy and he needs to go back to looking for his pitch instead of waiting for strike 1 which he seems to be doing
Calm down, Joba.
Joba's fastball looks pretty good, at least according to the gun on ESPN.
I'd leave joba in.
Clappity-Clap. 1 MORE!!!
Now I leave Joba in for Utley and save Marte for Howard.
Shit...three run lead, two outs. Yeah, stick with Joba, with a short leash.
[776] Papers cover the Serious, and so do big media websites. Since Pete knows the Yanks so well, it makes sense to have him do the coverage . . .
The problem is, Boston could not be less interested in this Serious, outside of Pedro pitching. And so Pete has little or no traffic.
Well done, Joba. And now he comes out, right?
I would too. The pitcher spot is due second too.
i feel okay with joba
STAY OUTSIDE!!
[776] well, what's odd is that even when that "other AL east team" that Pete now covers [FN1] was in the series, we had hundreds and hundreds of comments on here.
[FN1] I already promised not to mention this team and/or comment on any of their blogs since they are no longer relevant to this season.
Umm, WTF?!?!?! I love Joba etc etc etc, but no way would I ever let him face Utley here.
[786][788] Yep, I agree with yousguys.
Wow, 0-1 pitch was a change up.
Wow.... Girardi's non-move impresses me.
YES!
WHOOO-HOOOOOOOO. Lots of Rocket outs tonight.
Great job by Joba and by Girardi.
Whew!
So, the 8th will be Marte and Robertson? Marte and Hughes?
Melky with the fake out toss to the centerfield fans. haha
I feel OK with Joba too. Maybe even back out for the eighth.
A-Rod with the tater but he got hit twice??
Joba-mania with the efficient inning!
So what's the mood, Banterers? Kind of Blue or are we doing the Funky Snakefoot? (back me up here, thelarmis)
I hate to even suggest this, but I'd like to see the Yanks pitch Marte to Howard and then bring in Hughes for the rest of the order (with the proviso that David Robertson warms behind him).
well a few long flyball but nothing serious
as i said earlier i *feel* good with joba right now - he seems to be commaniding his pitches fairly well
[795] OK, I'll shut up now. Well done, Joba!
Marte for Howard in the 8th, then Hughes vs Werth, yes? Or do we see Robertson there?
As well as Robertson has been, and as bad as Hughes has been, I think its got to be Hughes, because he's still less likely to give up a long ball.
[805] he's at a gig - out for basically the whole night
[790] Live blogging a Yankee game on Boston.com seems pointless to me. Also, that blog is never jumping during the season. In fact, it is buried within the sports coverage which is kind of buried in the entire Boston.com portal. I really think Pete made a bad decision unless he uses his time at the Globe to get a gig at the Times.
[808] Isn't Robertson known for keeping the ball in the park though? But I'd probably go to Hughes too, if he has looked good in his side work.
[806] Exactly what I would do.
Tremendous, Job, Joba.
[790] understandable that he'd cover the WS for the boston globe, but c'mon man, give up on live blogging when no one there even cares enough to follow a live blog.
Score Truck...Engaged!
please let's pound this goon
Let's get some against this ginormous asshole.
[810] I think he wanted to just go back home and cover his Red Sox, but it's a shame how they are using him. It seemed pretty obvious that you just have him carry over his format, or something close to it.
Then again, that hasn't worked so well for Jay Leno :)
[809] I shall Funky Snakefoot alone then!
Swisher with the good night? Awesome..god I hope we smack the crap out of Brett Myers now..I hate this guy..
wow Brett Myers...
Ok what do Bretty Myers, Ty Wiggington, Julio Lugo and Lawrence Phillips have in common?
Another good, aggressive AB by Swisher. Hopefully this carries over.
[804] Joba will almost certainly not be allowed to bat this inning, so another reason why I doubt he will pitch in the 8th.
Well, the pitcher won't bat so that ends Joba's night. Good work, Kid!
matsui is on deck
[805] Tense early on, but now I'd say Funky Snakefoot (even though I've got no idea what that means.)
Oh good, gotta have a Myers on Halloween.
[820] They all need to be put in the dohyo(fighting ring) with two drunk and angry Sumo wrestlers who do not appreciate men hitting women..
Are we really talking bowling? Really?
oh well that brett myers is a great bowler changes everything!!
[825] Oh good, gotta have a Myers on Halloween.
Nice.
[825] Nice, will hook you up later with the Funky Snakefoot, you'll dig it!
How can you swing at that shit?
[826] ding ding ding!!!!!!!!!!! Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO with the prize...Yes, they are all pieces of shit who hit women.
Id' rather send Hinkse up here...feels like we are wsting Matsui.
jesus. I coulda swore Tim McCracken just said, "Myers is acknowledged as the best vulva on the Phillies team". I was like, whawhaWHAT?
[826] swisher and his girlfriend were going to dress up as inflatable sumo wrestlers or some such for halloween
[822] Not a chance Joba faces Howard. No way. You're right tho - with the pitcher's spot up, I think we'll see . . . well I don't know. I'd say Matsui, but . . .
Never mind, its Matsui. I was going to say, "but why waste him here?" but if he hits a home run, its not a waste. =)
Bowling? Did Myers hit his wife with a bowling ball?
GODZILLA!
All right! Go go Godzilla!!!!
YES!!!!!!!
Did someone say we are wasting Matsui?
Godzilla!! Yes!
BEAST COMMERCIAL
great work matsui
FUCK.
YES.
GODZILLA.
Girardi is outmanaging my ass tonight. My goodness.
YAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FUCK YEAH!!!!
松井！！！愛してる！！ （Matsui, I love you!!)
[833] Six to one, half dozen to the other...not many spots left for a PH.
And look...
BEAST COMMERCIAL!!!
MATSUI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[833] I was almost thinking that too [836]. =)
Godzilla!
[834] Myers IS the best vulva on the Phillies.
Hey, McCarver, that's like a TURKEY in bowling. Asshole.
Now we can even begin entertaining thoughts of not using Mo, which is all the better for the next two games.
[845] you taught him well william :}
Interesting...the loosy goosey happy go lucky devil may care swaggering phillies look like they've got some puckered butts right now.
Throw Strikes and make it quick, Phil. The rain, she's a coming.
so marte for howard then hughes?
[853] OK then, so Marte for Howard, then Robertson for the next two, then Hughes for the 9th? Or Marte-Hughes-Robertson?
Nah, fuck Marte. With a four run lead and more rain coming, go right to Hughes.
So what happens if the skies open up? Wait it out until Mo knows when or play tomorrow? Very interesting............. Or just play through the typhoon?
[845] Well.... now I can die happy.
Finish it. No stats, no figures. DOMINATE!
[853] Easy now...
[854] In all honesty, he has made a big difference in this game. He could have pulled Andy early...didn't. He could have benched Swish...didn't. He could have used Hinske...didn't. He could have gone to Marte in the 7th...didn't.
That's like going 4-4 with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs.
[853] Yeah [858] I'm thinking the same thing....Marte, Hughes, Coke, Robertson
And if they don't give up any runs the pen will suddenly be great again...Such is mango...such are pens.
At his point, I save Marte just in case instead of bruning him for one batter.
Let Hughes have a clean inning.
Strike one.
Marte for Howard..i like it. K his ass!
Strike two.
Hey Lil' G! Don't crash into Swish. : )
i don't get why girardi thinks damon is better than swish though
Oops...Girardi has pulled Swish instead of Johnny for defense. Make that 4-5, William [863].
Ryan Howard hits RHP at home like Jayson Werth hits LHP at home.
So Marte is absolutely the right move here.
What do I know? Marte it is.
I love seeing the pitcher come in and put the batter in a quick hole. C'mon Marte! Let's do this!
[870] Johnny, wose arm is so bad that Girardi once subbed in Hairston over him for defense!
Suddenly the trade for Marte looks pretty good (if Tabata isn't the next Roberto Clemente)
[872] yep i agree - and if it had to be a rhp i would have felt better with joba than hughes
Strike three!
Sit.
Down.
Hell, leave Marte in?
good work marte - he has absolutely done his job
Girardi tells williamnyy23 it is better to be thought a fool than keep opening your mouth and proving it.
Nice job Marte. He has really been good, shockingly.
Speaking of, where's Mattpat at?
HIgh Fromage.
Please tell me we're going to walk Werth here...this is fucking insane.
No fucking runs.
[871] Damon is leading off...I think that's the right decision.
Marte, historically, is better than a LOOGY. Historically.
[884] Why walk a guy with a four run lead? If he hits a bomb, so what? If anything, it's a rally killer. ; )
So Phillies fans are a bunch of Bozos?
Posada just cost the Yankees an out.
Wow, Posada was crossed up- imagine that!
[875] i know not even an actual outfielder - but damon is up first next inning so that may be a factor
[881] Il est bon de parlez et meilleur de sa taire.
(or something like that).
[886] He din't have to lead off, if Girardi pulled a double switch, right? It would be Marte batting.
My first thought was, c'mon Girardi, you've got to pull Marte here, with Werth up.
But now I'm thinking, this might be the right move. Ibanez doesn't scare me, but he also doesn't hit lefties well.
(And why were these moronic Phillies fans chanting "Yankees Suck" back in the first inning? What do they think they are, Red Sox fans? Do they REALLY want that ?)
YES!!!!!!!!!!!
Strike three!
goddamn, these fans are CLASSY!
wow - way to go marte
Wow. He got him on that pitch twice.
WHOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Sit down, fool!
I might love you, Damaso Marte.
Because they are moronic Phillies fans...LOL
Awesome job Marte!
btw..you think Posada and Marte/Rivera, etc..do they speak in Spanish at the mound? I would guess so..until Jeter shows up. :)
Holy shit....
Now we start Hughes in the 9th (with Mo behind him) and get his confidence back...Mo doesn't pitch at all tonight and then it's
CC, Joba, Marte, Mo tomorrow.
[894] No....Jeter made last out. He would be the guy you'd doible switch, except you'd never do it.
[904] yes, i have lip read them in spanish
YES
HOT FUCKING DAMN!!!!! AWESOME!!
Marte! Marte! Marte!
Hughes for the 9th?
Yes!!!
Wow!
Our pen is back!
YES, let's all applaud again, let's all applaud again.
Damaso!
Awesome Marte!! i am sorry for bad-mouthing you all season!
Marte! Nice stuff, boss!
I stand and clap for you, Marte! Thank you for keeping the bile in my stomach
great inning marte
i must say i feel a tad bit good that my faith that joba and marte would do well here has come through tonight
[906] Not at all. If he had pulled Damon for defense, he could have put Marte in for Damon and Gritner in for Joba, all with the plan to PH for Marte after one inning of relief work.
Easy-peasy.
Seven straight replays of Matsui's tater here on Japanese tv. Another 16 thousand to come tonight :)
Score truck...all cylinders full throttle. Hoo Waaa!
OK, ninth?
Mo? Not a save situation, plus there are games the next two days, might need him then. On the other hand, nail down the win that's right in front of you.
'09 Damaso Marte = '96 Graeme Lloyd?
[918] But you'd be losing Damon's bat and having to burn a PH'er. I would absolutely kill that move if he made it (which tonight means it would work perfectly).
[922] Man,I was just going to go there!
[918] but then you have to burn hinske rather than get damon's bat - i don't think it is a great decision but swisher is not willie mays out there either so it doesn't bother me that much
Yankees need to score more so we can put Mo on ice.
[926] Hell yes! We need RUUUUUUNNNNSSS!
Also, this is a tiny LF, so Damon has much less room to cover.
By the way, Happ threw 21 pitches, Durbin threw 29, Myers threw 18....I'm sure they'll all be available tomorrow, but maybe for not as long and maybe not monday too......
Chamberlain threw 9 pitches and Marte had 15...I'm positive that Marte is at least available for LOOGY Work tomorrow.
Hey...Let's be crazy and pitch Bruney in the 9th and really show the Phillies our ass.
More Bruney Runs!
[923] I don't mind losing Damon's bat in the 9th inning with a 4 run lead, for superior OF defense.
[926] Bottom of the lineup due up for Philly - do we really need to see Mo?
Well.... just checked out PeteAbe's 'Extra Bases' Blog on Boston.com. He has about 20 posts up, and the LARGEST amount of comments any post has is 24. 24!. At Lohud, Pete often got 24 comments within the first 10 minutes of a post. A number of posts had 5 comments of less.
After the tremendous following he had on Lohud, Pete's got to be bummed out.... not to mention the lower baseball IQ of the Fenway Faithful. Kinda disappointing to see this happen to Pete. Hope he's at least making decent money, because his job does not look like any fun.
[917] a dominant bullpen is one game away it seems...
Please no joking about BaBa Bruney until we win the WS..unlike Mo, Bruney is a "game-longer-er"..
NOBODY better act like the yanks got gifted by that call
[932] I hope not, but if the leadoff man gets on, he'll have to start warming.
No Buck, it was clear cut, and it was a home run you asshole.
[933] Eff him for going to Boston.
Let's go Tex!!
[933] if he's really a Bosox fan I'm sure he'll like it....and I think he'll build an audience but they need to let him work like Lohud.
Why can't he get going?
[938] what bullshit - they are already trying to act like that was questionable
Why is Sutcliffe talking about Marte coming out for the 9th? Isn't it going to be Hughes or Mo??
[925] Again, I don't mind burning Hinske with a four run lead (minimum). You're right that it doesn;t matter all that much. But I am not convinced that he kept Damon in because of his bat...he seems honestly to believe that Damon is a better OF than Swisher.
By the way, if we win this game I guess Jimmy Rollins will have finally gotten a prediction wrong because the only way it will end in 5 is if we win on monday night.
so looks like hughesy with mo in the wings if needed - but i will give hughesy some of my golden touch tonight and day he come out aggressive and not need to go to mo
[938] Joe Buck is an example of why nepotism is a terrible thing (Chip Caray too)
[954] Why can't it be Marte (though I think you are correct). I think Sutcliffe's main point is that it does NOT seem to MO for the ninth, which he thinks is very odd. I have no problem trying to save Mo tonight, but that's me.
[948] At least Caray likes baseball.
[945] yeah i agree with that - he really seems stuck in that mindset
See? A-Rod hits a tater and suddenly stops swinging at crap again. Let's hope he's settled back in.
One last chance to hurt one hard, Jorge.
[949] how do you respond to comments in the future? Will [954] say it can't be marte?
BTW, I don't want Marte simply because I want him available for tomorrow...he's at 15 pitches....at this point why push it?
[952] And FINALLY the announcers (O'Brien and Sutcliffe) have stopped riding A-Rod and instead have focused their attention on Howard's mounting failure this series.
Sutty just said Jorge is one of the toughest players in baseball history..I now am a fan of Sutcliffe!
I'm glad T-Mac decided to point out Cano's bat twirling ability to a national audience.
[954] I made a prediction, which is like guessing or random or something. Or so I've been told, right OYF?
; )
[954] yeah i remember marte not doin well in 2 inning stints last year and he was injured most of the year and doesn't have that much stamina built up
bummer. i felt greedy and wanted more runs.
Hughes on a short leash.
here we go Yankees, here we go!
[954]..............woe....[954] was ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, Phil, redemption starts with STRIKE ONE.
huuuuuuggggggghhhhhhhhheeeeeeeesssssssss!
He is off his game. Some of the others are coming around. Maybe Jorge's next. Robbie's going to have to wait 'til next year.
Normally I don't like BP roulette. But Girardi has managed to get full innings out of his first two relievers, and he's taking the opportunity to get Hughes on track.
Really well played so far, in my humble estimation.
[963] yeah that was freaky - not quite like 134 but still weird
[963] That was pretty frickin' neat.
OK Hughes - all you!
not only was [954] me BUT it was about using Marte for another inning!
As Mel Allen would say, "How 'bout that!"
McCarver's worst moment of the night was talking about Myers' bowling. Why didn't he mention that he's a douche bag wife beater too?
[945] Another factor is probably more valuable to use Melky in RF than LF, so even though he is better than Damon, maybe that makes up the difference.
[950] In an interview, Al Michaels said his favorite sport is baseball, which really surprised me. I wish NBC could trade Michaels to FOX for Buck. Al Michaels was great doing baseball. I really loved the Michaels, Palmer and good McCarver team on ABC.
Finish it off..it's a given. Let's Go Yan-Kees!
3 outs, folks....c'mon Philthy!
Monkeypants could you please type a comment to [2000] and tell us how happy you are that we won the world series?
I have to say, if AJ or CC was whining about not wanting to go on 3 days rest like Lee, I'd be pretty pissed. Then again, who came out and said that Lee didn't like his routine disrupted? If it was anyone but Lee, that's bad PR.
OK, come on Hughes.
alright phil my reliever redemption powers are on to you kid
Strike One, NICE.
[971] he was talking about Myers' VULVA.
[964] You ask, Phil shall deliver.
That place is emptying fast.
A good outing here would be FUCKING SWEET!!!!
C'mMON Phil.
That''s a strike, blue
What strike zone does Hughes get tonight?
Posada is really a bad catcher.
[976] I actually heard Lee wanted to go on 3 days rest but Manuel looked up the numbers and found that he'd never done it before.
Guess Hughes really didn't like that call.
Wow, Phil missed badly there but still threw a strike.
that was a gift strike i think
[976] one of the dipshits on bbtn on espnews said that cc has gone in giriard's office to ask to go on short rest everyday but cliff lee has only asked manuel a few times
good play alex!!
Nice, Alex!
Two more.
YES! Two more, babies.
Great use of the curve.
[985] Oh, OK, I thought someone said he didn't want his routine disrupted.
Nice start.
One down, two to go!
[984] Po was just getting back for that ridiculous low & outside strike to IIRC, Melky (Robbie?)
The hook after perfect 94mph heater on the corner.
993) Agreed, great use of the curve.
Oooh, yes!
Here it is, hit it, motherfucker!
[984] You have to make certain compromises to have a catcher with a career .379 OBP and 243 HRs.
He can't catch up with you heat, Phil.
[976] Then again, who came out and said that Lee didn’t like his routine disrupted?
That was me [614]. I was all over that like [954]!
Ouch...
Like I said.
Oh, fuck.
fuck
Fuck you Ruiz.
Crap.
Mo time?
Dammit. That was bad.
Leave him in Joe...don't panic yet.
ugh c'mon phil
So Hughes is the mop-up man.
Ah...not only does it make this a Mo game, but it's awful for Hughes confidence.
Why can't we get this Ruiz out?
Fuck it....leave him in
Sack up, JOE. Bleh.
Good move.
No games.
Never fear. Mo is here.
damn commercials
Hmmm....I don't know if I pull Hughes there. A solo HR wasn't a killer in that spot.
Managing to the stat. I do not agree.
Meanwhile Sutcliffe just said this would not be a save situation. He used to pitch in the MLB, didn't he?
Shit...bring in Mo!
I can't blame him, Hughes is likely to completely fold at this point.
Stairs would pinch hit if Hughes stayed in, and if Stairs made it 8-6, that would really be troubling . . . so I understand why Girardi is going straight to Mo.
Still, I wish he'd have left Hughes in.
Now this is overmanaging. How can Hughes ever get established if he is going to be yanked as soon as he gives something up. You have to trust him to get Stairs. Had they avoided Mo, you could have used him for two innings tomorrow.
i would have left him in - but that was an awful pitch
it is going to be tough to getting anything positive from hughes this series
dammit.
Guess he ain't risking Hughes with Stairs' big bat. Mo will crack that shite.
He can't get anyone out.
Save situation! That means it's Moe time.
[1021] He's right actually. It's three runs only if you start the inning.
oh fuck-a-duck....So Phil's possibly a lost man for this post-season...but we've got Joba and Marte back and Robertson might still be ok.
I definitiely would have let Phil go at least one more batter while Mo warmed. Seriously, they *need* Mo here with a three run lead and one out in the ninth?
I don't know, in this park leads can evaporate in a hurry. I can see both sides, but I'd probably bring in Mo.
[1025] A bird in the hand...
Two more outs. Starts with Strike ONE.
I thought Victorino was going to take all my Choad-Youk like hatred. It turns out it's Ruiz.
[1025] Mo can go 2IP tomorrow..it's the WS, he's got a lot of time to rest after!
[1021] it's not, unless it was 8-6, no? tying run on deck?
[1031] One good thing about this is hopefully the Yankees don't even consider keeping Hughes in the bullpen next season.
0-2.
I HATE Matt Stairs, too! : )
[1030] Wow, I stand corrected!
Please tell me that is the result of relatively recent rule change, because I thought it was always 3 runs or tying run on deck or 3 innings.
Two out.
Fucking HELL YES.
Sit down, Tubby.
[1039] Hm. I like your thinking, my man.
girardi doesn't trust hughes at this point and i don't totally blame him - i could see giving him a chance, but i also wouldn't risk this game with hughes
looks like Stairs runs faster than Posada.
[1042] Always been that way: either three runs in 1+ innings, 3 innings period, or tying run on deck.
According to Rollins, he has Mo "figured out"
2 Wins away!
woo hoo!
NICE! theeeeeeeeeeee Yankees WIN!
YES!
JRoll makes the last out to end his prediction's chance of success.
[1039] But the bad thing is this is the shit he did as a starter.
All right, huge win! This game looked as crappy as possible for 3 innings, and wow, did it change!
wow that was an efficient two outs by Mo...5 pitches or 4?
All praise be to Mo.
Fuck yes!
Wow, that scared me. I thought the popup was headed right at Jeter while he was fit pumping
Tomorrow night is the Series. If CC can win that game, I really like our chances.
Man, nearly stress-free. After the 4th at least. : D HELL YEAH!!
[1055] that's very fitting.
fuck it mo threw 2 pitches
great win team - game ball to the battlecat and the offense started to do something
2-1 nice play to be
g'night folks. so damn late...
Great, great win. CC versus Blanton coming up.
Take your prediction and shove it up your ass, Rollins.
[1061] You're right Alex! Excelsior!
[1039] We can dream. We can dream.
Nice win, boys. Best part - Mo only threw what, 5 pitches? He'll he A-OK for tomorrow night.
With luck, the Yanks won't need him.
Happy November! Not quite the last time the Yanks played a game that started on Halloween night, but I'll take the win.
I go with you Mr. Belth!
[1061] I won't count these Phillies out down 3-1, but it's huge - if CC's good, the Yankees *must* pound Blanton.
Excellent!
Score Truck? check.
Decent start from Andy. Check.
Good bullpen work, overall? Check.
Girardi made all the right moves? Check.
Rivera still fresh for future use? Check.
Awesome Banter? Check.
I like it.
[1056] I am not worried at all that Phil Hughes has been shaky pitching as sporadically as he has since mid-September.
Well, Rollins decided to be nice and let it go 6. Remember, he added that caveat, the bastard.
[1064] i meant 2 batters 5 pitches
[1058] Amen.
by the way, through three games, Mo is the MVP in my opinion.
Destroy the Phillies!!!
Swish is the real Nostradamus. He predicted he would break out, and so he did.
Very happy that we saw some offense from Swisher, Damon & Posada...and of course, mayoral write-in candidate Andy Pettitte.
Could we have nice gd weather tomorrow? PLEASE?
[1061] Get back off that limb!
Really nice win tonight.
My son is going to be so happy tomorrow morning. We let them stay up for the first 3-1/2 innings, but he went to bed with the Yanks down a run.
Thank you, Banterers.
Tomorrow night? Cano and Teixeira come up big.
Yankees are now 2-0 in games that start on Halloween.
[1081] sunny about 60 sunday and monday
Fookin' hell yes!
It looked so grim for the first few stanzas, and then Andy had that delightful surprise and then it was just awesomeness from there on in.
Man, Buck looks like he wants to cry. What a bitch.
Mo mauled them tonight.
the moroseness of these two assholes is sickening - go fuck off and find some enjoyment in a great game, dicks
These jerks can't even do "banter" right.
Buck: "What was your favorite Halloween costume as a kid?"
McAsshole: "I can't remember."
Buck: "Me neither."
FOX treats MLB like its NFL pre-game. I am the last person to tell MLB to leave dollars on the table, but maybe they should think about a new broadcast partner next time around.
i'm glad we are sort of getting the hour of the rain delay back with the end of dst
[1084] I remember waking up to see that Leyritz had hit that big homer in the 1995 DS (the replay was on just as I turned on the TV) and going apeshit. I still can't believe I not only fell asleep that night, but slept through the whole night.
[1089] It's a crime against humanity that those two dipshits call these games. Any games. Seriously. Who is making these decisions?
[1094] Chip & Darling next year? :)
[1090[ McAsshole. hahahahahah. : D
[1093] I slept through game 2 of this WS. Didn't mean to, but having been up since 3:15 that day, I was wiped out. My wife woke me up occasionally at key moments, but I don't remember.
[1095] Cone and Kenny. Throw in Scully for shits and giggles.
[1090] i like that - i'm going to use mcasshole if you don't mind
[1098] seriously that is all you need - kenny and coney - i can smell it coming :}
[1098] Scully the hero pilot???
[1100] I can smell Sunday night comin'. Big Fella's cooking!
Man, how did Hamels throw a curve ball to Andy again?
[1102] Hamels' nickname on the Phils is "Hollywood"...wonder what they are calling him tonight?
CC wins tomorrow, we may not get back to NYC!
[1100] vin scully - hero pilot is sully
[1101] :}
[1102] Sometimes everyone just thinks too much. Hamel's thinking, "He'll NEVER expect or swing at a get me over curveball." Good for Andy. Posada or Cano would have watched it or popped up. lol.
[1104] Oh, that was incredibly stupid of me..of course Vin Scully!
[1106] That's okay. You made me laugh. Scully the hero pilot. : D
[1102] Pettitte's AB may have been the biggest turning point of the game.
I'm so hyped up after this game, glad I don't have to go to sleep like all youse! Couple hours till beer-o'clock celebrations! In the meantime, I believe rbj asked about this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI6nuUML4mk
Get down!
[1109] I looked that up earlier thanks to you. It's hard to find anything on youtube with less than 100 hits. What's up with those cats?
[1108] Sterling chose it as such.
Oh my God, they're whining about A Rod's HR on Baseball Tonight and pretty much openly rooting for the Phillies. SHUT THE FUCK UP.
That was so obviously a home run. The thing went INTO the hood - it didn't hit off the bottom of it, that shit was a home run and people complaining about it SUCK. I am a pretty big fool considering that I'm actually surprised that they're bitching over something that I think was so clear cut.
Have we heard from Andy yet?
[1110] That clip was only uploaded earlier in October so guess it needs time. It is rare to see such a low view number..I remember being astonished that an obscure horror film form the 70s called "Pieces" had so many hits. Worst acting of all time!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cridEHRZV58
They're trying to turn this camera into a controversy. Bullshit. Home run. I hope everyone except Winnie chokes on their vomit tonight and dies.
[1113] no, just Girardi and Manuel.
Hey, Kruk, fat ass... if that camera wasn't there IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE STANDS.
And it didn't "hit" the camera - it went INSIDE the camera well or whatever the fuck you want to call it. It went INSIDE THE DAMN THING.
These people make me sick. Biased filthy dogs.
[1116] Great, thanks.
[1117] Krukie is one of the worst of that whole ESPN gang..offers nothing of any insight (or even entertainment)
[1098] Fine with me! I just didn't feel like he deserved the respect of having his name typed out so McAsshole is what came out. I thought about changing the B in Buck to an F, but that's too juvenile for even me... I think. Anyway, McAsshole fits I think. Can't stand the guy.
[1111] I feel dirty!
Ah well, you just can't predict when Sterling and I will agree about baseball.
Yep - 90% of the Baseball Tonight coverage so far - maybe more - is about the camera and this bullshit "controversy."
Fuck you, you miserable scurvy ridden syphilitic maggots.
Now there trying to act like Werth might have "had a play on it" if the camera hadn't been "hanging over into play." Bull fucking shit. Werth was doing one thing which was watching it whiz past his head. It was a line drive, you dip shits.
The Yankee hate around the country by fans is something I have never had a problem with. The disgusting failure to even approximate respectable journalists, though, is something I will never get over.
Assholes. Unprofessional assholes.
[1121] BOO-Yah!! Well done!!
[1121] No you can't.
"There's no controversy."--Alex.
He looks so centered.
How can anyone objective suggest that ball wouldn't have left the park if it wasn't for the camera? Are you kidding me? I suppose they said something about A-Rod stirring up controversy again.
[1125] A new man, he's got that "Fuck You, World" vibe about him now..love it!
[1122] Arod just said exactly what I'm thinking here: There IS no controversy. There CAN'T be, since the instant replay was used. That's the point, egh? So either fire all 6 of the umps, or accept it, ESPN.
New to the Banter here...this has been one gratifying win.
Hughes going down once again is such a bummer though. His ERA is now at 81.0! Ouch.
[1126] Right? Didn't you think it looked clear as freaking day that because it didn't hit off the bottom of it or anything, but went IN THE DAMN THING that it was an obvious home run? They're acting like it HANDED the game to Yankees.
And they facetiously suggested "the camera" as a potential player of the game. Almost as funny as someone suggesting "the foul screen" yuk yuk. Oh, I want the Yankees to win even more now, knowing how miserable it will make those fucks.
Why is anyone watching ESPN? Between MLBN and YES, I've barely watched it all season.
Here's Andy...
[1132] Still like Keith Law, Neyer (despite his anti-Yankee/pro-Sawx bias) and Baseball Today podcast.
Because I don't get YES - I'm watching online on a feed - AND because I like to drink their delicious tears.
he got a lot of T's in his name...
Have I mentioned I love Andy Pettitte?
Bobby Valentine to the Phillies: "Go Get 'em, boys!"
Yeah, he can eat a fat one, too.
[1137] My baseball love starts and ends with Mariano, but Derek, Andy & Jorge are all in my heart as well! A-Rod is getting there, slowly!
Random aside: Andre Agassi with the tell-all! Never would have guessed crystal-meth..that kind of makes him comeback even more amazing, actually.
[1140] Did you SEE Agassi back in the day? That guy was the definition of hot mess. He looked like the kind of guy - and I'm sure I was reasonably close to him at an Open or two - that you would have NEVER wanted to breathe on you.
[1140] I just read his article in SI this afternoon. His dad set him him up to play Jim Brown the football player when Andre was 10 for $10,000. Some sort of Las Vegas club hustle. Dad ran home to get the money, but in that time the he talked to Andre and some ot the members of the club and he figured out how good he was. He wound up losing 3 straight sets but for only $500. So the story goes.....And then there's the meth stuff. Yikes.
woooooo hooooooo......
Guys I had pretty much given up after 3 innings.....This is a difficult world series, probably because the Phils are so good. But I'm so thankful that Arod warmed it up and now we get a CC v. Blanton matchup.
Granted we could lose that game, but we all know now that the Yanks get to play again in the Bronx (worst case scenario)...just win tomorrow and we'll take it on home. I still wonder if Manuel will buckle and pitch Lee tomorrow.
Of course, if Lee does pitch, I wonder if the Yanks might light him up this go 'round. I think they're back to feeling it again.
Night all...Thanks for being my favorite baseball people all year (and for the past few years).
[1141] I really only got into tennis after he was the bald, elder-statesman Agassi, kind of missed the "image is everything" years. SOMEthing must have been affecting his brain if he dated Barbra Streisand though!
[1138] Yeah, that was sickening. They're not even hiding it anymore.