Jason Giambi crushed a three-run home run in the first inning and the Yankees built an early lead on their way to an 8-4 victory last night in Baltimore. Aaron Small worked out of a jam in the third inning and pitched another credible game as he upped his record to an improbable 10-0. Hideki Matsui added a two-run homer, and a fine catch (the kind he normally doesn’t make), Gary Sheffield had an RBI, and Alex Rodriguez had two hits, two stolen bases, and two runs scored. There were some unsure moments courtsey of the bullpen, but that is nothing new. When Joe Torre came out to the mound in the eighth inning to replace Taynon Sturtze he looked as like he was on the verge on a heart attack. Sensing his anxiety, Derek Jeter rubbed his shoulder to let him know that everything would be alright.
The Yanks beat the Orioles three times in the last four days and seven-of-eight times since last week. They remain one game ahead of the Red Sox who defeated the Blue Jays 5-4 last night thanks to some familiar heroics from David Ortiz, who tied the game with a solo home run and then drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth with a single. Ortiz has repeatedly come up big for Boston this year, but this game just might have saved their season. The Indians also won, while the White Sox clinched the AL Central. The Red Sox and the Tribe are tied for the lead in the wildcard race.
The Yankee and Red Sox begin the final series of the regular season tonight in Boston. It is downright cold this morning in New York and the weather this weekend promises to be fitting for October baseball. Amazingly, these two proud teams continue to live up to the hype of their rivalry, though at this point, much of the sensational media coverage has become not just depressing but offensive. The backpage of The Daily News reads, “Out For Blood,” the banner on the backpage of the Post, “Brawl for it All,” while the front page of El Diario goes, “Duelo A Muerte.” And that’s just in New York. It’s as if they want something vicious and violent to go down. Bloodlust, like comedy, is not pretty.
Regardless, the tension will be exquisite for Yankee and Red Sox fans alike. Here’s hoping that nothing too ill happens in the stands, that no player makes a critical error to decide a game, and that ultimately, the best team wins. Last night seemed like the most important game of the year for the Yankees. Now, we can say the same thing about tonight’s game. The Bombers need to win two-of-three, the Sox need the sweep, and both hope that the White Sox rough up the Indians.
1. So, does anyone other than Ortiz come to bat when the game is on the line for the Sox? I guess those are the nights that Boston loses.
2. Will someone please check this. Here are the Yankee/Red Sox playoff permutations:
Yankees (3-0) Win AL East
Red Sox (0-3)
Cleveland (1-2) Wild Card; Sox Out
Cleveland (0-3) Sox/Tribe playoff
Yankees (2-1) Win AL East
Red Sox (1-2)
Cleveland (2-1) Wild Card; Sox Out
Cleveland (1-2) Sox/Tribe playoff
Cleveland (0-3) Sox Wild Card; Tribe Out
Yankees (1-2)
Red Sox (2-1)
Cleveland (3-0) Wild Card; Sox/Yanks playoff
Cleveland (2-1) Sox/Yanks playoff; loser/Tribe playoff
Cleveland (1-2) Yanks AL East; Sox WC; Tribe Out
Yankees (0-3)
Red Sox (3-0) AL East Champs
Cleveland (2-1) Wild Card; Yanks Out
Cleveland (1-2) Yanks/Tribe playoff
Cleveland (0-3) Yanks Wild Card; Tribe Out
3. BTW....nice links on the homina homina homina doh. The Honeymooners are the basis for everything that has come after on American television and younger generations should know that. Plus, anytime you get a couple of bearded gay men in dueling Sox/Yanks outfits to make out for the camera, that deserves a DOH!
4. I find the number of playoff scenarios mindboggling. I feel very calm about the whole thing. It is remarkable that the Yankees gave themselves a shot to win the playoffs after how this season went. Mad props to them no matter what happens.
5. The interesting thing to consider now, actually, is that both the Yanks and Sox could make the playoffs and end up playing each other AGAIN!!!
6. Russ Adams picked the wrong time to try for a web gem. That was a fielding practice groundball to the secondbaseman. Ortiz is out, no 2 run shot for Manny, game stays closer.
I can't see the Yankees sweeping Boston. Even two wins is a stretch, IMO. Boston is good team. One win (c'mon Wang) is probably, leading to a freakin playoff game. In that scenario, the loser either is the WC or goes home because that team doesn't have the same record as Cleveland (half game difference).
Ortiz is going to hit. Manny is going to hit. The trick is to minimize the damage, don't give up anything to the other guys. Our offense can counter M & O, that's not the problem. The starters need to keep the games close until we can get into Boston's bullpen and feast(and stay away from ours).
There's going to be no rest for GorMo this weekend.
7. Simone, good point about appreciating the fact that the Yanks got this far considering how their season began. (Also, I can't get into the what-if scenerios...I'm the sort of guy who'll just deal with it if and when it happens.) I'm trying to focus on letting go of my fanaticism a bit and trying to enjoy what happens. After all, none of us has any say in what'll happen. I don't know that I'll be completely successful in being a mature, rational adult here, but I'm going to try.
And Mike, yeah, I've always loved "The Honeymooners." Been meaning to buy the original 39 on DVD. To be honest, I still miss the old days on WPIX when they played "The Odd Couple" at 11, "The Honeymooners" at 11:30 and "Star Trek" at midnight.
8. rbj is right. Our starters need to go 7 in every game, because there is no one in the bullpen other than Flash or Mo who is a credible major leaguer at this point. While Alex has been waiting for the clock to strike midnight for Small, it's about 3:45 am for Sturtze. Thank god that dolt Javy Lopez helped us out and Flash had to throw just 3 pitches last night.
9. I remember that trio well Alex. I used to watch that same lineup. Oscar and Felix, Ralph and Ed, and Kirk and Spock.
Let's hope we get a great lineup like that tomorrow night. Jeter and Rodriguez, Giambi and Sheffield, Wang and Rivera.
10. "Our offense can counter M & O..."
Unfortunately, that statement doesn't hold against Wakefield. That man scares the crap out of me.
11. Dan M, that's one of the games I've pencilled in as a loss, the only sliver of hope I see is Johnson shutting down the Sox long enough to get Wakefield out of the game, about ten innnings worth. Gulp. And Sunday, I don't know if we'll see Dr. Mussina or Mr. Moose.
Batting practice off of Wells!
12. rbj, there would be no half-game difference. If all 3 teams are tied there is a playoff for the division and then a playoff for the WC.
13. On the eve of what has inevitably become the biggest series of the season (much as I was hoping these 3 games wouldn't have any impact on the Yanks' playoff chances at the beginning of the year, I guess part of me knew it had to come down to this), I just thought I'd take a quick second to thank Alex and Cliff and everyone who posts here.
I think I've posted maybe once this season, but I've been reading this blog for the last season and a half and I'll be damned if Bronx Banter isn't my first stop of the day. Amazing win, heartbreaking loss, there's nothing more comforting than knowing everyone else here is going through the same thing. Sure, we've all got out friends who we watch and discuss the games with, but not everyone is as eloquent and knowledgable as many of the folks who've posted comments here.
Sorry to gush on and on, and feel free to completely ignore this post, but I'm incredibly hyped up about the series and just coming here and reading everything is making me even more excited but it's also soothing.
Anyway, thank you guys again for a terrific year. I've got a good feeling about the weekend, and hopefully we've got another month left of bantering in the Bronx. We've looked great these past few weeks. It's payback time.
14. Curt Schilling is a BLAH-BER-MOUTH!
15. Jen, I thought a one game playoff between NY & Bos would count as a regular season game, giving both teams a 163 game season, with Cleveland having a 162 game season. Has that been changed?
16. I'm going to say it right now....if Joe pitches to Ortiz at ALL in this series I'm a freak out. Manny can (and probably will) hurt us but whatever happens DO NOT LET PAPI HIT!
17. From Baseball Prospectus Article:
"In a shocking display of common sense, Major League Baseball decided not to stop after one game, but will force all the teams with the same record to play at least one elimination game."
If all three teams tie, Yanks-Sox loser gets a shot at Cleveland.
18. It's my girlfriend's birthday tonight and she'd decided to have it a bar where there will be no tv's. Ouch! She hates baseball, so I'm missing the game, but these are the sacrifices you make for your future wife. Plus, I don't think I can stomach another Yanks-Sox series. I'm flipping out here. Anyway, I hope we get to Fatty early and good. Let's get this one out of the way. Go Yanks!
19. I hope we've offically dispensed w/ the "Ortiz-can't-win-the-MVP-b/c-he-don't-play-the-field" mantra. Putting aside the fact that 2 of the balls he hit last night,including the game winner, should have resulted in 3 outs, the guy is just a monster. You've got to be good to be lucky and lucky to be good. There's no way you pitch to him in any big spot in this series. Take your chances w/ Manny each and every time.
From reading the posts in the last 12 hours I'm getting a sense of slight despair in Yankeeland. Seems as though the BOS come-from-behind win took a lot of steam out of everyone's engines. Listen, that's understandable but who's got the 1-game lead? Whose got the better starting pitching (middle relief is a disasterous wash)? Who's got Mo? Who's looked more like a bonafide playoff team over the past 2 weeks?
Let's get a little angry and a 'whole lot' aggressive people. The Yanks owe these chumps the indignity of early tee times next week and they owe it to them on their field in front of their fans. It's something that's been brewing for the better part of the last 12 months. Lets take the fight to these guys already!
20. //To be honest, I still miss the old days on WPIX when they played "The Odd Couple" at 11, "The Honeymooners" at 11:30 and "Star Trek" at midnight. //
Ah, the good ol' days!!!!
21. Nick, leave the girlfriend. There are a lot of nice girls in the Heights, get yourself a good Dominican girl that'll love nothing more than to watch the Yanks spank the Sux.
As for all the comment Alex made above in his analysis:
"It's as if they want something vicious and violent to go down."
I think a lot of Yankee fans feel that way.
22. I know I want blood. I want to see the Yanks rip out their collective souls right in Fenway. How appropriate would it be to party like hard at Fenway and stick it to Red Sux Nation.
23. The atmosphere here in Boston is mixed . . . somewhat tense, somewhat resigned that it just had to come down to these 3 games, and somewhat scared - the past has not been forgotten here, last year's events aside.
Kinda sounds like the atmosphere among the lot of us.
I feel good about tonight, Obi-Wang projects an icy-coolness that reminds me of Mo at his best. Here we go again . . .
24. I am fucken excited today. Had a spring to my step....I love this shit. ARod, this message is for you....'catch the chicken, catch the chicken, Rock'
25. In anticipation of one of the biggest three game series in my entire life, I'm pretty calm (which is usually a good sign)- I'm expecting a big game from the Wang-man tonight - he really does have ice-water flowing in his veins - then tomorrow, we'll ex-sore-cise the demon called Wakefield. What does Torre do Sunday after he has clinched Saturday afternoon? Does he go after the Sox to maybe let Cleveland in for the Wild Card? I say YES - payback is sweet!
26. "I'm trying to focus on letting go of my fanaticism a bit and trying to enjoy what happens. After all, none of us has any say in what'll happen. I don't know that I'll be completely successful in being a mature, rational adult here, but I'm going to try."
Yeah, (i) I am thousands of miles away from Fenway, (ii) nobody around me in Mexico gives a crap about this series (no TV coverage for the sat and sun games), (iii) there will be at least 20 millionairs playing on the field tonight and through the weekend(I'm certainly NOT a millionaire) that will get their million dollar paycheck regardless of the outcome, (iv) I don't know and I am not expecting to meet anyone of those players, and (v) my life WILL NOT change based on the outcome of the games (except that if the Yanks lose I may get some work done).
Be that as it may, and there are cetainly a lot of compelling reasons to be "a mature rational adult" here, I know that I will be a walking corpse all through the weekend with my stomach ache to keep me company...
Good luck Alex
27. Big wish for tonight. Wang 2 runs over 7. And tonight (or at any point of the series) ARod goes deep there time in a game putting the nail in the coffin on the division and the award....Tall Black and Tan to that....
28. three times* - sorry
29. I love talk like this:
"Let's get a little angry and a 'whole lot' aggressive people. The Yanks owe these chumps the indignity of early tee times next week and they owe it to them on their field in front of their fans. It's something that's been brewing for the better part of the last 12 months. Lets take the fight to these guys already! "
Good job, Alvaro. WE OWE THESE MOTHERFUCKERS SOME PAIN!!!!!
30. If you've ever read Halberstam's "Summer of 49" you know you know that what we are seeing is historic and hopefully will be be written about in the legendary way it deserves( better yet, the entire past 6 seasons-the Iliad of baseball). I hope the Yankee's win tonight to give them two chances to avoid an increasingly likely Monday playoff. As a baseball fan, and putting aside my Yankee bias, it probably should come down to that, anyway. Maybe some of you guys are calm but I know I'll be standing more than sitting down in front of my TV,
31. Should the Yanks lose two of three, I am sure it will be called "a choke," although frankly it is what I am counting on. Then we go back to the Bronx for a Chacon/Small vs. Clement matchup. And Randy might make an appearance.
I have to go to a huge departmental twice a year meeting on saturday at 1:00 my time, so 4:00 EST. There will be no tvs or radio and it will last for hours. I might lose my mind, so I guess I will have to sneak in a walkman or something, there's really no other option, reputation be damned!
32. And continuing their complete unashamed support for the team they partially own, the Times has an article on Terry Francona for manager of the year. Besides the fact that the Times sports, never good to begin with, has completly sold out its home town, the article is rediculous. Go up to Boston and ask how many people think Francona should be MOTY, I bet you get a much different response. Its the same problem I have with Torre as MOTY, especially when there is someone like Wedge who deserves it more. Both teams are supposed to be where they are
33. How long has this morning been so far?
34. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=1912
A-Rod and Jeter both have great numbers vs Wells, in a decent amount of AB's, Posada as well, in less at-bats, and Ruben has hit him historically, though with both those dinosaurs, I don't know if I should say pre-historically.
35. Alex, right on about that old Channel 11 late night lineup. Didn't Twilight Zone come on after all those? Wow.
I think we can get this done this weekend, but it won't be pretty.
36. I'd like to see Jeter begin the game tonight by trying to bunt on Wells. His knee is shot and he said in his last start that it was one of his fears. Tiny advantages, getting in their heads - it could be the difference.
37. Alex, just wanted to commend you on the Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome reference.
In terms of the Yanks chances, they're actually pretty good. Check out http://yankeefan.blogspot.com/2005/09/mission-possible.html for a run down of the scenarios. Basically, we have to win ONE game in order to guarantee a share of the division, which would guarantee at least a one game playoff. And I'll take a chance against Sox pitching after Wells and Wakefield any day. If Toronto can get to Arroyo and Clement, I'm pretty sure Jeter, Sheff, Arod, Matsui, and Giambi can do it.
38. The contrast between Torre and Jeter last night was striking. Jeter looked as happy as a kid with a new puppy. Joe looked like his puppy just died. (After the game, they asked Joe what Jeter said to him. He said Jeter was worried he'd get an ulcer.)
WaPo has an article on Small:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9537402/
Really an amazing story. How on earth did a guy who was 1-4 in AAA suddenly become a 10-0 ace for the Yankees?
The last paragraph of the article is kind of cute. Small reveals that he and his wife discussed it, and decided to splurge on DirecTV so she could watch his games. LOL! Now that he's in the majors, he should be able to spring for the $50. :)
Another tidbit from the article: a "prominent Oriole" says that there are at least five players on the Yankees bench who would be starters on the Orioles: Matt Lawton, Mark Bellhorn, Ruben Sierra, Tino Martinez and Tony Womack. Geez. We complain about the likes of Lawton, Womack, Sierra, etc., and the Orioles are coveting them.
39. Hey all.,
I will miss the first 5 innings or so of tonights game and it's driving me nuts. But I do have a calm feeling indicating good things to come.
I think we take tonight and take tomorrow. Sunday we play an infield of Bellhorn @ 3rd, Escalona @ SS, Cano @ 2nd and Phillips @ 1st, let De Paula pitch, and throw anyone we can find in the outfield.
Just my thoughts... Where is Stormer I've missed his posts lately.
Love this blog by the way...
40. Oh, how I would love to take these next 2 and make Sunday's game meaningless. I love when Joe lets the players coach on that last game of the season.
41. I'd love for the last game to be meaningless, too, but it doesn't seem likely.
I am confident that we can take 2 out of 3 from the Sox, though. We took 3 out of 4 the last time we were in Fenway, and I think we've gotten better and the Sox have gotten worse since then.
But it's the Wakefield game that we're most likely to lose, IMO. He's their best pitcher these days. And being a knuckleballer, we aren't going to be able to tire him out and get past him to the weak bullpen. They will be able to do that to us, though.
42. What's everyone's guess for how many posts get on today's game thread. I'm betting over 1000.
43. While nothing is certain, I think that a 39 year old pitcher going on short rest, knuckleballer or no, isn't what the Red Sox would have preferred. If the Yanks can work the count, he could have trouble getting to the late innings.
44. A few things:
1. Alvaro Espinoza //There's no way you pitch to him in any big spot in this series. Take your chances w/ Manny each and every time.//
With all due respect Alvaro, like hell you do. I'm assuming you believe in the idea of clutch hitting considering you used the phrase "big spot". While the definition of clutch as defined by the hardballtimes.com isn't the end all/be all definition, their clutch stat demonstrates that Manny is the absolute last guy (excepting Sheffield) that should be pitched to in a situation like that.
http://tinyurl.com/ckdq7
2. Field the B team on Sunday if the Yanks win the first two? Only if the Indians have already sealed the WC. Otherwise, the Yanks have to bring everything they have got. Better seeing the Red Sox once on the 2nd rather than in the ALCS.
3. Playing in a broom closet is a two way street. Here's hoping for some serious blasts from the Yanks.
45. rbj, if I were a betting man, I'd take the over on 42 - hope Toaster's new ISP is up to the task!
Jen, wouldn't it be great to see Bernie be the 'manager' on Sunday? That would be a great way to end the regular season.
Finally, I totally endorse the idea of Jeter bunting to lead off the game. I'm almost ready to endorse hitting Cano second, just so he can bunt too. Yet another reason why Crosby should play, Sierra's pre-historic (thanks, Knuckles!) stats vs Wells be damned.
46. I suspect server issues will get in the way of 1000 posts. Last night was bad enough. The server was on its knees, and the site was 404 for me for awhile. Tonight's going to be much, much worse.
47. Yeah, I've been sitting on that "Thunderdome" reference for a minute now. I just can't get that clip out of my head. It was the start of the whole "two men enters, one man leaves" silly steel-cage match sequence.
Also, Matt B you are correct, "The Twilight Zone" did follow "Star Trek," I'd forgotten about that.
48. Shaun-I agree about Crosby over Sierra. Ruben isn't nearly the hitter Torre thinks he is (OPS+ below 100 the past two years), and at least Crosby can catch a fly ball.
49. 6 hours till game time and my shoulders are already tense. I'm not sure which I could use more a beer or a run - maybe both.
I anguish over the darker possibilities. Yet, I have to admit that this rivalry, this 3 year battle, has been one of the greatest seen in our game. It's a privilege, if not always a joy, to watch.
And thanks for the great coverage in this blog. It is always my first stop on the Yankee Internet Highway.
50. re: 31 above. If there is a game on Monday, Arroyo is the likely starter, or perhaps DiNardo.
Considering that four of the weekend's starters, Wang (only 3 starts all year against teams with winning records), Wells (knee), Mussina (obvious), and Schilling (obvious), are questionable, this should all come down to which team can get into the other's bullpen early.
Both teams seem fine late, Rivera/Gordon vs. Timlin/Papelbon, but in front of that the only guys who have pitched well of late are DiNardo and Myers for the Sox and nobody for the Yanks.
51. Gammons on Mike and Dog right now. Why is he in the Hall of Fame? He's a glorified beat reporter whose supposed "national" coverage is a persistent tom-tom for his silly Red Sox ruminations. Just said that he thinks Damon will re-sign because "Boras likes the Red Sox." What the f...??? I personally don't care where Damon plays next year but, come on, let's rise above the reasoning of a typical 9 year old Red Sox fan, can we?
52. I agree with you JohnnyC.
53. Has anyone visited Dirt Bags (err, Dirt Dogs) today? They have a Photoshop picture of Giambi as the HULK and they are trying to get everyone to yell 'HGH'. Anyhow that's their right, still not as low as me seeing a 'Jeter has AIDS shirt'. They can be so low class, but again...that's their right. Let's hope Giambi buries a deep blast into the 'Monstah Seats'.
54. I honestly can't stand listening to Mike and the Mad Dog. They just shoot their mouths off for the sake of putting in a loud, vociferous sound byte. I don't know how that interview with Gammons went, but when I catch an interview, if you can call it that, it ususally consists of
1. Question
2. Give the interviewee 5 seconds to respond
3. Mike cuts off interviee: BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH WHY? WHY? BLAH BLAH
4. Mad Dog cuts off interviee: BLAH BLAH WHINE WHINE BLAH BLAH YADA YADA GO SF Giants!
Repeat cycle about 10 times and that's their interview.
55. Strap 'em up everyone, get taped up for the game, load up on the chips and beer....
it's gonna be wild. Tonight is huge. I like the fact that Papelbon can't pitch tonight.
56. Dimelo/Johnnyc -
I lost a lot of respect for Gammons when his site on ESPN ("Insider") went pay.
He's supposed to be a real fan, a man of the people, bullshit....
57. Anyone out there who gets HDTV through Comcast? The dilemma tonight is that the game is on UPN 9 WWOR in the NY Metro area but I don't think there's a HD UPN feed through Comcast, which stinks since it's basically a YES telecast broadcast on UPN's channel. Tommorow's game is watchable in HD b/c it's on Fox and Sunday's is in HD also because of the YES HD feed but tonight I think I have to watch it in regular SD. I also suspect people outside the NY area will be able to watch the game in HD through ESPN, MLB Extra Innings, or something else. Boo!
58. Don't complain Popcult. Here they've moved the Chicago - Cleveland Saturday game to 1 pm, to put it on Fox. Since I live in Toledo, the good folks at MLB and FOX just know that I'd rather watch the freaking White Sox - Indians rather than NY Boston.
A pox on both their houses.
59. I enjoy watching Gammons, mostly because he's a gossip but also because he looks just like Mr D. from Diff'rent Strokes.
Joe, he may not have had a choice on ESPN net. It may not be the writer's call who goes for pay and who doesn't It's probably a system set up by the editors, like, this is our class guy, he needs to be in this echelon, etc. Not that I think Gammon's a Class Guy... I really can't help shouting, "But Mishter D!" everytime I see his face on the box.
60. (Waiving a white flag)
I am issuing a petition, urging our minor league program, the Cleveland Indians, to allow the big boys to go to the playoffs.
http://new.petitiononline.com/5115152/petition.html
61. The most terrifying line in today's reporting:
"Will Red Sox-turned-Yankee reliever Alan Embree shut down David Ortiz in a big spot?"
http://tinyurl.com/7dgdt