Posted this on the last thread, but I'll carry it over to here.

Hm. Game not carried locally, and they are in delay anyway. Looks like an afternoon of Giants football, with perhaps some occasional Banter.

Jeter and Gardner at the top of the lineup. I want Varitek embarrassed again

[1] yes isn't carrying it, just espn -
do you get espn way up there?

petey says ~2:05pm start time

[3] No, at least not with my cable package. Most ESPN programming is parceled out between Rogers Sports Net and TSN. But no Yanks today, 'cuz it's football day.

Meanwhile, news story of the day for fellow movie geeks, while we wait for the game - Roman Polanski got arrested trying to enter Switzerland and will be extradited to the US. Whoa.

[6] Sorry, make that "being held in provisional detention in preparation for a possible extradition to the United States," per the Times. http://tinyurl.com/y8ayfwt

Polanski is usually the first figure I bring up when people start complaining about an athlete's off-field behavior - "hey, you don't have to like Roman Polanksi's behavior to think Chinatown is a fantastic movie."

It serves ESPN right that they get stuck with a delay for taking over this game. I hope it eats into their beloved football coverage.

Can't wait to clinche...I posted similar thoughts on the last thread, but to me winning a division/home field/100 wins are all significant accomplishments. This has been a fun team to watch and am glad they were able to finish things up the right way.

Joe Morgan: "A lot of mystery surrounds both teams now as we approach the playoffs."

...No. Not really.

Good D, so far. Bay is good.

i'm glad i didn't miss the first hour of the game - i would have if it started on time. i won't get to watch the whole thing. i'll have to tape the end, in case we're fortunate enough to clinch.

here's Ugly...

Fat Liar getting a Bronx Cheer.

how 'bout a backwards K, Andy?!

this is not an optimal start. but i think he'll get out of it. unscathed, i mean...

Umm, wtf is Miller talking about?

He makes it sound like Andy’s auditioning out there.

Oh, and afternoon, Team.

strikes, Andy. strikes.

Come on, Andy, you can do this.

Clap clap clap clap clap clap...

[13] he's talking about OPS, as opposed to O.P.S. it's highly annoying.

Phillips still speaks - and acts - like that kid in middle school that everybody hates and he's trying soooo hard to be liked. he's impossible to like. Joe Morgan, is the pits.

Damn.

Nice effort, Alex.

what a weird play.

please be OK, Andy!!!

amazing how it's always tit for tat with these two teams. my god.

Fucking Cano.

Nice.

Well done, Andy, settle down, now.

limited damage. Andy's okay. 26 pitches. 1-0.

let's see how our bats looks against Byrd...

Cano and then Alex before him. Derek and Teix.

We really have one fuck of an infield. When was the last time our infield was this good, actually?

i'm really having a hard time thinking of a worse trio of people than these 3 dipshits
phillips will always be the faux gm to me; as bad as morgan is he doesn't bother me as much as some of these others

double wind-up time

[24] Heh heh heh.

Do you mean an all-star trio of dipshits, or a regular team thereof?

'Cause if it's the former, how 'bout Harrleson, Sutcliffe and whoever else you'd care to round out the team.

Nice hit, Derek.

well, duh. that was a given. baseball is predictable! ; )

ok, DJ...now, steal !!!

let's embarrass Vagitek early.

[5] oh, interesting how that works

That double wind-up is preposterous.

There oughta be a law.

Even the Red Sox radio guys don't understand why Girardi is having Gardner bunt here.

Dammit.

That was dumb.

First have Derek steal second, *then* bunt.

Ok, maybe Morgan's right, maybe Derek didn't run on account of the field.

Fair enough, Morgan, good point.

Oh, and nice bunt, Gardner. Nice ot see someone on this team knows how to bunt.

[25] haha, yes an actual trio - but my lord if it were an all star team, harrelson, sutcliffe, is quite a team- the third slot would probably go to chip caray for me, but there are so many "worthy" candidates

Ah, fuck.

Nice play.

dammit. i really wanna tie it up here.

2-out hit, Alex. nice 'n easy, now.

[28] i agree weeping - it is horseshit

when was the last time Hinske saw any action?

crap. a pretty easy inning for Byrd.

I don't mean to panic or anything, but seeing Alex swing like that makes me very nervous, especially coupled with that bullshit first hack bases loaded no outs tiny ass little dribbler yesterday.

He's been banging the ball all over the place and now, to see such crappy ab...

Hopefully it's not a trend.

Oh god, I can't avoid Waldman even by listening to WEEI.

MY EYES, THE GOGGLES DO *NOTHING*!!!!!!

Nicely turned, boys.

[38] i think he's fine. he's running well, too. plus, he just started a nice DP! : )

Nice bunt.

oh, Andy - don't do that!!!

[39] huh, she's on weei?

jesus andy, stop scaring us so much

[41] Yes, of course, but it's all between the ears with him. I have no idea why he swung at that last pitch, six inches off the plate or whatever it was other than to say he got over-anxious.

That's not a good sign.

some weird plays today.

Holy fuck, what hotshots out there.

Amazing what good glovework and foot work can do. Imagine Giambi on that play.

To think we suffered him to "play" first base all those years.

[44] WCBS and WEEI switched an announcer this inning. Waldman's on WEEI and Dave O'Brien is with Sterling on WCBS.

Some Verizon promotional event.

Hah. Take *that* WEEI ... Cano DOES make that play, just like your man-crush Pedroia.

Oh, plus, if I seem to be gushing extra special much today, it's because I just watched my kid's game yesterday, so in part I'm responding to the contrast between six-year-olds and major leaguers. :)

These guys were all six-year-old little leaguers once, and look at them now!

i wish they had one of those black strips to hide someone's identity over paul byrd so i didn't have to see the atrocity of him on a mound

[49] oh, very tricky - i bet that was tons o'fun

woops, [50] was for [48] - sorry weeping i wasn't referring to the little league kids :}

[50] Heheh heh heh.

And yes, indeed, it was tons o'fun. I was terribly proud of my kid. Two quality ab, some very nice work at first, and a good attitude.

God I love the baseball.

200

Yet another hard bouncer just right of second for Robbie. Why don't they play him there?

200!!!

good for Robbie!

[52] hahah, i have created quite the confusuin - the trickiness was waldman on a different chanel and sracastic ton o'fun; actual tons o'fun is little league

what position is your boy playing?

bad Robbie.

Awwww.

robbie should probably be excluded from the run wild on facemask/victor plan

good effort, A-Rod.

Andy's getting hit today...

[57] Heh heh heh. This season, he's on first. Last season, he moved around, looking most effective at second.

I got great footage of him in action. The ball was dribbled into no man's land, between the pitcher and himself at first, so G ran to get the ball [nice stop, Alex!], as did the pitcher, nearly picked it up before deciding to give up on it and race back to the bag.

We analyzed the play afterwards and he told me he realized the runner was coming fast, he wouldn't have time to make the play, etc. It's so much fun to coach him, he takes the game and himself very seriously.

[62] Five innings, four runs would be an accomplishment. He could easily give us that or better, despite his bad day, which is why I love him so.

Sigh.

andy just has no control today

not good, Andrew.

buckle down, dude!

[63] nice. that's great that he is is so into it.
and it sounds like coach weeping is really enjoying it too :}

All right, let's go, Andy.

Bravo, Andy, bravo!

trade a run for 2 outs.

[68] Yes, on both counts. This is going on my resume. Hopefully, by the time G is ready to play for the Yanks, I'll have established my coaching bona fides and he can bring me in with him. :)

good dp

big shitty must have smelled some comida on second today too - between the other day and that play that is the most hustle i have ever seen from him

wow - Joe Morgan with a McCoy Tyner reference! color me shocked! GREATEST thing he's ever said. EVER!

he's still a moron, though...

Yes, yes he is.

Andy's a golden god.

Yes he is.

now, Dave Brubeck! i had NO clue Lil' Joe like Jazz. huh.

good job, Andrew!

andy is in battlecat mode today

[72] sounds like a plan
when you make it, look me up to throw out the first pitch - i'll take any old random game

MELKIUS!!!!

melkman!!

LECHE!!!

that was CRUSHED!!!

no cheapie there!!!

wow

mauer up vs. greinke, bases loaded, 1 out.

[77] You got it, Ms. O. You got it.

And yes, battlecat mode. I like that a lot.

Come on, Derek. Hit it where Melky did.

mauer struck out swinging.

gritner batting second is throwing me off

greinke got out of a bases loaded, no out jam, allowing zero runs.

That was really a nice swing by Melk.

I love Andy.

Love him.

nicely done Andy ... right the ship.

now, we just need to remind our bats that we're facing Paul 'freakin' Byrd.

Alex is swinging too hard.

WTH is Joe Morgan's problem with the lineups today?

[91] that conversation was confusing.

[92] especially since part of it was the pseudo-hypothetical of the yankees roster if they were chasing the red sox - i mean they are not, they basically have everything they would like wrapped up

Andy's a golden god.

sit your ass down ugly

andy seems to have really regained his command

[93] i had to turn it off.

[95] Isn't it amazing how he can look so horrific and yet manage not only to keep the damage to a minimum, but go on to actually find himself and look sharp? It's just such a joy to root for a player like that. And it speaks volumes as to his mental toughness, competitive spirit, and all that jazz. It's amazing how he deftly he can manage his failures.

Swish!!!

Well done, Swisher, well done!

Now let's bring him home, boys!

In fact, let's bat around and set Andy up for number 14.

Damn, just got under it.

Man, nice job, Swish!

OH, MOTHERFUCKER!

You know, I think in all my years of watching baseball, that's the first time I've ever seen a successful appeal.

Fuck.

Oh Swish.

I guess it'd been a while since you'd done something stupid on the basepaths.

Melky! Another rope.

He's hot lately.

that was too close to call him leaving too early

[104] really? just listening today.

[97] yeah, i think that is why i will almost always give andy some slack

Aww, mf.

Well struck, Molina.

[105] yeah, morgan was insisitng he left too early get go. but during the play it seemed very close, and then during the replay it looks like he broke as soon as it entered ellsbury's glove - morgan still thinks he left early; miller/phillips think not - but the point is it was very close either way, and imo too close to make the out call

he left on time. Swish was safe.

[108] i should also add that lowell was talking to the 3rd base ump after swisher called time-out and lowell was pleading with him that he left too early and the ump said something that immediately calmed lowell down, so it seems that the 3b ump might have indicated the red sox would win the appeal, but i am not sure why the 3b ump would be looking at 2nd for that - he should be concentrating on 3rd, no?

Andrew Eugene just made more money than i've ever earned in my life!

[111] should have learned to throw a cutter left handed

Andy ended up doing really well. i wonder if he'll be out for the 7th. i say - no.

why the hell haven't we hit Byrd???

why hasn't Cervelli played. i imagine if we win today, we'll see him, Hinske & Pena a lot next week...

[112] yeah. my bad.

oh, fuck you Nancy.

[112] my brother's a lefty. both my maternal grandparents were lefties. my middle nephew is a lefty hitter. i always wanted to be a lefty. i have "lefty envy"! turns out, the entire left side of my body has pretty much crapped out on me through the years.

Personally, I'm not rolling the dice with Burnett in game 2. Andy, no question.

why the fuck is Bruney up, when we have the possibility to clinch?! : /

[112] or been a rock drummer!

=)

Very, very nice, Alex.

Good ab.

Thank you for that.

terrific AB, Alex!

[119] HA! ya know, my mom wanted me to be a rockstar. whilst i've had numerous gigs where i kinda played that role, i think she's disappointed that i became a jazzer and classical guy! : ~

in fact, i'm cutting it close to get outta here and make my jazz gig. playing an Organ Trio this evening!

thank god paul byrd has been driven from this game
how does his smoke and mirrors bullshit work?

[122] Very good question.

All right, Hideki, nice and easy.

nice job, Facemask!

please plate both these guys.

earning that C again, vagi

Just dunk it into leftfield. No theatrics necessary. Nice and easy.

of course facemask is not to blame; earlier in the game however, molina was "lazy" when a ball got passed him

MATSUI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOJIRRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!
Love you, Hideki, love you!

[127] how about dunking it to rf?

way to go matsui!!

woo hoo!

[127] will RF do?

Bruney better NOT be coming into this game!!!

[132] I'll take it!

Ok, Swisher, you may park the ball. Swing from the heels and hope for the best.

[137] that last rip, was a swing and a half!

[138] Man, was it ever!

OBP

Well done, Swisher.

Robbie:

remember, it's Hideki on 2nd, so it's not really "scoring position"!

[142] Heh heh heh heh heh!

[142] wouldn't be a bad time to PR for Matsui ... another run would be big, especially with BaBa Bruney up.

Remember last year when Robbie would chase that pitch every time?

[144] good thought, if pitchers are being auditioned, might as well audition guzman to see what he does in these various situations

[144] i hate the Bruney move. why why why?

hurry up, i need to go to work. and make a fraction of what Andy's incentive today was. and i really mean - fraction.

Awww.

Another close call. Good ab, Robbie.

the tension of the next few minutes while waiting to see if it really is bruney

alright folks, enjoy the rest of the game. i sure hope we clinch. gonna record it, just in case.

hey Cult - can you maybe shoot me a quick text with the final? that'd be cool! i'm on an outdoor festival day. magnificent weather here...finally!

rock on, y'all

bruney it is

great inning for BaBa!

ooh, just realized - maybe this'll be on espn radio, or something. i'll try to listen in the car...

This is the 2nd Red Sox series in a row I've been out of town. If they meet in the ALDS I might have to take my radio out into the woods. : D

So, things are looking good, eh? I wonder how long ESPN will stay on once the game is over . . .

monkeypants, I wish I could have watched the Giants today - FOX was carrying the Pats game, sadly.

Oh, and You Suck Joe Morgan.

Dear Joey Joe Joe

You have 3 catchers on the roster.

Just a reminder.

Sincerely,

Me

would it be terrible to admit that I'm kinda halfway rooting for the Red Sox here since I have tickets for tomorrow and wanna see a clinch in person??

[157] No; what fan doesn't want to see a division title clinched in person? Its not like the Red Sox are going to pass the Yanks . . .

I'd rather see it today though, in case I have to work late tomorrow night . . .

[156] what did poor frankie do to him?

well this isn't the most exploitative commercial ever or anything...

gotta hand it to bruney for nice work today

Would it be possible for Kanye West to interrupt Morgan?

[162] he's busy; maybe lil' mama will

Great day for the bullpen thus far.

Byrd .... Bard .... bored?

Just got back from some errands. Now that the Lions have actually won a game I think I see a plague of locusts coming.

[166] if the Lions win a game, but no one in Detroit actually gets to see it...did it really happen?

will espn show us the champagne?

[168] I'd think YES would do special coverage

[167] Washingtonians saw it, and when Zorn gets fired you'll know it really happened

[167] It was against the Redskins, so I hope so.

Go Giants!

3 outs....

Meanwhile, at PNC Park, LA leading 5-2 in the 9th .... and this is how it ended:
Milledge singled to right, McCutchen, LaRoche and Jones scored on right fielder Ethier´s fielding error.

6-5 Pittsburgh.

2 outs

One out!

deep breaths...

Darn you, sun.

[175] stop it!

[174] Ok, ok, you want to count down?--fine, 2 outs. :)

[178] :)

Uh oh.

This is why Cano will NOT win a Gold Glove this year, despite Girardi's wishes.

here we go...

Now one out.

Yay

EXCELSIOR!!

WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!

OK, first goal is done.

yaaaaaaAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

YAAAAYYYYYY!!!

no better way to take it then another sweep of the bloody fake socks!

yeah, congrats yanks

final score 4-2 mariano rivera, the two magic numbers gehrig and jeter skipped - just something to think about

I'm so happy Andy got the W!

Andy's a golden god and Mariano Rivera is Mariano Rivera.

Great, great win, team!

Such a nicely played game.

can someone run on the field and grab me a t-shirt?

Pie Derek!!!!!

Hmmm ... those tickets for the games with the Royals just got a lot cheaper.

[194] I can't wait to see a whole lot of Guzman and Albaladejo tomorrow night

Clappity-clappity. : D

Game

Set

Division.

FIRE JOE GIRARDI!!!!!!!

Great TEAM win!!!!
Onto the ALDS

"there's an old joke, the guys who contribute the least celebrate the most"
-david cone

[200] mothers lock up your daughters, Edwar is on the prowl tonight!