I'm confident.

I have a late meeting, so I'll be a bit late getting home for the start of the game. Fortunately, I too am confident.

The series will not return to NYC.

Go Yanks!

From http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/?p=8599
"The ‘genius’ Mike Scioscia was warming up his Game 5 starter last night, because that’s the only pitcher left who he had available. Say what you want about Girardi’s bullpen use, he has every one of his relievers available for tonight’s game and Scioscia doesn’t. If that becomes a factor tonight, Girardi will get zero credit from many fans and sportswriters, who assume everyone will be available and effective every day. But of course, that’s not reality."

So even as Girardi makes mistakes, he just has to be better than his counterpart.

[3] Errr....I fail to see how Scoscia taking an all hands on deck approach facing a possible 3-0 series deficit is a mistake.

[3] When you and your buddy are being chased by a bear, you don't have to be able to outrun the bear...just your buddy. ;-)

[4] Also, Gaudin was the last man standing, so I don't know how Girardi has his pen men ready, and Scioscia doesn't, when they've had about the same amount of rest.

[4] He was contrasting the "burn the bullpen" approach to Girardi who used certainly his but didn't burn it.

In a game where CC is starting on short rest and relievers will probably be necessary, we will still have Hughes, Rivera, Robertson, et. al available today.

[2] yeah i am going to miss the beginning of the game but i expect to get home by about the middle of it, and am very nicely requesting a big lead

[5] :}

good thing mo's spitball didn't hit kramer- unless he wanted to end up scorned like keith hernandez

[3] while i do think girardi's strategy in these games (what some call overmanaging) is underappreciated because people don't realize that it leaves all of his relievers relatively rested, this doesn't answer why he would go to aceves when robertson had faced 2 batters.

but let's move on to tonight. 6-2 yanks.

[6] This isn't about "all hands on deck" as much as who is on deck.

Their top three guys:
Oliver -- 28 pitches, 1.2 innings
Jepsen -- 31, 1.1
Fuentes -- 13, 1

Our top three guys:
Robertson -- 11, .2
Hughes -- 19, 1.2
Rivera -- 17, 1.0

[9] The spitball thing is ridiculous. GoHalos.com is still mystified as to why ESPN isn't talking about it. I saw the video and it looked to me right away that he was spitting away from the ball. Deadspin shows that the spit travels past the ball.

Besides, if Mo is going to use the spitter, why spit from 2 feet away? Is his spitter as accurate as his splitter?

[5] Heh heh heh heh heh heh eh!

[12] Besides, if Mo is going to use the spitter, why spit from 2 feet away? Is his spitter as accurate as his splitter?

Dammit I already made that joke!!! : o

Mo's control is so good, even his spitter misses the ball.

how can you not feel confident with CC going? I'm pretty stoked. If we hit, we win. please.

can someone give me a brown paper bag to breathe into please?

Joe Buck just said "Yankee Nation"

we're fucked.

Here we go...

let's get 4 runs in the 1st

hold me...

Don't sliders have downward movement by definition?

I think of tilt as left to right.

This game begins with a very different feeling from yesterday. I think it is a must win for both teams. I also think this will not be a close game. One of these teams is going to jump out to a relatively big early lead...either by the end of the first or second inning.

So I guess flipping Matsui and Posada in the order means we'll see the PH/DH/PR rotation without having an empty spot behind Rodriguez?

Kazmir Sweaters ...

[23] i think it's a must win for us as fans more than anything else

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

good start, Jeter!

[25] oh Diane...thats pretty bad

Good start, now we just need some HWRISP.

terrible start, Jeter. : /

FML

Frak, Derek.

Wow...inexusable early mistake. You can't get picked off there.

Damn.

Nice move.

[25] I was thinking Led Zeppelin

Jeter picked off, and so it begins...

[28]

That was one of the names of my baseball roto teams a few years ago ...

looks like this is gonna be another one of those games.

i really can't handle that... : (

[36] oh well as a team name thats pretty good. we go for obscure historical puns in our league, my personal favorite was "The Beer Hall Putz". I was briefly "The Madson Purchase"

Winning baseball!

Teix looks terrible up there.

looked like a strike

straighten that out, Tex and we'll be in business...

Good cuts, good cuts.

damn, so close. a little straighter...

Fuck!

Ok, maybe he's turning things around before our eyes. That's three good swings.

Oy vey iz Kazmir ...

someone there actually has an Adenhart jersey??

Of course.

Not exactly the start I was hoping for...I'll be absolutely holding my breath with Sabathia in the bottom of the first.

I didn't care much for that half inning.

At least his swings are good, that's gotta help. Now he just needs to work on pitch identification.

[37] Oh, right, like the rest of us can.

When a pitcher goes on 3 days rest, I always think about Al Leiter in game 6 of the 1999 NLCS (I think). He didn't get out of the first inning.

[53] I'm apprehensive. I feel like it's gonna be feast or famine here, with a feast still being sub-par.

CC on pace for a CG (shutout!) and 27 pitches! ; )

[53] and which random game do you think of when a pitcher starts on regular rest?

The early returns will be about fastball command, not velocity.

I wonder how Sabathia is feeling right now. I hope he feels very well

[56] I don't because, as you well know, that would not be a rare occurence.

Oh no.

and so it begins...

Ruh-roh!

Awful sign...four fastballs and no command...eerily similar to the Tampa start at the end of the season.

[58] hopefully not as nervous as me

[57] As you were saying...

The fastball is all over the place...

[59] and you wouldn't put together a composite stat of all pitchers who ever pitch on regular rest in part because every pitcher is different.

[63] none of those pitches missed by more than 2 inches.

Right out over the plate and up.

I'd like to see Swisher get a base on balls. I think that would be somewhat comforting.

Vlad could have hit that thing out.

Another one up...

Dangerous business, that.

[67] If I was doing a scientific study, I would. Of course, the image of Al Leiter comes to mind without prior consent...I need to train my brain to only recall composite stats.

[67] Which is why they call it a game of inches.

ugly out, but i'll surely take it

Tex hasn't driven in many, but he sure has saved a few ...

As much at Teix's bat frustrates me, it's those plays that give him a pass.

No damage, but that inning leaves me with an uneasy feeling. Two hard hits out, a four pitch walk and less then optimal location on the fastball. That's not what you usually see from Sabathia. Hopefully, things fall into place going forward.

[73] right, but it's a bit early to declare his control to be way off.

ok, it isn't al leiter's start. did anyone lose it in the 2nd inning on short rest?

Imagine if Giambi were out there, tongue sticking out of his mouth.

[78] If you use B-R.com's game finder, you can look that up.

[78] No it's not, is it? No one said he'd not have command next inning, simply that he didn't ' have it this one.

Just an observation.

that was a queasy inning, but lets see if he can get into a little bit of a rhythm before going nuts

[79] How nice would it be to have Giambi off the bench though...I didn't think of it at the time, but that could have been a nice addition.

anyway, i'd worry more about changeup command right now, as both hunter and vlad made outs on high and down the middle changeups.

[78] It's not Al Leiter's start ... But you can still think about Al Leiter's start.

What I miss What I miss???

[84] (although they're really just 2 seam fastballs)

fisting. squirting.

i love LA ; )

[84] It's a power change, which he throws off the fastball. Everything Sabathia does is based on his fastball. If he locates it, he is usually dominant. This wouldn't be the first time he was a little off in the 1st inning, so hopefully he'll have things fall into place now. Some runs would help.

Arod just missed that!!!

[83] Strangely, that is an appealing idea.

[88] I think you're thinking of The Valley

good job A-Rod. now DON'T get picked off!!!

Good job laying off that. I guess. He could just as easily been rung up there.

[92] He didn't.

Ha!

so I'm guessing the book on Kazmir is to go on first move??

This inning gas to be about the bottom of the order coming through...I really think this inning could set a tone for the game and the rest of the series.

[91] i'm usually thinking of Nicole Eggert, circa 20 years ago! ; )

good job, Alex!

plate him Po!!!

[97] That definitely beats Al Leiter!

that one wasn't close

[96] If it's a positive tone, I'm down with that. If not, let's dial expectations back a little.

Pipe down, Scoscia.

These pitches are not strikes...they aren't even close.

[100] TBD

[83] Indeed. He'd be the perfect bench guy.

this is good.

Godzilla time!!!

[97, 98] yeah but did you see that video of her a few weeks ago?? oooph, the years have not been kind to the girl who lives upstairs from the new boy in the neighborhood

[104] Probably more useful than Freddy Guzman.

ホームラン松井！！頑張れ！ (Home=-Run Matsui, You can do it!!)

No turn over on an outside pitch trying to pull it MATSUIIIIII

There is a gorgeous winning sitting behind the Yankees on deck circle.

I smell a pop up

Is this gonna be another early exit for the Angels' starter? Hmmmm?

[110] Make that woman, Dr. Freud.

[110] you have winning on the mind! i knew you were secretly optimistic.

Hang in there!

Scott Boras is judging me

Scott Boras really does seem like Satan lurking back there

Ohhhhhh, FUCK!

bollocks.

[111] dammit.

I called it! Sadly. [111]

That out is huge! Now it's time for the bottom of the order to do something. If the Yankees squander another opportunity, well...

1st and 2nd with no out is our toughest situation to score.

Cano won't come through here. He can't take the pressure.

Damn it.

And yes, that would be UNACCEPTABLE.

a 3 lefty weakness!

[124] No, he can't.

Maybe Boras can flash signs to Arod?

[120] I'll try not to do that again

william - that was awesome, man! i hope i get to see her. but i loved your freudian moment.

c'mon cano!

What Kazmir's never had to pitch with a guy at second this year?

What ARE you looking at, Robbie?

That's your fucking pitch1

[129] what made you think something other than grounder to 2nd?! ; )

[124] c'mon Hawk... I, for one, have faith in him. Line drive to left center...

damnit, robbie. : /

Yanks making their own "Pop-up Video" :-(

So he watches a perfect fastball, low and away, he could have drilled it into left and pops up the junk.

Of course.

well at least we're making him work

Shit I called it again! I'm trying a negative reverse jinx but the fact is, I believe what I'm saying too much. I'm affecting reality!!!

bang's head against wall

Cano has been deadly...this team can't survive the futility from the bottom of the order. If they don't score here, it's going to have a carry over effect.

dammit. Faith. No. More.

Swisher is tight as a drum. Tight as Girardi. He will come apart at the seams here.

I said it yesterday, but I really think Cano should have been given a seat for this game. He often responds to a kick in the pants.

[143]] I know, it's palpable.

Looks all amped up.

i hate that dumb look at dough boy's face

There ya go Swish. Take pitches. Get on base. Let Melky be the goat this inning.

Wasn't that a Spinal Tap album ... Smell the Bat ????

Look at this. As feckless as we are, they're still nervous to pitch to us.

[142] 95 cents for a transfer man?! fuck you. i'll skate to the beach...and i'll look better gettin' there!

bullshit

Swisher is done...you can see it in his body language...he is an out waiting to happen.

Don't whine, Swish. Loosen the fuck up. Get a hit.

I feel a strike out deep within my bones.

[143] i've got a drum key, can loosen him up!

that strike was bogus...

[150] that's because they've seen what this lineup can do. Seems like it doesn't happen against the Angels, mind you, but they've seen it, nonetheless.

looked like he should have run harder at that to me

That was the most joyous foul ball I've seen in a while

Don't let Kazmir get his confidence back. Just a single here Swish.

Damn.

I'm going to be ill.

You can't win this way.

that was a hanging slider or something and should have been crushed

[159] I know!

Shit. It's all Girardi's fault (and a little bit Hawk's).

[163] And Robbie should have smoked that fastball to left field.

It's not like we're not getting pitches to hit.

That's about discouraging as you can get. Cano and Swisher are not even having good ABs. The sad thing is, I don't think it's a random. In the playoffs, it seems like hitting becomes even more of a mental game, and thinking has never been a strength for Swisher and Cano.

So, lets sum up. Jeter gets on, gets picked off. A-Rod and Posada reach base with no outs, and then the rest of the team proceeds to do absolutely nothing. Way to go guys, way to go.

Maybe they ought to mix up the batting order if things don't get going tonight. Too bad they don't have Hinske then they could play him in right and give Swisher a day off.

LOB for the Yankees in this series: 11, 12, 10, 2 so far this game. WTF?

Nice curve.

And another fastball up and out over the plate.

CC going to the breaking ball earlier than he did last time out...I don't think he threw many until later in Game 1.

you guys are crazy that you are thinking of benching some of our regulars in the playoffs. give them a fucking chance. it's frustrating right now, but would you really rather see hairston and hinske in the lineup than cano and swisher?

I think the Yankees still have the momentum in the series, but obviously a loss tonight would change all that. I still think they could win but the narrative will have changed.

Arod has to cut over and take that.

Oh, fuck.

(That was a good pitch, btw.)

he was OUT!!!

fuck you, timmay

[174] Yes...because it's not only a matter of results...it's a matter of having plain awful ABs.

[173] Flaherty anticipated that and said it was likely due to the cold weather in Yankee stadium affecting his feel for the breaking stuff.

[175] I think the Angels have it and the Yankees need to take it back soon or they may never get the chance.

ok, he was safe. but still :

goddamn mutherfuk cocksucking shitbag!!!!

[174] I think I'm the only one that suggested that and I'd rather see Hinske for a game at least. Swisher looks lost. Cano looks hopeless.

[180] Good point...I hope it's not a sign of his lack of faith in the fastball.

Dodged another bullet...

that coulda been troublesome.

Shut up, Timmeh. He was out. Superframebyframeslomo on the TiVo says out.

[174] Agreed. And it sends exactly the wrong message - panic.

[170] You know what they say - they can't be left on base if they don't get on base first. Eventually those runs will come in.

Dear Joe Buck,

THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS PRODUCTIVE OUTS.

Dipshit.

Please quit your MLB broadcasting duties,

Baseball fans everywhere

Sucks that the Angels got a man on 2nd with one out via two shitty grounders

That was a break for us. Rivera shoulda made it to 3rd on that fly ball.

[188] If Cano and Swisher could hit shitty ground balls, the Yankees would be up 3-0 with a lead in this game.

nice nice

Phew.

[179] [183] i just think that the best way to get them out of their slumps is to let each hit through it. i'd much rather take that chance than take a chance on 2 bad hitters, hoping that embarrassment or whatever will pay better dividends than practice.

some loud outs, but shit I'll take it right now

Ok, that's two innings.

He needs to sharpen up or we're in serious trouble.

I think I'm going to watch the rest of the game at my sister's. I haven't been watching these games at home, but yesterday I watched the second half - so to speak - at home and look what happened.

[187] Hear Hear! (and I am only following on Gameday today, but the thought of JoeBuck gives me chills..)

[196] Godspeed, Hawk!

[193] I agree. Plus, every game counts so much more in these, the playoff games. Can't waste a run or 2 just to prove a point. This team can gel - we've seen that.

[193] I don't care about their slumps so much as I care about getting more productive hitters in the lineup. You can't really get much less productive and Hinske can hit the odd home run. I don't really think Cano will come out of it, to be honest. A day off could help Swisher. It's academic anyway since Hinske aint on the roster.

To protest, I am going to wait until the Yanks get a hit with a RISP before I have a beer. I fucking hate teetotaling. But I like making up words. Let's go boys!!!

Sweet!

OK, this has nothing to do with the game, in which CC is so far the only highlight. But I haven't been to this blog since it moved from Baseball Toaster, and I forgot how great the comments here happen to be. Makes the LoHud comments look like, well, a bunch of morons.

Good to be back, now win, Yankees, win.

Way to go Melky!

Wow!

I don't believe my eyes!

if you GOTTA try bunt hit leading off, thats the way to do it

oh melky, that was a beaut!

nice head fake and everything.

hopefully that'll get him started...

Ok, Derek, you know it's all on you.

[203] You must be referring to my comments, so thank you. I mean, you're welcome.

I love Derek Jeter.

That was close.

[203] welcome back!

jetes has been driving the ball. it's no consolation, but...

let's go JD!

2IP, 19 pitches..CC is a rock!

[201] I had an enjoyable weekend in Cleveland, so I'm on the wagon for a few days. Hard to do in the post season.

[209] if you read between the lines, he was saying no one curses as well as i do. thanking you very much. ahem.

[201] enjoy your brew! i've got 48 hours til i'm in the clear. gotta teach tomorrow...

[209] Surely it's the high-quality music commentary that has brought Felix-san back. In any case, [203] Welcome back!

[200] cano has gotten big hits in the playoffs, and is valuable even if you actually believe he can't be a clutch hitter

fuck. that was close. it was also ball 4...

Why isnt the runner going?

jerry layne is a HUGE man, since he practically dwarfed dough boy

Quit being a whiny priss, Soscia.

we need you to come alive here Tex

Sure enough, the ump will be now giving Lord Scioscia the inside strike. A-Hole. Throw him out. : D

[216] i hate musik.

I get the sense that the Yankees are actually seeing Kazmir's pitches well, just not seeing results yet. And by Yankees I mean the first five mean in the batting order.

Have the Yankees attempted a hit and run this series?

kaz klearly doesn't have it. make him pay!!!

OHHHHH, BULL FUCKING SHIT!!

[219] damon has 7 ks in 36 abs against kazmir

key word of the evening is "squirt"

Please get Alex up to bat. Let's go Teix!!

chip fists, joe squirts. they both suck. i guess timmay swallows.

i think these are the types of comments felix was speaking about in [203]

[229] So Melky can't steal on a 3-2 count, especially when you consider the liklihood of a breaking pitch?

Listening to McCarver make excuses for the WP makes me want to gouge pencils in my ears.

fuck

[217] It's not that I believe he CAN'T be a clutch hitter, just that he ISN'T one.

As for Cano's hits in the playoffs, right now I'm more swayed by his lack of hits in these playoffs going on right now.

I can't take this shit.

Uncle.

Mufferflugger!

bah that was actually a good pitch

Tex, at the dish, is really starting to grate my nerves.

I think the umpire shouldn't require the catcher to move for him. If the umpire can't get a good look, get a different umpire.

Teixeira has been worse than anything Arod ever was...Cano, Damon and Swisher have been worse, but you can't have your #3 hitter completely spit the bit.

I fear Tex is circling the drain here.

[233] the likelihood of a breaking pitch in a full count after bouncing the previous one? pretty low, which i think is why teixeira got so fooled just now.

[242] Teixeira has been worse than anything Arod ever was…

I don't know that that's technically true, but it is getting damn close, if only in spirit.

[242] That's completely untrue, william. Worse? Alex was really, really bad, as you well remember. I'm not willing to say Teix has actually been worse.

[241] It's like when my painting professor said I wasn't producing enough work for him to do his job properly. I said, "It's not about you dickhead!"

When the Devils score some bullshit manufactured run before the Yanks push one I across I will be anti-happy.

[243] Tex looked pretty good in the previous ab. He also got 12+ pitches out of Kazmir's arm.

[244] Kazmir relies on the breaking pitch and off speed ALOT more now. If the Yankees are sitting fastball, they aren't going to have success.

that traffic could be a shot of Atlanta.

good job, Tex. at least he's not bringing his crappy AB's to the field with him...

Damn, Teix. You could have knocked Snoop into the 10th row. He can't hit anything this series. : )

And A-Rod gets to lead off yet another inning. Guys, this is a team game, not the "watch the A-Rod game".

[242] Teixeira is a rock defensively, and you know he'll turn the at-bats around. I think the Angels just get in the Yanks' heads. Fuckers.

siddown Choad.

where's seamus, RI and Ms. O ???

[250] i agree with that, i just don't think it was a situation where you definitely start the runner

It would be ironic if the two major Yankee newbie bats - Tex and Swish - who made such an impact during the regular season were the ones whose lack of production sunk the Yanks' playoff battleship.

Posada and Abreu having a nice chat ...

[246] Tex' OPS in the first two series is .647 and .327 (not including his two outs tonight). Only Arod's 2006 ALDS against Detroit was worse than that.

Angels not even trying to up CC's pitch count..very odd..

That was a good pitch.

huh - so Manny was in the shower last night when the Phils came back. typical...

Oh, BABY!!!

YES!!!!

[262] You lie!

well i think he looked pretty sharp that inning, definitely better than the 1st and 2nd

Fucking awesome.

that was the first inning where he REALLY looked like CC

lets get some runs here boys

great third of a game CC !!!

untie this bitch, A-Rod!!!

[259] A Rod had an extended bout of impotence that I can only pray Teixeira doesn't equal. He's definitely on the path though.

[264] With MannyB, you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have...

I just arrived after yet another mass transit adventure. I'm not liking what I;m seeing (on offense at least), but I remain confident. Yanks in five.

Go Score Truck!

[264] Bravo

Thank you, Big Fella. Alright you lazing, pathetic, comatosed bats. Do something before Kazmir puts it together for a few innings.

[262] I checked out so miserably after the game last night that I knew nothing about the end of the Dodger-Philles game until 7:30 tonight.

Okay, I'm going to move the Bernie Williams bobblehead around until I find a spot in the apt that has some hits in it.

well apparently appeasing the umpire gets some ridiculous strike calls

I have some advice for all of you.

If you don't already, mute your TV during commercials. It helps a lot.

YES!

Oh, *smoked!*

laced it. good leadoff hit, Alex.

Right on, A-rod.

The MAN is in some sort of groove. WOW.

[277] and miss that beautiful version of all you need is love?? "it's eeez-uh"

Ok, at least one player is trying on offense. Can Napoli throw? Maybe it's time to start sending runners?

A Rod really just sat on that.

[275] :)

[277] And during the game.

OHH, YES!!!

Praise Jesus!

Yes!

Molina!

Okay we need to get a run in via Posada and Matsui, or else it shall languish on the bases forever.

YESSSSSSSSS.

MUST

SCORE

RUNS

Two hits in one inning? Is that allowed?

HIP-HIP !!!!

let's go Mats!!!

Looks like my timing is good, huh? >;)

Oops - ill-timed interview!

Juan Rivera ain't no ballerina....

I'm so nervous...

i want a double Score Truck !!!

C'mon wild pitch. : )

[282] Good lord they play that ad a lot.

[298] Me too, in a way I haven't been since... yesterday.

Hit a deep-ish fly ball, buddy

that is NOT a good pitch, it's a hanging slider!

[298] Do not worry...

Oh, come on!

Ok, lets go bottom of the order, do SOMETHING

so, dough boy talks to the ump, catcher squats lower and they get every fucking call?! fuck you

FUCK

Unbelievable.

0-25. Cool That must be some kind of record.

Aw nerts, Godzilla.

that's the worst matsui's looked in a while

Cano, master of hitting with RISP... do something for the love of god.

WHAT the FUCK is Robbie looking at???

Oh my FUCKIN' GOD. Zero for TWENTY FIVE with RISP, How are we not playing golf now?

phew!

Thank you, Alex.

YEAH!

I'll fuckin take it

A-ROD!

I'm not worried. >;)

A-ROD !!!!!!!!!!!!

1-0

get Jorgie home

Well, still 0-fer W/RISP, but at least a run!

Zero for 26 now.

hey we broke the fucking ice!

Idiot for not taking the out at first.

Okay! The Bernie bobblehead is staying under the bed, then. THERE ARE HITS UNDER THE BED.

I wonder if Matsui is feeling the pressure cause of the black hole batting behind him.

One man fucking show out there.

hope that didnt hurt him

Good but still garbage. Atta boy, Alex. Now go check the spike mark in your heart.

Cano is GARBAGE. I feel like it's May again

A run..my precious...

[328] :)

Cano needs to be at second now.

What is everyone looking at???

What the fuck is Swisher waiting for?

Oh yeah - great job by A Rod.

[328] Heh. Not sure what I should make of that.

Please lay off that shit in the dirt once more.

Kaz is over 70 pitches

Ok, that's something.

For the love of Jesus Christ in heaven, let's bust this thing open.

squeeze!

just NO DP, please!!!

John Franco and Al Leiter's nemesis is not long for this game

a melky hit would be awesome

Come on....so close...someone has GOT to break this open.

(Almost) anything other than a DP and we're cool, Melky. Otherwise it's your ass.

My fridge is calling, Melky. Do something FUCKING good.

Right over the dish.

No one's ready to hit.

Huge spot for Melky. Just a decent fly ball here would be cool, and I do not want to see him bouncing into a DP.

Got to get that run in from third. Patience, Melky!!!

we don't need a home run Melk...
just a base-clearing triple

I'm gonna go rev the Score Truck...

i like the patient approach against kazmir, but taking these meatballs is killing me

Good cut, Melky.

shit. don't strike out, kid.

fly ball, kinda deep. oppo field

Cripes...0-2 already.

Good take, Melky.

Ugh. 0-2. Don't like the looks of this

If they get a run here, I bet it's on a wild pitch...

[354] Truly a double-edged sword

If the Yankees don't score, they're gonna drive me to drink.

Stay foul Posada. You're the one dude I could see getting hit in fair territory off third.

Nice, Melky, nice!

I can't believe he made contact on that one.

nervous swings...

Melky having a good at-bat at least.

THE STREAK IS DEAD

ABOUT TIME

Beer Me YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

FINALLY

OH, HOT DAMN!!!!!

HOT FUCKING DAMN!!!!!!

Yes!!!!!!!

YEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!

thank you LECHE!!!!!!!!!

hallelujah!!!

Well whaddya know, vroom-vroom!

The Melk Man delivers...in the Score Truck!!!

Yay Melky!!! Melky comes through! Sweeeeeeet!

All RIGHT!

'Bout time we got some of those ducks home! The score truck had been stalling for way too long!

Here comes the Melky Man! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNzilDmPpCg

didn't look like he ever tagged him

sounds like theres a decent amount of Yankee fans there

Sweet!

good running Robbie.

i'm glad Thomson sent him.

When's the last time you saw the Yanks beat 2 plays at the plate in the same inning? (the same game?)

YES YES YES! GO YANKEES!

Well done, little Melky.

Well done.

Love seeing the emotion from Melky too!

Melky the talisman grows in legend.

little fucking bingo!

[363] So true!

double steal !!! ; )

[362] I don't the Yanks to get me to drink. ;)

Great ab by Melky. Obviously. Swish was out. Douche.

He was out.

caught a break there

careful, Swish. goddamnit

we got lucky there...

[380] I believe our dear friend cult is at the game.

Swisher was out. Wow, that would have been really dumb.

Hey and how come the Angels get the replays in stadium?

can't get mad folks, thats a neighborhood play

Derek's totally getting a hit here.

Hey, we benefit from bad umpiring!

Christ how did the ump miss that call???

I don't understand, with runners on base aren't the Yankees required by law to strikeout or hit into a DP?

Wowzers, another blown call; whowuddathunk it...

aren't they NOT supposed to show that replay at the stadium?!

[395] really? i'll text him, find out for sure...

Yes, green light!

A nice single or double here Derek.

The best part of this rally? All the negative people have nothing to say.

gotta pull him here

Come on Johnny...two more runs and the Yanks can drive away on the Score Truck!

[397] nice

No DP No DP No DP

Hey Damon, remember game 7, 2004 ALCS? (I sure would like to forget.) How about some of that?

step on their necks Johnny

[403] That's what I thought. Maybe it's the suite crowd? Did they show on the jumbotron?

I want to hear McCarver explain how Swisher was safe just for shits and giggles.

heh.. Kazmir spelled backwards is Rimzak.
fuck you Rimzak

[406] But you just had to pipe up, didn't you?

I'll take that

Alright, I'll take that too.

Ohh, Damon!!!

YESSS!!!

That was hug

KLJLKFDJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJJKJ

FUCKING ASSHOLE!!!!

oh fuck you

oh not this shite again. fuuuuuuuuuuck

WHAT A FUCKING MAKE UP CALL BULLSHIT

WTF!!!

what?!

i guess their evening out that call at 2nd...

Unfuckingbelievable.

total bullshit

hold em here CC

Bad umping giveth, bad umping taketh away.

GOD DAMMIT SWISHER!

Wait a second, you fucking ump - HE DIDN'T!!

How much you want to bet that was for the guy screwing up the call at second. Sigh.

What the fuck?!?!

Wow that's a fucked up way to even the scales

So... the 3rd base ump makes up for the 2nd base umps mistake.

[406] yeah, that's just not very cool...

Wow, Swisher gets nailed again for the same dumb mistake. And once again it's how it looks rather than what it is.

Awful. He needs to stop swinging his arms before his feet move.

I suppose someone here will blame Girardi...

...aaaand there's the Make Up Call. Marvelous umpiring, just like expected from this crew.

Fuck you Tim McClelland.

I really hope Girardi is on the field arguing when they return from the break. That is a HUGE blown call.

Make up call.

[427] Not bad. I believe the ump made that call on purpose.

eh, free run.
we move on.

fuck you Rimzak

do you think that's it for Kaz?

[433] It doesn't look like Swisher did anything wrong..

Details for us Gameday people please!

That is fucked. These umps are taking their cues from the NBA this postseason.

From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted some one on the stand;
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.

All right. good luck everyone. I may check back in later but I'm going to watch this elsewhere, hopefully to good results.

[442] Swisher was called out for leaving too early on the tag, but he didn't.

I guess that play wasn't important enough to argue?

Christ, it's only the bottom of the fourth?

Damn, McCelland.

Fuck you again, Tim McClelland.

I go to the kitchen and...wha' happened??

Yep, definitely a makeup call. Tim wasn't even looking.

I've only seen two successful appeal plays during my 30 years as a baseball fan. They were both this season, both involved Swisher, and both times, the replay showed the ump was wrong. Unbelievable.

Wow! McClelland wasn't even looking. I am not being dramatic when I say he should be fired after this series.

that's a total fucking bullshit makeup call. he was staring out at CF. his peripheral ain't that good. FUCK YOU, blue!

[403] Here's where he said it in the last thread.

[442] Swisher was out on a pitchout/throw to second base. But the second base ump blew the call.

So the third base ump made up for it, when Damon singled, but saying (after the Angels appealed) that Swisher had left third base too early (ie before Hunter caught the fly ball).

Bullshit.

[442] Swisher was called out for leaving 3B too soon on the sac fly. Problem is, he starts swinging his arms before his foot leaves the base.

And McClelland wasn't even watching the runner. Awful.

Still can't be too upset. Swisher was picked off 2B.

[452] Ryan Church?

Oh, that was a nice pitch.

GReat high heat.

[414] There you go. All sound and fury, signifying nothing.

i hope everyone is ready for an arbitrarily expanded instant replay system next year

[446] Make up call?

OH HELL YES!

CC!

CC on fire!

Yeah, Tim M. is being mentioned for the HOF and they're going to fire him. Sure.

Girardi needed to protest that.

CC will not let the Angels win this game.

50,000 people in that stadium, umps included, know that Swish really got picked off 2B and never even should've been on 3B to begin with. So Girardi wouldn't have too much of a leg to stand on in an argument

[453] then we lose one of the only good umpires in baseball, that call notwithstanding

[446][456] Thanks...the umpiring contniues to be awful it seems..when are they going to do something/anything about it??

IF these booth a-holes had any balls they'd simply say the Angels got screwed with Swish at 2nd so the Yankees got screwed to make up for it. Duh.
But if CC keeps dealing it won't matter.

Wait a minute, McCelland wasn't even LOOKING at Swisher. How is this not an embarrassment?

Angels not even getting out of the infield right now.

I absolutely love CC. Love him. Love. Him. Great guy. Great pitcher. Great athlete.

The umps have been as good as the baserunning by all the teams in the playoffs.

ACE!

[466] Extra extra extra large and in charge!

[467] however, teams can't be allowed to only replay bad calls against themselves in order to influence the umpiring. it has to be fixed.

How the fuck can MLB defend that, when ALL camera angles show the up not even being able to see both events happening?

It's one thing to miss a bang bang (or not so bang bang) call, but quite another to make a deliberate game changing decision without remotely having the ability to have observed it.

[465] Yankees need to make it a...(ahem) mute point.

Carsten Charles. large and in charge

38 pitches through four

C.C. looks really good, so I guess I lose my complaining privileges

38 pitches through 4 inning for CC. Yeah, the questions about him were REALLY worrisome.

I heart CC.

[465] He probably didn't want to rock the boat after the call at second, which I think is an acceptable mindset

[468] Good ump or not, that was clearly a makeup call. He knows he didn't even look at Swisher, so it can be explained away as a mistake. He flat out took matters into his own hands, which is beyond the responsibility of an umpire. That's an offense that warrants termination.

[483] I could understand people wondering if he'd pitch well, but I never figured out the people who didn't want to at least try.