Godzilla is DH, Jorgie's on the bench. Izturis & Mathis are both in. i think that's a whole lot better than Kendrick & Napoli, though it may be a matchup thing and Mathis already broke my heart...

Derek Jeter SS
Johnny Damon LF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Hideki Matsui DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Melky Cabrera CF
Jose Molina C

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

end this *tonight*

[1] Anything can happen in a small sample, but give a guy enough plate appearances, and he'll revert to form. That is, celebrate that Scioscia sat Napoli's much better bat!

Let us also hope that if AJ gets into trouble and gets pulled, Girardi does not wait to insert Posada's bat back into the lineup.

Going to be a fun game! Unfortunately I'll miss the live game thread. I'll be dvring and watching later tonight or possibly even tomorrow morning. Have fun folks!!

I really don't like all this talk about a Yankee-Philly World Series. I'm guilty too, but I wish it would stop until the Yankees make it in.

[1] Mathis broke your heart???

We ain't playin' horseshoes or tossin' grenades, so there's no done deal.

Now what's the over/under on how many times the announcers mention 2004?

I peg it at 70.

[5] don't you remember game 3?

Hope you guys haven't bought your old Yankee Stadium seats yet from Steiner Sports:
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/10/steiner-sports-yanks-sued-over-stadium-chair-sales-18812/

[7] Yeah, that wasn't heartbreaking to me. Damn, some of youse are sensitive!

Here's hoping that Good AJ toes the rubber tonight and that a certain truck hasn't left Anaheim just yet.

I may not be able to watch it live, but I'll be a nervous wreck nonetheless.

I'm sitting in the Detroit airport waiting for my connection to Birmingham. What a crazy way to get home from phoenix! Anyway I will miss the first 2-3 innings, But I will try to set the banter record for distance traveled between comments on the same post (I doubt I will really have the record but I'm claiming it!).

Go yanks! Finish it tonight and line up that rotation again!

we'd better win tonight cause 6 days til the world series is nothing compared to 2 days til game 6.

Got a bad feeling about Burnett tonight.

[11] Funny. I went from Anchorage to Portland (OR) once this season during a game, but I don't think I had any posts. So you're record's safe with me.

[13] Jeez. With fans like you, who needs enemies?

[14] Funny, because the proprietor of this blog has the same feeling. It should also be said that fans, even the most die hard fans, are allowed to have a bad feeling about a player whose performance throughout the season has been inconsistent to say the least. Or do you insist on sheltering yourself from reality?

[15] Here's some reality for ya: I have a bad feeling about John Lackey getting shelled tonight!!!!! Put that in your neurotic pipe and smoke it!!

Also, let's not get all touchy-feelie, but you are of course allowed to have whatever feelings you wish. And those feelings are valid. Even if they're ridiculous. : P

[16] I sincerely hope you're right!

[16] ooooh... I like that! Pessimistic feelings are valid but rediculous (FAVBR) !!!

[13] I put it more in the queasy feeling category. Just figure that's gonna be normal with A.J.

I want to see "Big Game" AJ go 7 shutout innings with 10 walks and 5 hbp ( 3 for Choad and 2 for Snoop) just for kicks. : D
GO YANKEES!!!

this is fun to pass some time
http://www.sporcle.com/games/Chris968/1998_yankees

[17] I know you do!

[20] That's the right idea!

[21] Pretty fun. Even though my performance was embarrassing.

Unlike the dreaded, hated, repulsive 2004 in which a 3-0 lead succumbed to loss 1 followed by loss 2...you remember, THIS series the Yankees have had their loss and rebounded.
I hope you are quite disappointed if you are holding tickets for Saturday.

[21] A little more than half. I was living in Colorado that year and one of the best Yankee years ever was completely off my radar. A few years before the intertubes blew up. : ( Dale Sveum. Mike Lowell. Many of those pitchers mentioned I'd never heard of. Ha.

has anyone figured why there is a delay in timmay joining buck - not that i am complaining or anything

Too much is being made of the Yankees being up in this series 3 games to 1, but the fact of the matter is that if viewed in isolation, this matchup would probably be considered at least a slight advantage for the Angels. Closing out the series is not about having the killer instinct, but beating a good pitcher.

[26] You've probably seen this, but it cannot be said enough:

http://shutuptimmccarver.com/

LETS RING THAT CHAMPIONSHIP BELL!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXvYEY7Qcyo

Prefer the TBS Broadcast team to Fox cast.... Darling was really sharp....

goddamn, he's some kinda ugly !!!

Serve the Servant. And serve him early and often.

i LOVE my Captain!!!!!

now DON'T get picked off!!!

[23] [25] somehow i remembered mike buddie (because he started one of my favorite 98 games against oakland, when strawberry had a pinch hit grand slam to tie it in the 9th) and forgot homer bush, who i liked much more than he deserved at the time.

good job, Johnny!

double steal !!! ; )

I like the way the game's started.

what bullshit

fuck you, blue!

Early bad call by the umps.

Strike three? Really?

do it again, Alex !!!

The Yankees would be a machine if Teixeira would wake up.

Not clutch.

crud.

fuckin' bollocks.

i hope Mats makes this stand up...

Not scoring here could really give the Angels a lift...this is a very big, early AB by Matsui. I think the mistake Tex and Arod made was laying off that first pitch curve.

In the cold of game 1, Lackey threw a ton of curves and it looks like that is the game plan tonight. The Yankees have to be prepared to jump on them.

Oh, so we're back to this shit?

the biggest problem with umpiring is the inconsistent ball and strike calls. umpires are inconsistent and are often influenced by the game situation.

[28] nice aO

way to lay off that pitch mats

what a waste.

at least Lackey's in-game WHIP is 2 ; )

yuck - not cool 3-5

[49] Exactly.

Pretty good hitting, but no results.

Okay, so, we're going to hit Lackey. Now comes the interesting part.

Very bad job by the Yankees...they seemed fooled by the curve, even though Lackey has shown that is the pitch he trusts the most. With Molina in the lineup, you can't give away chances like that.

Meanwhile, bad call or not, Teixeira has to start hitting. He is lucky Arod has had his back so far because otherwise he would be the #1 whipping boy.

[55] it feels like the beginning of the end.

[54] if by interesting you mean a draining roller coaster ride of exhilaration and dread - yeah here it comes

I have the same feeling as I had in game 4. This will not be a close game. The team to break out first will win going away. Hopefully, the Yankees haven't given away their chance to do that.

[58] i'll be happy with a 10-1 game

strikes, dude. throw 'em

Uh oh...early wildness for AJ.

In the process of putting the kids to bed...

(I'm nervous...)

Back soon...

[59] It could be 10-1 Anaheim.

start warming someone up!

I have a good idea: not walking Chone.

fucking crap.

that'll turn into a leadoff double in about 20 seconds

[65] I still think my idea was better.

Huge early inning situation for both pitchers. The Yankees bailed out Lackey...now AJ needs to make sure he doesn't give it up.

Oh, mother of God...

Grrrr.

Wasn't a terrible pitch.

here we go. this was easy to call, i think.

why'd it take melky take soooo long to get there?

This game is going to get ugly.

fuck - i hope i am not using up my quota too soon

I remember this team.

awesome. just fucking great.

it's going to be one of those nights

so Saturday's game...

Definitely a very queasy feeling now.

[73] he was shading to left-center

[73] Playing him the other way, looks like.

Yow, that was fast! Spotting them a 2 run lead. Interesting approach.

Great.

[79] I was just starting to think the same thought.

The difference in the inning is the Angels were ready for AJ, while the Yankees got men on base and then allowed Lackey to drop curves into the zone. This deficit is almost as much about a lack of preparation as it is poor execution.

I feel ill.

i'm sure glad Posada, who hits Lackey well, is on the bench.

fuck you AJ

how did they fuck up that relay? he should not have scored.

Well at least I'll be able to go to bed early tonight.

fuck this put po in

oh shit oh shit oh shit

[87] Girardi has to pinch hit for Molina in his next AB.

i won't be around for saturday's game. it might get rained out though.

i'd much rather hold them here and win TONIGHT!!!

he also has to get aj out of this game

I'm so glad Jorgie isn't catching AJ. Let the blame go to Molina.

Joe better put Jorgie in because the Yankees will be needing the offense.

Not one out to speak of.

Girardi has to go to Aceves and Gaudin immediately. He should know that AJ does not right the ship when he has no command of the breaking pitch.

just onto Gameday..oh no, is it bad AJ?

Game 5, 2002.

Auspicious, no?

good god they're going to bat around before they even get a friggin out

OMG.

i need to go get dinner. i'm not doing this again on an empty stomach.

really, at this point, i can't see us winning this damn series. i know, i know...

All right, who gave the score truck the wrong directions?

You could see this coming from a mile away...one team was prepared for the opposing pitcher and the other was not.

Well, at least this is happening in Game 5 up 3-1, as opposed to Game 7 in 2004.

Well I'd say we spotted them enough of a lead

Wow!
Maybe forget Posada, go straight for Cervelli.

[104] Well, it is fairly hard to prepare for a good Lackey, and quite easy to prepare for an off-target Burnett.

I can't believe that there are no outs.

aj looks awful. his arm angle is way down. he can't keep pitching here.

Is anyone warming up?

Goddamn.

An out.

yiikes. finally an out. shoulda been on strikes...

burnett doesn't have shit - you don't have to prepare for that

[golf clap] finally AJ gets an out

4 runs is nothing for the Yanks but they have to take out AJ NOW!

[108] On the contrary..after watching in game 1, it should have been obvious that he would go to his curve in pressure situations. Tex, Arod and Matsui all allowed hittable curves to pass. Meanwhile, the Angels have figured out that you hunt for AJ's fastball.

40 minutes till The Office!!

Good point at [95] Simone. If Posada were catching, he'd get half the 'credit' for this start.

[114] Seriously. How can anyone prepare for AJ not having any control? Pure babble.

I'm glad we've got CC looming.

[98] Not merely bad AJ, downright fucking awful AJ.

[118] That's the second time you've typed what I was thinking.

Long relief - Gaudin? Robertson? Aceves? what's your call

Preparing for this edition of AJ is just called "batting practice". Teams do it every day.

well, there's that...

[124] Aceves for 2-3 innings and then Gaudin for length if the deficit remains.

I can't believe we turned that.

All right, to chip away...

believe it or not 4-0 is not impossible

[124] i'd go with gaudin first here

Now send AJ out to pick up pizzas for the team. Tell him he has to go to San Fransisco to get them.

Gaudin, most rested and pitched well the other night.

There, see how easy?

And now, time to get some base runners and this time plate some.

william, are you kidding me on the offense? Matsui's at bat was terrible, but Teix was called out on a bad call and A-Rod gets a pass right now. Burnett has been terrible, it has nothing to do with superior preparation by the Angels.

Now watch Burnett cruise for the next five innings. Wouldn't surprise me a bit.

Bad sign: When you're down 4-0 before Fox shows the "scouting report"

[14] Apology accepted.

The Yankees are going to win this game, I am 100% confident!

[135] Same here.

[135] I could totally see it

We can come back from 4 runs down but Tex, Swish, Matts and Robbie have to start hitting better.

[135] it would surprise me because he had nothing. his arm angle was down, his fastball velocity was down, and most of his curves were too straight. and he hasn't shown an ability to fix that mid-game in the past.

if Boras doesn't stop staring at me he's gonna get smacked

Posada better be batting for Molina.

[134] Tex took a hook right over the plate early in the count and then took a hanger that was just off the plate. It was ball 4, but it was also close and very hittable. Arod aslo took a hook right over the plate. Matsui let several hittable pitches go. After seeing game 1, they should have been sitting off speed. Letting him get free strikes with hittable curves is a lack of preparation in my book. Lackey is not going to get beat with his fastball in the middle of the order.

I'd rather AJ get his bad inning out of the way in the first. Now he he can get down to business and hold these scumbuckets while the O does their thing. No worries.

[129] No, but we have to keep it there; that's the trick.

dammit, just a few feet short for the birthday boy...

(134) on the other hand, it was a pretty safe bet that Lackey would come out with aggressive first strike pitches while the Yankees exercised their "patience" at the plate.
but I don't think any preparation resulted in that cluster of pitches from aj

the ball sounds different on today's broadcast. louder, more up front...

(146) one bad inning? I can live with that

Hm, no opportunity to PH -- I didn't notice who was in the on deck circle. Anyone?

That was quick.

[149] I think what most people think you should do is be patient with Burnett when he isn't getting his curve over, but the reality is that when you attack him because he starts throwing the fastball over the middle. Maybe the Angels just got lucky, but I'd give them the benefit of the doubt in understanding Burnett's pattern.

not even close. but we have no idea if aj could get those calls too, since he can only get lucky to locate it there, and hasn't yet.

[154] except that his fastball was flat and low 90s

[156] That's what happens to his fastball when he doesn't have command. Instead of letting it fly, he starts trying to locate it, which leads to a lack of velocity and movement. Had the Angels taken first pitches like the Yankees did, they would have fallen behind and then opened themselves up to better pitches.

oh he got lucky there. answer is he will not get that call right now.

Girardi should have Aceves or Gaudin up right now.

[157] You seem to have forgotten how the Angels' inning began. How quickly they forget!

[159] Agreed.

AJ out. Now.

Damn. AJ better hold them at 4 runs or this game will get even uglier.

Attaboy. Nice and easy.

almost every pitch has been hit hard.

[160] I didn't forget...that's my point. After seeing that walk, it would have been easy for the Angels to take a strike. Had they done that, they wouldn't have 4 runs. Instead, they were aggressive. The Yankees, on the other hand, were not. If Tex, Arod and Matsui had attacked those early curves, it could have been 4-0 before the Angels came to the plate.

[163] Well, yeah, kind of by definition, I guess.

lucky inning there

[166] Huh.
Mathis was patient, took two balls, got a good count, knocked a lead-off hit.

has anyone else noticed how often jeter is coughing? what's up with that?

Jeff Mathis is hitting .571, Teixiera .105

Joe g is choosing NOW to "under-manage"? the pen is fully rested, I would get AJ out now and let the offense try and get it back.

[170] He's got a cold.

[170] he is sick

See. Piece of cake. Now let's get a few runs so people can climb back on the ship.

[170] It's been widely reported. He's got a cold or something. He left BP yesterday clutching a bottle of Nyquil (or something like that).

[166] i think the best strategy now is to make lackey work. maybe they could have hit some of those early strikes, but now i'm glad they made him throw a few more.

Fuck AJ

Tomorrow is a day off, plus Saturday may be rained out, so use the pen.

[174] Wasn't me, I declined the sleep-over invite last week.

[169] He took two balls...patience is about taking balls, not hittable pitches. The Yankee batters took curves right over the plate. I am sure they were sitting fastball, but then that's not being prepared for Lackey.

there should be a link next to each comment that inserts the comment number in the text box (but doesn't automatically scroll down to it)

After 1 we were on pace to lose 36 to zip. Now we are on pace to only lose 18-0. We are closing the gap and fast.

Hm. Molina swatting at the first pitch. Hacker.

[177] You may be right - amazingly Burnett hasn't thrown a lot of pitches. If he can settle down and throw a few more goose eggs up there, and the Yankees work Lackey a bit... we're far from out of this game.

Yeah, we need basecloggers, so swing at the first pitch and pop up.

Molina should not have batted there.

You can easily see Lackey's pattern...fastballs to the bottom and curves to the middle.

Jeter hacking at the second pitch. Terrible.

out???

OK... Now for the good nws:
1) Nobody will have to stay up too late tonight
2) Jose Molina won't get another AB until 2010
3) Game 6 ticket holders have something to look forward to
4) We get to clinch at Home
5) Teix might not swing for a HR sometime this series
6) We will be sharper then the Phillies
7) We will prove that not every year that we have a lead is 2004
8) Hopefully, someone in the Yankee dugout will be really pissed

shit

I can't believe they didn't show any patience. Horrible early count hacking.

Whenever the Yankees attack a pitcher and are unsuccessful they should be patient. Whenever they are patient and are unsuccessful they they should be aggressive. It's very simple. They obviously didn't even know who was pitching tonight and are planless.
Another good call.

At least Damon made Lackey run.

That wasn't even close!

More bad umpiring.

This is now a house money game.

more fucked up umping

Another blown call.

Why the hell is Molina batting?

[190] You are giving up already?

Did you watch any games this season?

i am in a really foul mood

(188) "hacking" seems to be the operative word
(180) funny

Ah, well our first blown call of the night. Feels like a real postseason game now.

[193] Yes, that's it, Just. I was only pointing out specific examples of your general principle.

you think the angels will replay that on the big screen? i wouldn't expect a makeup call for the yankees.

Again, the bullpen should be up.

The Fox feed in DC is ages behind the radio call. Very annoying

[206] Again I agree.

is this the first sign that this assmunch has settled down?

[207] Ah, you're trying to avoid McC and Buck. Foolish Yankee fan!

I can't get on AJ too much (yet). The Angels had the perfect game plan. My early game ire is more for the poor approach in that first inning.

See, that's the patient approach that the Yankees should have.

I wish they would show the bullpen...Girardi has to have them up, right?

Molina is in this game to keep A.J. pitching tight, but that opportunity came and went.
How disruptive to A.J. would it be to switch catchers mid-game? He's on a short leash already... I say be greedy and put Jorge in, except It's too late since his AB already went by

Just hold 'em at 4 for chrissakes, AJ!!

[209] guess fucking not

william this has nothing to do with a gameplan - he is pitching like shit and has all 3 innings

[209] nope

[209] Nope.

goes to kitchen to pour himself a bourbon

[210] RIYank, how's Donnie Baseball Jr. doing? Back in school?

I got my Samurai hat on today,made it into ACME Investiagtions for some "work"!

[214] next time molina is up

[216] Lackey pitched like crap in the first inning, but the Yankees let him off the hook. The Angels could have done the same if they had taken those hit me fastballs early in the count.

[210] hanging my head in shame

Oh my God.

wow

This instant replay will lengthen games argument is BS. How much longer is a replay as opposed to watching a player and manager argue for 3 minutes?

Joe...where is the bullpen?

[219] No, he's feeling better but not well enough to be in school. Maybe tomorrow.
Did you get any serious meds?

I know it's just because I'm an old fart, but when AJ stinks up the joint like he often does I really get pissed that he insists on wearing that titanium necklace thing. The holistic crap just effing his game up.

[220] I sure hope so, but Joe seems pretty hesitant to PH for Molina with AJ still in the game. I think this situation came up before in the 6th inning or so, and he didn't put the pinch on.

was that called a ball?

FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

i'm really glad Molina's in the game!

fuck you AJ

[221] the gameplan against aj would be mute if he had good stuff - basically every pitch he is throwing is hittable

oh my god he could have run to san fran in that time
GET THE BULLPEN IN
anybody, please

Why bother throwing over to first all those times and then just ignore the runner?

Good thing Molina's in there.

MOLINA !!! : /

[233] Right...and it would be mute if Lackey had good stuff too. But in the first inning, the Yankees took a handful of hanging breaking balls that should have been hammered.

[234] i think kurt russell is at the game - i would guess he could do better than this

Nice check on the runner there AJ. Well at least we don't have to worry about him being distracted by runners on base.

he's just coming apart at the seams now
Joe???? Help here?

Great rundown, boys.

a break there. but Vlad's at 2nd...

Isn't Molina supposed to fake pump once?

[238] arod and matsui didn't have the greatest abs - however the angels could have gone up their with wiffle bats and still pummeled the bullshit aj is throwing

So Molina is in this game for....? his cheery demeanor?

[245] I heard A-Rod had great abs. No?

This is frustrating, but the Yanks have come back from worse.

[232] [236] My thought exactly! Same thing happened in Game 2 - how many balls got away from Molina that night too? Seemed like a lot. I think this "AJ can't pitch to Posada" b.s. has got to go. I'm not seeing anything from AJ tonight to make think its worth not having Posada's bat in the lineup.

[245] Teixeira's AB was bad too...he had several pitches to hit. I am not suggesting AJ pitched well...just that the Angels knew how to take advantage of it.

I wouldn't wait until the PH to replace Molina. Might as well get Jorge into the flow of the game and give him some work with AJ asap.

man, they are hitting him HARD

Another well struck ball against AJ.

time to get going offense

does this count as settling down?

aj's not going to keep getting that lucky. i think it's enough to have stolen 2 innings. i'd keep him in batter to batter in the 4th.

So, what did I miss?

Well, Burnett didn't exactly find lightning in a bottle, but he's been okay.

Need some base runners, let's get it STAH-ted.

Again, why the fuck can't baseball's replay system be like the one at The US Open? It goes on the 100 yard long large screen digital board and the whole stadium knows the results in 2 seconds.

Bend don't break

Bend don't break

Bend don't break

Chip Away!

[248] at the very least let's hope this ridiculous aj/molina pairing is now MUTE!!

IF, i repeat if the yanks make the ws - we do not need a a batting order with molina and burnett in it

[256] Bad AJ in the first frame, basically. Couple of squandered hits in the first. Much Benter fuming. Not much else.

[256] :)

It's time for Teixiera to NOT try to hit a grand slam with the bases empty and just get his ass on base.

[256] pinpoint control, good umpiring, clutch at-bats... : /

[254] i guess so if you are comparing it to that 1st inning

It's going to be a battle of bullpens. Let's go O!

[248] This might debunk the AJ + Jose > AJ + Jorge rumor

I have to say, as much as I don't like Joe Buck, at least he correctly identifies fly outs to the outfield as opposed to Caray or Sterling who think everything is going back, back, back...well hit...caught by the SS.

The problem with instant replay in baseball is there is so much action off the ball. For example, what if on the Damon play the bases were loaded. After Damon is called out, the runners leave the field, but if he had been called safe maybe that second runner scores from 2B? How do you determine the ramifications? The same thing would apply in fair/foul calls with men on base. It's not as simple as it seems.

[227] Glad to hear he's doing better. I got a big bag o' medecine here, including something with codeine in it..hence, my optimism about this game :)

Does Tex not realize he is going to get a heavy diet of curves?

Tex, just a reminder that this is October not April. It's ok to start hitting again.

Thank you

that'll do tex

Yeah! Nice little single.

[259] does that have anything to do with fisting?! ; )

that's it Tex.

half this deficit A-Rod

Wonderful, a hit. By Mark Teixeira no less.

[269] Similar problems in football, though, and they manage.

I'd have a review guy up in a booth, like in college football.

What an ass. Teix is looking in and watches 4 balls away that SHOULD have been hammered. He finally gets a pitch in and only hits a single. I hope AROD does better. : )

[278] Not really though because only the ball counts in football. What the other players are doing is kind of irrelevant.

[269] it's not simple, but there are already rules like automatic doubles, and that seems a lot better than terrible calls standing.

Some of the pitches Teixeira takes are maddening

Try to sneak one in there again Servant.

[281] But automatic doubles don't impact how runners would behave.

Should've swung at that one.

[279] Teix can't decide between a rally killing homer or clogging the bases.

ah shit that was a meatball

that is decidedly inconvenient

Its one of those games. Posada will do the same when he comes in. Probably on three pitches.

Now Lackey is pitching well, which is bad news for the Yankees.

great story, shut up, timmay

Motherfucker.

[280] When the whistle blows, players stop. If the call is overturned on review, they can't complete the play. Similarly if a ball called a drop is later determined to be a complete pass, or overturning a fumble call.

the angels are getting a bit lucky here too

Matsui is the new slowest man on earth

Just a hit here. Chip away.

[284] a better example is interference. these plays affect the ensuing action and the rules determine how much of that action counts. at any rate, whatever they do would be better than the bad call, no?

[293] In the NFL, a blown whistle kills the play and nullifies replay. How often do you hear the ref say the play cannot be reviewed because the whistle was blown?

Just one Robbie. C'mon Dude.

robbie coulda drilled that first pitch...

[298] Uh, no, that's not true. Used to be true, no longer.

[297] If the replay rules can't effectively account for how the action is mapped out, then no, it isn't better than a missed call.

Please don't swing at a curveball in the dirt.

oh motherfucker.

[301] I believe it still applies is many situations.

Please stop with the shots of John Lackey's face. People are eating.

Only 52 pitches so far for Lackey. It's imperative to hold them at 4 if we want to have a shot.

By the way, it's very annoying that the NFL rules can't be found on-line. You can find dumbed-down, abridged, summary sets of rules, but not the actual rules.

[302] if the rules made no sense, no one would want them.
in your example, if damon is called out and then replay shows he was safe, each runner advancing one base would be better than the out call standing.

[200] I am not giving up. Just trying to be positive. I plan on watching a NY World Series.

just so you know what kind of 24 hours i've had - and what my luck is in general - ...i just had dinner from an Asian noodle house. my fortune cookie had NO fortune in it. that's just fucking awesome.

i can't wait to get drunk later...

: (

[308] I think you are getting confused by "down by contact" and blowing the whistle. The following is from profootballinsider on October 11:

"Then the officials explained that the call on the field wasn't "down by contact," but that the whistle had blown because the runner's forward progress had been stopped.

The former is reviewable; the latter isn't"

[311] That's an existentialist fortune cookie, thelarmis. It has a much deeper meaning than the usual cookie. Your future is not in the cookies, but in yourself.

I have never tasted Asian noodles, by the way.

[311] Here ya go, thelarmis! http://predictions.astrology.com/fc/

[312] Stop talking about football! :)

There is something wrong with Tim McCarver.

[308] Really? I think that says a lot about football v. baseball... the complete MLB rules are posted in about 10,000 different places.

Thanks for your thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders, McCarver. Ugh.

so would we joe - stfu

it's jeff fucking mathis. what the fuck?! : /

I found it interesting that Buck had an intelligent and correct call on Replay, while Timmy gave us his 'I dont believe in dinosaurs' opinion.

william is correct, once the whistle blows they won't undo what ensues. they may overturn the call that led to the whistle in some circumstances (like whether the ball touched the ground before being caught), but they won't count what happens after a whistle.

[309] I am just not a fan of action that happens but really doesn't, or that doesn't happen, but then gets improvised.

DIAF MATHIS.

[320] maybe calr everett could have a little chat with timmy

[323] Now, now...

Jeff Mathis is 2009's Al Weis

Hey... and I thought Clive Bunker was an awesome drummer. Another good one is Aynsley Dunbar.

[321] i mean they won't undo the call to instead count what ensues

this fucktard is now doing well enough that girardi will trust him but i don't think well enough that he may actually hold this thing to 4 runs

[313] very profound, thanks man! oh, and you'd be quite impressed with this Spicy Thai Basil w/ Chicken dish. i eat *everything* in it and there's all kindsa veggies! thankfully, no broccoli : )

[314] thanks man, that was cool. i got a decent fortune there, but it's something i already do. and, man, i'm scoring some cool ass blue note cd's here lately!

can we please find our Score Truck now?!?!

Also, here's a better example:

Damon is called out (for the second out), prompting the runner from 2B to try and score because with two outs, it's a worthwhile risk. On the ensuing play, he is thrown out at home. Now, had Damon originally been called safe, the runner would have held at 3B with 1 out.

How do you rectify that situation? Baseball is so different from football. I don't think replay is the easy answer.

[309] Correct. There are already some groundrule plays where the ump decides how many bases a runner advances. It's not like it's virgin territory.

[322] but the question is whether you're more a fan of action that does happen being called incorrectly by the umps, which is the same as what you're saying but worse because it's even less fair to the team against which the bad call was made

[315] Oops, sorry. But

[328] I think that's wrong.

But that's it, no more football.

[325] When I clicked on your name my first reaction was, I have a yellow lab, too. : )
I will refrain from any more arson suggestions.

[323] i've been saying the DIAF to myself about the fuckhead(s) downstairs.

Come on Swisher.

[333] The heart of a baseball game is based on a nebulous call: ball versus strike. I think it can survive a few blown calls.

[327] both are good.

This is where Nady really would've come in handy. Swisher has been worthless, but what can you do about it?

[331] that is a better example, and it would have to be considered carefully when determining the rules. but i still think that it would be better than it is now. eventually, though, i think all umpiring could be done by computer immediately.

wow, a real base hit. : o

do the titanium necklaces come with mantras that we could use right now?

Swisher has actually managed to look worse and worse with each passing AB.

Posada MUST bat here.

good move joe

Whew, I thought Molina was going to bat....

praise Jobu

When Swisher sets the bp machine on curveball does he look that stupid. CRAP. Hey Melk, now. yay Joey Joe Joe.

[331] So you don't like a runner getting stuck on 3rd when he might have gotten the plate, but you're OK with JD getting called out and the runner gets.... to put his glove back on? That makes sense to you?

oh, thank god. i was getting *pissed* to see Molina there.

let's go Jorgie!!!

Po's sportin' a bit of a beard. me likey!

Po - SAD- ahhhhhh

[348] you are in rare form tonight just fair - angel hatred got you there? :}

[350] oh, that could read weird! i've just been noticing more facial hair on the yanks lately - Andy, Swish, Po. it's different. kinda cool, thazzall...

careful, Melk

[349] It could work both ways though...what if the runner scores, but you have a rule that says everyone goes back to the base? Do you oenalize the offense by taking a run off the board?

[353] yeah they are pushing the not shaving on the day of the game to several days

holy hottie behind the net in a NY hat!

of fer fucks sake, jorgie!!! : /

fuck - god damnit po

Molina coulda/woulda done that.

WE WANT MOLINA
WE WANT MOLINA

[334] when the whistle blows the play is dead even if the call is reversed. i've never seen play that happens after the whistle is blown counting, and i've often seen the call reversed when that would have been possible. including this year (one example is when kenny phillips actually intercepted a ball against dallas and ran it in for a touchdown, but the play had been whistled dead because the ref thought it had hit the ground when it bounced off the defender's foot). i'll stop talking about football now.

What an awful AB by Posada.

Come on, Derek.

Lackey doesn't look very good to me, yet he's mowing them down. Shows what little I know about baseball.

Is there anyone here who thought Posada wouldn't strikeout looking?

Goddamn it.

[359] Molina would have swung and maybe done something by accident.

nice meeting of the minds there

He's making us look like little leaguers.

The bright side is that at least the Yankees get Lackey out of the way for the series. The not so bright side is this offense has really not been consistent and way too heavily reliant on 3 or 4 players. Game 6 is going to be very anxious.

[365] I thought he would hit into a DP, actually, so: pleasantly surprised!

[367] Probably a DP.

As my meds wear off I am losing optimism..Guys, rev up the Score Truck please so I don't become an addict...

Listening to McCarve and Buck fellate Mathis is making me sick.

[370] You give up to huh?

This is horrific.

[357] I saw her, and knew you'd post something about her :)

[352] I can understand being shut down by many pitchers, but not Lackey. They Yanks seem to be guessing on every pitch on they're guessing wrong 99% of the time. His curveballs are just dropping in there and his fastball is anything but overpowering. UGH

that's crap jeter

This feels like game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. Thank God it's only game 5.

lackey is completely fooling the yanks

[375] Sometimes the writing is just on the wall. The Yankees effort out of the gate has left something to be desired, which really takes away from the faith I have in them making a comeback. Too be honest, after that top of the 1st inning, I got the strong impression that this wasn't going to be a competetive game.

Well, my favorite thing this whole year has been the come-from-behind wins.
4 runs down, 4 innings to go, piece of pie!

Chris Farley is dead. Don't CGI him into an ad. It's creepy.

[374] They finished with Sciosia the other night, now it's Mathis' turn..

aj is definitely gonna give up runs here, to make a point

[361] Oh, okay, that's correct.
But suppose it looks like the runner was down, and the ball comes loose, but the whistle blows, and then a defender falls on the ball. They can reverse the whistle and count it as a fumble recovered by the defense.

I think at this point a little football chat is a pleasant distraction.

[378] That was evident in the first inning...the Yankees let him off the hook (pun intended), which I think does speak to a lack of preparation for the opponent. In the playoffs, you don't often get the chance to win like that.

[78] i hear ya - very frustrating - i think it is socially acceptable to wish someone get the trots

My rule of thumb for MLB is that if the NFL does it, baseball should do the opposite.

On the bright side AJ has a chance to maybe strike out 5 this inning now that Posada's catching.

So, A-Rod struck out looking on a pitch right down the middle. Posada struck out looking on three pitches. If Derek Jeter just hits into a big double play, those are all the symptoms of the Yankee loss.

Oh, God, now we have to hear these bozos about AJ and Posada.

Insult to injury.

good job po!!!

Wait a minute.
"Molina" gets a hit, "Posada" strikes out. AJ suddenly improves when "Posada" enters the game...

They've switched uniforms!

we don't give a shit about you timmy

[390] I think MLB needs to really re-think roughing the passer

[391] Funny!

[391] that's harsh

The bats will awaken. All is not lost. One more out AJ you ornery SOB.

With the day off tomorrow, I think the stories about Teixeira not hitting are really going to mushroom. His AB in the first inning could kind of take on the same symbolism as Arod's game-4 strikeout with a runner on 3rd and 1 out in the 2004 ALCS.

[377] i'm predictable, but consistency is good! she was smokin'...

[379] oh, and i didn't move south for the hot blondes. not long after grad school, i got a good gig and it was based outta here. that tour ended after a year and a half. by then, i had established myself here in town and made connections and stuff. so i stayed. been here 13+ years now...

[399] not entirely undeserved, however

[387] that's right, but i guess they only changed it for that call? like you said, it's hard to find the exact rules.

Raise your hand if, after the first inning, you thought there were going to be a lot of runs scored in this game.

Thought so.

Sterling's Law confirmed yet again.

[401] except that he's 1/2 and should have walked to load the bases for arod with no one out in the 1st.

[405] What's Sterling's Law?

[405] that's baseball

[405] i certainly didn't expect aj to last this long without giving up another.

[405] I thought AJ would settle down, but I also thought the Yanks would have gotten at least 1 run on the board by now.

Where is the score truck?!?!

[406] That call was too close to argue he should have walked. The bottom line is that AB could have been a killer for Anaheim, but he didn't even take the bat off his shoulders.

I say "Huzzah!" to you AJ..you were awful in the 1st, but there's no reason we should not make up 4 runs..now..Score Truck Convoy, please!

jeez this game is flying by

AJ definitely is shedding the goat horns...this game is falling back onto the shoulders of a very shaky offense.

[411] so he should have been protecting the strike zone, with a chance to load the bases for arod in the 1st inning of game 5, up 3 games to 1? that's ridiculous. and the call wasn't that close.

This reminds me of Game 7 in 2003, when they couldn't touch Pedro, and they were already doing the game summary talking about how great Pedro had pitched.

Goddamnit Teixeira.

If the Yankees blow this series, Tex is going to pick up the beatings from Arod...just what the Yankees don't need.

nice hit, Alex !

[407] you just can't predict baseball

used in a sentence: well suzyn, molina got a hit, posada struck out, you know what suzyn, sometimes you just can't predict baseball

Shit! Missed by a foot.

wow, look how focused his eyes were!

[411] And I think Teixeira has shown that he has no fucking clue what's a ball and what's a strike this post season, so I don't think you can say he identified it as a ball and laid off.

[415] It was close on the Fox Trax...that AB shouldn't have gotten to 3-2. He let too hammer me curves go by first.

And thus did A-ROD say unto the Angels, "Verily, you shall not defeat us!"

And to his teammates A-ROD said, "Climb onto my back, and here we go!"

[420] Thanks. I've listened to Sterling more than I'd ever prefer; shoulda known that one.

[418] what they don't need is to lose this series, agreed.

At least Arod should be able to take a positive vibe into Game 6.

A 2 out hit would be uber-pleasant.

[420] Thank you.
Although he wouldn't say "sometimes". And then he'd add that "some people" think they can predict baseball, and he doesn't know why because you just can't. It's not like football.

The Yanks' biggest advantage now is that Scioscia is petrified of his bullpen, and he doesn't want to lose this game, so he's going to stay with Lackey as long as he possibly can - which means that when Lackey tires and gets ineffective, he'll still be in there.

[430] very true - fortunatley i am not the sterling expert you are

[427] Right...I guess losing would be bad enough in and of itself. Hearing about how Teixeira can't hit in the post season would just be icing.

Come the fuck on Matsui!

[432] It's my burden.

[435] :}

good eye mats

oof, now cano

Can't we hit for Frosty?

Blind fold Cano

i would love nothing more than a 3-run job right here!!!

Sure would be nice to have Posada up now...another way starting Molina can have a negative impact.

Oh Christ, Cano.

If we'd scored two in the first inning, this game would feel so different.

Knock down a wall, Robbie. You can do it, brother.

Fucking Frosty.

[443] I'd feel better if they had taken just one good swing.

Mother of God.

[441] Would have been nice to have Posada up with Melky on first last inning.

Worst .320 hitter I think I ever saw.

just a rbi please

FUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKK!!!!! : /

There is no reason, none at all, that this kid can't hit with RISP.

So why the fuck does he do so badly with RISP?!?!

fuck - it's probably 80 damn degrees out there but cano is still frosty

or that : ( fuckaduck

Girardi has to be prepared for the reality that Cano and Swisher are not going to turn it around. Cano is giving off a very strong Soriano-like vibe.

[448] Pinch hitting is not the same as taking ABs in the flow of the game.

Ok, now I have lost all optimism..to game 6 we go...

[452] Like Soriano, it really seems that when a good pitcher has a game plan against him, Cano has no chance.

Tex, Cano & Swisher with some serious goat potential..

I think the real Yankees have already left for NY and left behind these imposters

[457] Every game so far the Yankees have scored at least 4... :-)

[458] wouldn't that result in big splits between quality of pitcher, but not necessarily between "clutch" or not situations?

[459] They scuttled game 2 and have had a huge hand in game 5. The Yankees should not have lost 2 games to this point...they have allowed the Angels to stay close. The rest of this lineup had better wake up, or hope the rest of the Angels lineup doesn't first.

[461] That's the spirit, Bobtaco!

I will say, I feel ok losing a game where AJ just gave up a couple of early runs and Lackey was utterly dominant....you can live with that.

if the Yankees had something like a 3 run lead in the 8th and blew it, I'd have more visions of 2004 dancing in my head.

The only think that could make my mood worse right now is if we see that fucking binder.

[462] I think what makes great pitchers is their ability to execute their game plan particularly in tight situations. Cano seems to feast off bad pitchers and situations in which good pitchers might not be a little lax.

[465] I dunno if Lackey really has been 'dominant'. Remember, Jeter and Damon made him look shaky early; A-Rod seemed to have no real problem with him. Melky and Molina have hits. That's not "dominant".

But I don't mean to mince words. Coughing up the four in the first does hurt less than a horrible bullpen performance.

I think AJ's record for strikes thrown after having a full count before the walk is 4. He just beat that record.

[465] I am ok with it too...when the Yankees forfeited their 1st inning opportunity, I had a strong feeling they wouldn't be competitive. Of course, if the Angels jump out early in game 6, things are going to get tight. I know I am not looking forward to that game because it will be tense starting at around 4PM.

[468] No Yankee has made it to third - that's fairly dominant.

[466] doesn't the binder symbolize girardi's belief in stats, which is a good thing? you may not want to see him going to the bullpen when the current pitcher is still pitching well, but isn't it good that he bases his decisions on numbers and not "gut"?

what a fucking idiot that douchelord is.

Why would they show that?

Nice of FOX to encourage future incidents.

if there is a game 6 it will be at 7:57pm

This is the second time we've seen one of these clowns on television.

I thought there was a rule?

Why does Fox insist on showing these people? I thought the networks agreed not to reward these bozos by showing them on TV.

AJ has really absolved himself of goat status.

we've officially reached the point where "one bad inning" will be the theme of tonight's pressers

[468] molina did not have a hit.

OK Now it is time for the bats to come out.

here, bats, here good bats...

[476] Right...and it will be tense starting at around 4PM.

6 innings, 80 pitches. 1 run above "QS". only 2 walks. and, who knows, he might be able to get thru 7, or even 8.

everything was hard hit in the 1st inning. he always has that 1 meltdown inning, but this hasn't been an abomination. we're being shutdown by a whole lotta ugly.

Hard to believe, but Burnett has thrown less pitches than Lackey.

[480] Yes, but for which team...

[472] That binder leads to LaRussa level bullshit and Girardi outsmarting himself. No good can come from that.

[480] One very bad inning...for the offense and for Burnett. The offense bothers me because I think their bad inning was poor preparation. Burnett's bad inning was the result of his inability to command his pitches and the Angels aggressive approach (which is particularly frustrating because it was in contrast to the Yankees approach).

[483] yeah i wasn't sure if that was the direction you were going in

I have to give Burnett this much - he doesn't have his good stuff, he got POUNDED in the first, and yet he's kept them in the game and got through 5 scoreless innings after that debacle. He did not fold like a cheap tent.

The real issue is NO offense.