I can really use a nice 7-0 Yankee lead in the third inning to calm me down until Mo locks the 10-3 win down in the ninth.

I

I think one way to get a lot of the tension out of the air is for everyone to make peace with the idea that Pedro is likely going to do a very good job. It's within the realm of possibility that he does a great job, more likely than Pettitte doing the same.

Barring some sort of injury or illness, Martinez will be effective. Accept that as a likelihood and the first 6 or so innings won't be as stressful. You may still stress at will about Pettitte's performance but I think it's a fairly safe bet it won't be as good as Pedro's. Now, you never know - there's some saying about baseball that eludes me at the moment - but if you look at the match-up and the circumstances, this game is liable to at least be frustrating for a good chunk.

Also, should the Phillies win, you'll need some of that stress mania for tomorrow, so ... conserve.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock...

[2] Well thanks, Hawk, that was helpful, if by "helpful" I mean "even more stress-inducing."

In with the good air, out with the bad air...

[2] No no. Standard gamethread Banter includes expecting every hitter to hit seven home runs per at bat, or else they are terrible failures and are to blame for the loss as well as global warming and the federal deficit.

Although, they probably do animal charity work.

[5] Almost correct. Posada is always to blame for any and all failures, even when he's not in the starting lineup. That's proper Banter protocol.

[5] [6] Hold on, you both forgot, its Girardi's fault. And whoever doesn't retire every batter they face. And the hitters. And the fielders. And the baserunners.

And if its a baserunner's fault, its definitely Posada.

(Did I leave anything out?)

"Though I think not
To think about it,
I do think about it
And shed tears
Thinking about it."
--Ryokan

LET's Go YAN-Kees!!

[7] It's still a lot better than the days when everything was just blamed on A-Rod.

[9] are you kiddin', its all A-rod's fault.

but we have a new 3B now, his nickname is Big Al, and all he does is get huge clutch hits, play for the team, date a nice girl, shut up, and keep the line moving...

Are we there yet?

[11] Not far now..and if you kids don't pipe down I'll turn this car right around and drive home!

But I'm borrred!

making lucky dinner, pesto pizza.

andy goes 6, 90 pitches, one earned.
the two phils, joba and mo clean it up.

we get to petey pedro early, 4 ER in 4 IP

lessgo YANKS

[5] REALLY Dude.... do you have to exaggerate so?
Only ARod is responsible for those things.

tonight's dinner: steak, potatoes, and a beer. no screwing around in this apartment.

good news on my end too - the 2 ws games the yanks lost i missed the beginning - i'll be here tonight, right on time!!

[14] Telltale sign you're off-base: "two phils". No way will we see Coke tonight, at least not before Marte.

Mike at RAB has an interesting thought:
"If you need to think about something until game time, think about this: tonight might the last time we ever see Pedro Martinez or Andy Pettitte on the mound. Crazy, huh?"
-----------------------------------------
Pedro is good for another year but I'm not so sure about Andy.

you know what I've been thinking about all day?

Saturday October 26, 1996. Not just the game, but the whole day and leading up to it and the whole thing. Can't get it out of my head.

It's Cashman's fault for bringing all the guys in. Not Kate Hudson's fault, cause she does centaur-based charity work.

I feel like this Utley-as-MVP thing may be jinx-worthy. Here's hoping so! I'm going to watch this elsewhere. I'll check in if things get dire/annoying or awesome/celebratory.

i think we could see coke in a lower-leverage spot in the 6th or 7th. ibanez perhaps.

that said, i really hope we don't.

them jeans they fittin' like a glove Mary J

How is the weather tonight?
Man, I am so bummed that I have to work today, Game 6 on Gameday is very unacceptable..

[23] I hope we see him in a low leverage situation in the 6th or 7th...if the score is, like, 10-4 Yankees!

OK, I am going to lay low for a while..I don't know, anti-jinx or something. See 'all in the 2nd inning or so, when the Yankees are leading 3-1. Book it!

Kids to bed!

Dinner? Barbecued pigs' feet (mmmmm!), spinach, asparagus and shiraz!

Let's win this motherfucker!

palms sweaty, heart beating, blocking out all distractions. It's game time. Go Yanks, time to bring it all back home.

MJB rocked that anthem!!

For fuck's sake Yankees, win this game! Otherwise I may kill myself come early Friday morning.

WE PLAY TODAY!!

WE WIN TODAY!!

DAS IT!!!!!

Play ball!

Auspicious?

Good start.

yo yo Bronx Banterers. Jus ttrolling through to say good luck and hope to see you in Game 7.

We're due for a blow out in this series. Not sure by whom.

I think andy's gonna get lit up in the 4th, Yanks are gonna make a charge against teh Phils bullpen, fall short, 10-9 Phils see you same bat time, same bat channel.

Andy's looking sharp...

Fuck.

Oh, come on.

Cheap hit.

bullshit lucky hit

Go Yanks...You already shut J-Roll up, now shut up Hugh.

No base runners when Chutley is up, not allowed!

NIce pitch, Andy.

"Reading Pettitte is like reading Greek."

Not, bad, Tim!

PBR in hand (leftovers from halloween party...), let's go Yankees!

Right.

The.

Fuck.

ON1!!!!

THERE YA GO!

Oh yeah.
Our 2B beats your 2B!

andy!!!!!!!!!

Pretty 4-6-3! Woo

Yes. Now let's have a first inning score truck delivery.

8-pitch inning, I like it!

I love this game so far.

[45] I don't need to know any other details to know that that was the best halloween party ever

[2] Please be wrong. Please! But I have a feeling you're right.

Let's go, boys, get Andy some breathing room...

Game 6, BABY!!!! Let's go Yankees!!

lets put Pedro to work here

For a gray November evening with a threat of rain in Toledo, I'm going with Black Toad dark ale.

Butthead Yankee fans can't spell "whose".

Get loud, Yankee Stadium!

I've already had a Sam Adams weiss. Not usually fond of weissbier, but it just felt right.

Hey, who's taking meetings at the mound now?!?

Fuck.

Off the end of the bat.

Damn!

well it was a semi-loud out...

not quite in the sweet spot

[60] Hmm? "Who is your daddy" is correct. Not to be confused with "Whose daddy is it?"

Hm, Pedro might be showing some flu symptoms there.

fuckin eh

[68] Oh yeah!
Whose the butthead now???

Damn.

Come on, Teix, turn it around.

Another cookie looked at.

looks like patience is the approach with petey tonight

Oh, Teix.

Teix breaks out of the slump tonight....

Good, Teix, good. Way to lay off.

RATS!

Got jusssstttt a little under it.

The porch was not quite short enough.

Man...that was a homerun from April to August

Fuck.

Auspicious inning.

We're going to light him up second time through.

damn - hopefully he is getting close

Damn. But a couple of loud outs in the first.

pedro's command doesn't look exceptional so far

[84] Yeah, I think you were right about the patience.

At least the ball's being hit pretty hard.

[54] Was it awesome because there was PBR, or awesome because there was PBR left over?

I'm hoping Pedro's lack of a real fastball tonight (if the trend continues) can lead to the Yanks laying off that change.

Outs are good.

Nice.
Although I liked the Howard who struck out all the time better. Bring him back.

nice play

[87] once PBR even enters the equation you'e in good shape

Werth scares me tonight....well, every night, but especially tonight.

careful with Babe Werth.

[89] Only half of them.

(Well, I hope it's slightly fewer than half!)

[92] yeah werth is andy' nemesis he needs to be VERY careful

[94] Slightly more. 27 to 24

[86] Yep, live by the BABIP, die by the BABIP

[96] Damn, that's two dumb errors for me already tonight.

I'll need a couple of extra base hits to make up for it.

oh good country joe is starting early tonight

[94] Never thought about that before, but when the home team wins they always have fewer outs than the losing road team.

Shit just walk werth here...

Nice curve, Andy.

Also [96] may I add that 27-26 would be just fine.

[101] bear in mind I said that at 3-1, not 3-2....But I don't mind walking him much.

[98] just don't intentionally take strike 3

NIce!

Attaboy, Swish.

that just made me way too nervous

andy's cutter is a cutting

[103] Yes. Though that would increase my ulcer count.

[108] Me too.

Nice curve, Andy, nice curve!

By the way, none of the Phillies have exactly amazing numbers against Andy Pettitte.

[105] Oh, I only exhibit incompetence -- never moral failures.

I hope my Red Sox friend Judy-kins is reading.

[110] Yeah, but it would be worth it.

I hate Tim McCarver.

I just had to get that out of my system.

Phinish him!

Phuck.

Fuck.

Come on, Jorgie, get the fuck down!

andyjust get feliz

could've done without that

This is the problem with walking Werth. It sounds good when you're worried about the homer, but...

No Feliz Navidad tonight.

so far so good

Redemption.

Yeah Jorgie!

Yhes!

Andy's a golden god.

Bravo, Andy.

there we go - no harm done there

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now battting #13, Centaur, #13.

[130] No. No harm at all. I'll take a pile of those.

[131] Heh heh hheh.

[123] Werth and Utley are absolutely white hot. Granted, Utley is now 1-11 against Andy and Werth is 3-16, but Werth has 3 homers against him. I'm not suggesting that the Yanks should come out and walk them intentionally. BUT, I think you have to pitch them to their weaknesses -- spots and speeds -- and if you get behind them 3-1 it's time to think about walking them.

I am a beat behind on Gameday..it's killing me here..maybe need to have a sudden urgent "meeting" somewhere...somewhere with a tv..

We need some good numerology. McCarver kicked it off with the "27 outs to 27 championships for #27 Joe Girardi." But that's kind of lame.
I wish Diane were here.

[135] We won't tell!

[131] Do Centaurs neigh?

Single here Arod....just get good wood

[134] How about plunking them on the hand and breaking their hands. OK, I suppose I shouldn't go there.

[136] I just noticed ten minutes ago that I have 46 messages in my facebook inbox!

[135] You can watch postseason.tv. It's actually a beat ahead of the broadcast.

[136] is she still at that scrablbe contest?

[135] don't you have some dee-tective stuff to follow-up on?

Now, leadoff walks are much more problematic than 2 out walks as the Phillies may find out in a pitch or two. Just take it Alex.

If the Yankees continue to watch and/or flail away at belt high changeups b/c they're waiting for the faastball it will be ungood. Unless they hit homeruns after waiting for the fastball. Go Alex. Walk.

[140] No. You're not good at this.
We need Diane.

[135] You're looking a little green. Don't you have a fever? Swine flu is active here, don't know about Japan, but you better isolate yourself. Just in the interest of public health.

Nice.

NIce.

Let's do it right here, right now.

it starts with a walk!!

make them pay matsui

Ok, Fuck it, I say steal here. Take the bag with the slow batter....Put the pressure on Pedro....

Hit and Run!

Gallop on down to 1st, sir.

come on Gojira

[143] Indeed.
Although I bet Pedro won't throw a wild pitch (or PB, whatever it was).

[138] Funny. That's what Kate Hudson says to him too.

All of Utley's HR have been pulled to RF, Stay outside to hil and see what he can do with LF in YS.

Pedro's throwing speed is Medium slow, slow and very slow. The Yankees need to sit on the offspeed stuff.

[144] If they wait on fastballs the math will eventually catch up with Pedro.

oh fuck it foul

Too quck Matsui. Damn.

OH!

Fuck!

We're going to light this turkey up.

It's just a matter of time now...

he's begging to get pounded here

[154] You're welcome for the set up.

The Yankee bats are dynamite, but aside from Jeter and JD, nobody knows how to just serve this stuff the other way. If they keep trying to kill the ball, it could be a long night.

Dang!

Man, oh man...

matsui is about the only one he is throwing "fastballs" to

Oh, man, I thought that was fair.

I kinda wish Alex would run.

go ahead and walk him Pedro....

By the way, Cano is 0-15 against Pedro, so I hope he doesn't come up with 2 outs.

come on guys...

[146] Already had the flu!!

Pedro does not seem to have command of his pitches or any velocity tonight.

[160] see [154]

[165] Did I misunderstand, or did Tim call Pedro's four-seam (that Matsui fouled loud) an "off speed pitch"?

[162] Hideki had a huge off-field hit the other day.

[161] You've got a future as a straight man.

Er, I guess that doesn't mean what it used to.

Good, Hideki, good.

[173] yeah i think so

He's going to misplace one of those eventually.

C'MON PORN STAR!

[172] Heh.

Yes.

Come on, Hideki, keep it up...

Okay, Godzilla, third time's the charm...

[175] um, and a past and present as one too!

The more the hitters battle Pedro, the sooner we get into the soft underbelly that is the Phillies bullpen.

BOOM!

GODZILLA!

GODZILLA!!!!!!

GODZILLA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

beast commercial!!!!!!!!!!!!

HELLS YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MATSUI-SAN! Make happy fun time!

YAAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!!

I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT!!!!

UYAAAAAAYUYADDHJLFAKDJLKADSJ

Matsui-san!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HIDEKI! LOVE YA, GOJIRA!!!!

fucking great ab matsui

松井！！
ホームラン！！！！
GODZILLLA!!!!!!!!!!

Well, if you can't go the other way, that's the next best thing!

I will miss that man.

[184] So of course Jorgie comes up...

「３８」「３８」「３８」「３８」「３８」

[186] [187] [188] That was cool.
And we didn't plan it out.

Oh, come on, Jorgie!

Follow Matsui's lead!

[197] you mean an evil rally killer?

That homer was a thing of beauty.

I want to destroy them and just make this a celebration thread without pressure.

Ok, I've been lurking for a while this evening, but now I'm back in the house. My prediction for the 2nd inning [24] is not looking too bad!

[203] Ms October,

I almost forgot....

BEAST COMMERCIAL!!

[204] That ab was a thing of beauty.

Come on, Jorgie, that won't do.

some things never change

Matsui is popular in Japan? Really?

[206] i knew the beast commercial would get you to the banter

Cano is 0-15 against Pedro....without anyone on, I hope he just tries to homer -- maybe he gets lucky

That was a horrible at bat by Jorge. He was swinging for the fences. "Hey, I guess he's got nothin' tonight - here I go! Oh, whoops."

Damn, look at Robbie!

[201] Nope, but there's a psychic vibe going tonight.

[212] Wow, maybe his 0-16 is all BABIP?

might be the best swing Robbie's had all series

Lucky SUMBICH. Robbie rockets it, and he's 0-16. Come on Swish, get on so we can clear the pitcher.

Somewhere a fat man is screaming. Bring in Mo for an 8 inning save! Bring in for an 8 inning save. heh-heh

Robbie didn't get the memo to get Pedro's pitch count up.

Run up his count, Nick

[220] robbie is rarely cc'd on that memo

Where's William when you need him?

BAH.

Fuck.

We really let him off the hook there.

Not good.

I mean, I'll take the runs, but Jorgie really should have kept the thing going.

[219] Ha hah ah ah ah 1!

FWIW, Pedro is at 37 pitches through 2 innings. If he stays on that pace he might make the 6th...Hopefully we never have to worry about him lasting that long....Pound 'em Yanks! Shut 'em down, Andy!

Where's WCYankee too?

[223] maybe he is at the game

Nice easy inning, Andy...

[227] I say he starts the fifth and if he's lucky he finishes it.

[219] Only it would be seven innings.

松井さん、来年帰ってきってね！愛してる！

Big inning. 1,2,3 Andy. Please.

Nice curve, Andy!!

[225] It's OK...runs and lots of pitches. It's looking good, so long as Andy keeps his act together (i.e., don;t pull an AJ).

Yes!

Atta boy, Team!

oh good the centaur has gotten his fielding powers back

[227] Gardner should be ordered to take pitches until two strikes, and then bunt. A 3-2 count would be a victory in his AB!

[232] Well he's been sputtering so much nonsesne lately maybe 8 +3 = 9 in his world. : )
Yeah, that's it. 1 out.

[233] You banged back last year?

[236] He's already surpassed AJ's performance, for what that's worth.

[236] It is looking good, for sure. I just don't want to let that crafty son of a bitch find his pixie dust.

[233] My computer doesn't get those characters. Can't locate the Windows disk that has them. Is there anything online for that?

DO NOT WALK THIS ASSHAT.

Dammmit.

Oh, Gardner!

Oh, man, what a misplay!

Fuck fuck fuck!

fucking shit

FUCK HIM. 9 HITTER asshole.

Shitfuck.

really Brett? fucking really?

「２４１」"Matsui-san, come back next year. We love you!"

You can read nihongo? Cool! That was a message for a local "troll" I know who never contributes but does read the comments.

Crappy defense, Brett. Keep it in front of you.

Gardner was actually positioned pretty well on that. Terrible skip off the wall.

I'm not worried, though.

Andy's got this.

[245] Shoulda walked the asshat.

SHIT. Gardner played it right (stayed back from the wall) and still played it wrong (no far enough away, bad hop off the padding).

Boycott Dunkin Donuts!

that was not a good play gritner

Come on, Andy, come on...you can do this...

Dammit, do not walk Rollins. Limit the damage, here, Andy.

Please don't walk this .296 OBP guy.

That ball took a funky skip off the wall. Seems kinda bogus to blame Gardner. How about blaming Pettitte for serving it up?

[258] +1

Shit.

But fine, I'll take that.

Dang.

Lame.

Not ideal, but not bad. Now, keep them in the park, Andy. The offense is going to tack on runs in the bottom of the inning.

alright 1 in 1 out - get 2 quick outs and move on

I'll take the out. Get Victorino here.

fuck, but I'll take it

Thank you for that one pitch AB, Mr. Victorino.

Get that run back!

Good job, Andy.

Let's get it back plus.

No one said it would be easy.

Ok. Damage done. Way to lock it down Andy.

Mr. Victorino,

Thank you for swinging at the first pitch and keeping Mr. Pettitte's count down.

Your friends,

The Banter Crew.

I had visions of Andy not even making it this far, I think the fans on the other side are more worried about their starter

Ugh. That did look awful, but I don't think there was anything he could do. It really took a funky skip off the bullpen window.

Gardner and that bullpen glass...not a good combination.

[269] uh oh has all my defense of jorgie caused me to lose track too?

[275] Bama Yankee did.

By the way, where the heck is Bama Yankee?

Andy's still pitching well.
The lead isn't comfortable, though. We have to either (i) slam Pedro around or (ii) get into their bullpen before Andy tires.

Starbucks ads have truer caroms.

[263] Yes and yes. Still, I don't blame Andy too much for going after the #9 guy. If he walked him, we'd be screaming, too!

Now it's time for the Score Truck to make this all "mute."

[280] Ha ha hah ah aha a !!

Andy's at 37 pitches through 3; Pedro's at 37 pitches through 2.

[281] Seriously, where is Williamnyy23?? Hope he's at the game and didn't go all Billy Babbit..

Time to turn the basepaths into a merry-go round. More Hideki like ab's and absolutely no more Posada like ab's.

[284] Definitely....don't want to walk him for sure. I'm just annoyed that he's been such a tough out!

How the hell was THAT a strike?

Was THAT a strike on the first pitch?

FIrst AWFUL FUCKING strike of the night. Christ.

let's go for something other than a pop-up or looking at strike 3 here brett

hey look! Brett is 0-2!

[290] As soon as Brett Gardner stepped in the box.

[283] Well, yeah, for $3.35 they'd better.

[290] Joe West is a mysterious being. Best not to try to understand him.

Terrible.

that was predictable

Wow.

He's really ungood, is he not?

[284] True dat. You have to go after #9. Walk Utley.

[286] Andy just has to escape their big slugger one more time, and we're looking at a very acceptable 5+ inning start.

Goodbye Gardner. Now it's Score Truck time.

Honestly, shouldn't Gardner bunt for a hit with no one on and no one out?

It makes you wonder why his batting average is higher than .100.
And yet it is.

Gardner should bunt once in awhile.

[303] yes please - he should drag bunt every time up unless someone is on in which case he can sac bunt

ITS A TRAP!

Short hop!

Victorino is hurting, I promise.

Cap'n!

Wow!

Thank GOD that fucking ump made the right call.

I was ready to start screaming.

Steal on the first pitch, Cap'n!

Good read, Barbarino.

And Gardy goes down on high "heat"

drooped in for a cheapie

Per Suzyn, Jeter has been on base all 15 games of this postseason.

[307] Whew, thanks for the warning, I almost walked right into it!!!

I just went through the full roller coaster of emotions on that AB:

Yes, Jeter

Shit, it's hanging up...right at 'em

He trapped it...he misplayed it!

[314] It's not a cheapie when Jeter does it.

It is a bargain.

[307] welcome to the admiral. Is the shield down?

[303] Yes.

Teix is thinking, "FUCK YOU JOBU, I DO IT MYSELF"

[318] oh yeah, much more dignified and captain like

Damon with a professional at bat. : D

Make. Him. Work. Make. Him. Work.

[315] That's got to be a record, no?

stop with all this bullshit and show the pitcher or hitter

Good, Johnny, good.

That's the way...

keep working him

[325] It must be rare that a team has played more than 15 PS games.

Work that count, Johnny.

[326] I know!

good hold up

Good eye, Johnny...!

Hey McAsshole, you should try holding your breath "Extra Long." Yikes. That coulda been a k.

[329] I would think the WS winner usually plays 15 or more, no?

Timmy thinks there are 2 outs.

[329] the Max would be 19

Beautiful.

Give that man a contract.

good ab jd

very good very good

Doesn't Manuel have to start the bullpen now?

Nice, very nice.
Pedro pitched him well, I thought, but not well enough.

Teixiera's chance to make some noise.

AB(eauty)

Way to run up Pedro's pitch count

Rich Doobie?

[341] Prescient!

Good, Johnny. MAke him work, make him pay, Teix.

ja happ up

Dear Teix,

I still believe in you. William23 is not here to talk about your failures. I still celebrate the very few clutch hits and walks you've gotten this year. So, hit the fucking ball over the wall.

Regards,

Evil

Going back to Will Weiss' post this morning.

I'm looking for an Expert Tex-pert!

That's not bad.

please no DP Tex..i want a Tex Message and I want it NOW

Ow!

Definitely not intentional...

Oh, you fuckwad.

So much the better.

Release the Centaur!

Where's Zim when you need him?

damnit just drilled him

buckle up!!

Oh YEAH. Go down in a blaze of glory, Petey.

Okay Yankees - this is what you've waited for. Make 'em pay!

Centaur Power, unite!

Alex, I've been waiting for this since February 14th, 2004....

tex - "i'm alright" i'm so glad he is hardcore which i did not expect

Goddamn, but he looks calm.

Do I hear a truck pulling in?

On purpose?
Or Erroneous Plunk?

True Yankee time

My wife has already yelled at me - kindly - twice to keep it down so I don't wake up the kids. I've invented the world's dorkiest Godzilla dance. And I wish I had a bar table here so I didn't have to lean down to type 'cuz I haven't sat down yet.

Go Centaur!

The old Jerry Curled Matador v. Centaur.

Wow, good pitch.

Short swing, Alex, short swing.

Just relax.

A-Rod just needs to settle down and wait for a fat one...or take a walk.

[360] Neighhhhhh!

A-Rod wanted that first pitch really badly

Good.

1-1.

Hell. A walk will do.

[365] Erroneous.
You'd deliberately put Teixeira on in this situation???

C'mon A-Rod..GrandMa's Hands time now...this is where legends are born.

Centaur, time to fly!

Let's say Pedro walks A-Rod. Is Manuel ignorant enough of Matsui's non-platoon split to bring in Happ?

Wow.

[365] Is Erroneous the brother of Eric?

relax centaur!

Damn it.

Damn it.

Come on, Alex, shorten the fuck up, please!

Keep your emotions in check, Alex.

Pedro is working Alex perfectly.

I wish Alex would just be thinking solid contact here and not "I'll hit a grand slam in game 6 and then they'll LOVE me! They'll LOVE ME!"

[384] Not for long . . .

Unbelievable. COME ON MAN

[385] So true.

Fuck your mother, ump.

fuckin eh dude

holy fuck what was that?

Fuck you, Joe West that was outside you piece of shit

Ohhhhh.

Fuck.

Oooh, now the strike zone gets bigger. Unbelievable.

That was not a strike, kids.

FUCK YOU COUNTRY JOE WEST!!!!!!!

Looked outside on Gameday..

Oh man. Horrible. Horrible call.

Threading the needle. FUCK YOU MCASSHOLE. NO FUCKIING MENTION THAT IT WAS 8 INCHES OFF THE PLATE. FUCKERS.

was it just me or did fox cut the replay before showing that called strike?

[398] Also on the Fox box thing. And very clearly on the replay.

Damn!

damn - matsui is teasing us

uuuuuuugh

A little piece of me just died.

C'mon, one more big hit, Hideki!

Wow.
Well, remember what happened last time, two booming fouls...

[404] It's all for dramatic effect.

you goatwhore he just reared back and there as hard as he could

YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THERE YA GO!!!

Oh too sweet.

New hero tonight.

BEAST COMMERCIAL!

good works mats

[409] yes indeed

GODZILLA MATSUI!!!!!!!!!

I will really, really miss that man.

Is there any way that Joe West can stop the game now and require a redo?

MATSUI YOU THE MAN!!!! FUCK YEAH.

<3 Matsui <3

Matsui-san! He is a beast tonight!

Godzilla!!!!!!+++

[376] I know it was erroneous, I just had that silly obscure jazz rhyme in my back pocket, so I had to use it.

[380] yes, brother of Eric, cousin of Thelarmi(ou)s Plunk

Screw you Joe West.

I love it - Joe West's shitty call made Manuel think Pedro could get Hideki out!

Give that man a contract!

YAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

I'M FUCKING EXUBERANT!!!

YEAHHH! FUCK YOU Country Joe!!

Dude hates sitting in the NL parks. WHoooooo-hoooooooooooooo

HE PICKS UP A BUS AND HE THROWS IT BACK DOWN

Jorgie, wtf???

Okay, crack open a Sapporo, everyone, please.
Mr. OK may have whatever he likes.

Once again, Posada swinging like he's playing wiffle ball. C'mon Jorge!!!

[428] actually pretty impressive he was out all those games and his swing looks great

Jorge, Jorge, Jorge.

Nice work, sticks, nice the fuck work!

All right, Andy, hold 'em down!!

Andy, I'm begging you for a 1-2-3 here

Pedro's at 62 pitches, but that's an irrelevant number now.

[431] Sake is flowing tonight if we win..don't know how I will last here till 5pm..

Matsui is batting .636 in the series...there's the MVP.

[429] Ha hah ah ah ah ah ah aha h ah !!!!

Right on!!!

[433] He's the Quintessential Professional Hitter. When he's not Groundzilla. : )

[441] I really, really, really would like to find some way to keep 'em both.

Wait, what happened to Johnny? I don't like this.

This is a very big inning for Mr. Pettitte.

FUCK

That fucking sucks.

fuuuuck, not good at all

Oh Johnny.

Eek. I'm not a fan of Damon being out, but . . . if he's hurt, he's hurt.

Go get 'em Andy!!!

OK, Andy, just hold the lead against their boppers.

Nice, Andy.

Now put this fuck away.

Damon being out stinks. Let's hope Andy can keep this going!

We're mighty short of outfielders.
I guess Pena can do it.

Wait, wtf?

What happend to Johnny?

Oh, fuck, that's terrible.

Holy fuck, that is NOT good.

Fuck.

Crap. Have the Phillies deployed their leg munching moster? Melky & now Damon.

Sit DOWN, Chutley!

there ya go

THANK YOU ANDY! Nicely done, old sport!

great pitch andy

We have a three run lead and I feel sick. That's not good.

That a way, Andy, that a way!

Oh, good. An Utley strikeout.

Uncle Charlie spanks Little Chutley.

[453] I might...MIGHT...have considered Hinske in RF and Swish in LF. BUt with the lead and Jihnyy up last inning, going with defense is probably better,

Once again Johnny gets hurt and he won't go on the DL

[460] I am going to miss that feeling next week.

One big bat down. No three run HR for Howard.

Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO, will there be celebrations in Japan if/when the Yankees win the World Series?

Nice, Andy.

One more.

Two big bats down. Now, please pitch around Werth.

2 gone.

nifty work robbie

Sit down Pat Riley, Anthony Mason is calling, he wants to take you to a barber he knows.

Beautiful.
Though Howard looks better than he has, damn.

mcasshole nobody care about your thoughts

Scary Mr. Werth again...come on Andy!

Ok, Joe West...let's give Andy that 6 inch off the outside of the plate strike call.

[473] hahaha - you are dating yourself again :}

[468] I know two people here who will be celebrating for sure!
But if they win there will be endless Matsui coverage in the papers and on tv..more about the individual Japanese players here and not the team..

seriously, don't give him anything to hit Andy.

[464] I think Johnny having just batted is more important. Defense v offense, lead v trailing, I think that's kind of a bogus concept, myself. (Preventing a run is always exactly as good as scoring one.)

Nothing good here Andy.

You are a motherfucker, West.

How was that not a strike if the one to Alex was?

You suck.

that was basically intentional

Hey Country Joe. You douche. That was strike on Alex. Strike 3 no less. With the bases loaded even.

[478] Those Knicks still make me cry..so so close!

[477] seriously, even if the Yankees win they should file a complaint against West for his inconsistent strike zone.

[479] I can imagine what would happen if someone won an award. *heavily knocking on wood*

Keeo Ibañez in the park...

Fucking nutsqueezer.

cmon BLUE

Andy's getting squeezed.

WTF!!!!!!!!!! Not a strike.

[478] What's wrong with dating yourself? At least I'll know I'll get some action at the end of the evening.

Er, that was a comedy routine I heard somewhere. I swear.

Joe West is going to call all pitches as balls from now on.

Let's go, Andy - keep 'em guessing.

Dear Timmeh, you don't know the first fucking thing about statistical significance, you batting average-loving moron. Shut up. Just shut up.

Now Andy's getting squeezed. Balls 3 & 4 were really strikes 2 & 3, according to gameday.

What was that, Jorgie?

Good Christ, man!

Nice that Jorge took his time to get that ball.

Is Timmeh actually making an argument against small sample sizes? How... odd.

I defend Posada, but what the heck was THAT? I thought it was a foul ball!!

That 1-0 pitch was right down the goddamn middle. Now that. Ugh.

I think West is making up a new strike zone with each pitch.

Bear down and get him Andy

Get Ibanez, don't face Feliz

[501] I think he did too

No walk for the love of god.

Grrrrrr.

And that was high?

Jesus Christ.

So, no pitches are strikes now???

fuuuuck

I feel sick

fuck joe west and the horse he rode in on

If we can overcome Joe West, we can win this game.

Wow, he actually did hold up. I've hated some of the check swing calls this fall, but that one was fine.

Yeah, that was not a good at bat for West.
Man. Look at the Pitch f/X images. That's very embarrassing.

Come on Andy

Come on, Andy.

Settle down.

Settle down.

Joe West has decided he's no longer going to call strikes.

Gameday people, help me. Some of these are strikes, aren't they?

what in the fuck is this?

Joe Fucking West, for fuck's fucking sake

Jeebus F'ing Crystal that curve was a strike. Fuck you Country Joe.

YAAAAAY

Joe West isn't even making the fix look good.

[520] yes, in fact all but 2 were

Sarcasm for Joe West? Not for Andy? (From the crowd.)

Rising to feet, clapping...

[514] That's a mighty big IF.

Christ, I didn't think he was going to call that.

Oh, I understand the Fox box now. If you get the pitch in that tiny middle square, it's a strike.

he said backdoor cutter shit head

That was a strike to Alex, you goatfucking pigfucker.

You suck Joe West.

God damn you Joe West

get out of this inning before my coronary

Good play Alex! WOO!

Good job!

Nice work, Andy, nice work!

War on two fucking fronts, man.

thank you!

Well that was exciting. : /

great inning andy!!! no goat should have to fuck you joe west.

Tell me he's reminding Joe what a strike zone is.

Okay. We just need to do that five more times.

[531] only when we're in the field; when we're batting the strike zone is literally anywhere.

Andy was shouting to Joe West, wasn't he?

Again, FUCK YOU Joe West. Dude is obviously for the NL so this is going to be a tough win to get.

i hope william is at this game yelling at joe west - i said before the serious started that he was a steaming pile of horsehit and william didn't think he was so bad - rest assured he is

[542] ha hah ah ah aha ha ha ha !

I am so, so, SO happy to know that MLB sends its BEST umpires to cover the World Serious. I'm shocked Marty Foster hasn't worked the plate yet.

Way to not let 'em get you down, Andy.

I wouldn't mind if Taylor Swift were in my living room.

BTW, Andy is at 62 pitches through 4 innings. I would think he's good for 2 more and then Marte/Joba for the 7th and Mo for the 8th and 9th.

John and Suzyn said that Andy came off the mound screaming at Joe West after that inning...

Next inning Andy should bean Joe West in retaliation. Then Joe can warn both benches.

well i'd say his strike zone has been almost consistently tiny. unfortunately, his biggest expansion of the zone was to k arod with the bases loaded. well, maybe that first pitch to can was wider.

[551] That reminds me, why isn't thelarmis here?

FUCK!

haha they show the one pitch west got right that inning!

Oh, DAMN.
Rob is raking, but the ball isn't falling.

CAn't buy a fucking hit. Damnit.

fucking eh dude, now he's just being unlucky

[551] I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you finish, but... Oh nevermind.

[555] Gig, I believe. I think he said he'd show up around now.

Damn! Cano's hitting it well and right at people or just foul. Well...maybe before the game's over he'll get something.

If nothing else, Cano is taking some nice cuts now at least. The hit'll come.

[552] sammy b said girradi had to go get him

robbie is having some bad babip this series

[553] Maybe Jorge can mishandle a fastball right over his shoulder. That' never happened before.
: D

From Bob Klapisch on twitter:
rt @BobKlap West is the wrong ump to challenge in full view of 50K fans....ill-tempered guy, he will keep squeezing Pettitte for that.

I hope Joe starts warming Phil in the 5th just to be sure and he can shadow Andy in that inning and the 6th.

[555] [562] Yeah, I seem to recall 9 PM or 9:30 PM as being thelarmis's show up time.

So williamy is at the game? And I recall Paul had tickets to this game, that he was thinking of selling . . . I also have a friend from high school at the game (lucky duck).

Is anyone else missing?

I'm usually pretty objective when it comes to my team and umpire calls. When they blow it in our favor, I'll say it, and when they get it right against us, I'll say it.

Every single pitch Pettitte wanted and didn't get in that inning was a strike. Every single fucking one.

[567] seriously the Yankees should file a complaint with major league baseball over West.

[567] Then West needs a thicker skin or shouldn't be in the PS. Cause he's a POS.

[569] I like to think william and Paul are sitting in the same row

Dumb swing, Nick.

[569] WCYankee and Bama Yankee.

The bottom of this order eats #$#$.

Does anyone besides me prefer to see Mo saved for a regular, one-inning save as long as we have a couple of decent relievers available?

[573] haha me too

Take pitches Brett....

Gardner is such a depressing sight.

[574] The look on his face says he knew it as soon as he swung.

[569] ... and Diane, of course.

WOw!!

1-1 on Gardner!

[579] Christ. Don't tell him to do that. He'll never swing again.

[577] I'm with you, unless the bullpen explodes and the situation demands more of him.

hey team!

Todd Drew - 4 / Philthies - 1

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

[577] i'm a little hesitant of him going more than 2, but 6 outs or less is okay by me

[573] Oh, man.

And oh man, even Brett can't catch a break!

Fuck.

We should have more to show for this...

Goddamn Utley! Even when he's 0-2 he kills us! Brett woulda had a HIT!!!!

[577] Yes, especially if it's a nice, comfy 2 or 3 run lead.
.
.
.
Pedro lives on the edge, but still no soup for Cano and Gardner.

Andy :

You're a GOLDEN GOD!!!

Keep it up, man!!!

Come on Andy, get composed....go out there and throw 6 more outs...

a least the gritner hit it hard - pedro go unlucky this inning - oppo of mitre

[589] As long as we have enough, I won't care.

Hey, thelarmis, speak of the devil [555]!

[567] Then fire his ass.

[574] Given West's zone he may have called that a strike

thelarmis, good gig? things going great here so far!

This is where I worry about Andy sometimes. He has to keep his cool here. Clear his head and just go out there and pitch.

Big inning for Andy here. The middle of the lineup, third time through, is looming.

[591] Right, although hm. Why does it matter how big the lead is? Either he's a better bet for two innings, or Hughes for one and Mo for one is a better bet...

very scared of this inning

[582] Yeah, I'm kinda surprised she hasn't checked in at all from San Fran - but maybe her options for getting on to post are limited. Youneverknow.

[575] Bama was here earlier today (obviously not on the game thread), I know he's had stuff going on at home. WC yes, and OldYanksFan, too!

The lead off man is NOT GOOD. Get him out.

[569] Most signifcantly, Jim Dean.

He is up there somewhere, smiling. And calling for better bench players.

[600] Except it's the bottom of the lineup now.

Just reviewed those ABs against Werth, Ibanez and Utley... Man, Pettitte really got squeezed. Lets hope this inning gets better.

What the FUCK are you looking at?

Ha!

Whoa, Andy gets a call!

[596] haha! speaking of the devil, i hope i get # 666 !!! : )

[555] my birth time, in the PM!!!

[598] i was teaching all day/night... now eating Asian noodles!

[551] taylor swift WINS!!! period, end of. beyond gorgeous.

[603] I'd like to think she's sitting in a bar watching this game.

[569] Indeed.

yes - this fat fuck is calling it better so far

see, Andy and Country Joe can get along!

The ol' PUNCH OUT. 1 gone.

Hey. Joe West rung a Phillie up

[607] Yes, he really did.

That's a STRIKE, fuckwad!

WHERE THE FUCK WAS THAT?

Ugh - this guy again. Get him, Andy!

(That looked like a strike, no?)

Oh, fuck. Just deliver it over the middle to the dude!

c'mon andy. throw strikes!

there ya go. more of those, please

Should be 2-2

WHy can't they get this piece of 9 hole garbage out? WTF. arggggggggggg

Thanks, fuckhead West.

No good.

[597] If you file a complaint, make a huge stink, etc., he may not get fired, but he'll have to start calling games more straight up because it would jeopardize his ability to just fuck the Yankees.

come on Andy, bear down here

settle in andy

I think that actually was a walk. The first pitch was close, maybe just nipped the plate, the others were high.

[605] Yes, I was thinking of Jim Dean as well. The Banter needs its own monument park with Jim Dean & Todd Drew as the first two inductees.

God, look at that. Andy's going right over the middle now...

I'm really glad that I get to learn about FOX's quality programing in the middle of this game. Nothing I'd rather do.

Strike two...

joe buck sounds like he's sleeping. fucking assfuck.

[606] Yes. And if he makes short work of them, then the big bats come up in the 6th with the bases empty. He has to attack #8-#2.

[630] Balls 2, 3 and 4 were definitely balls.

Double play here.

[636] Oh, that kind of "looming".

strikes, andrew

c'mon andy strikes!!

Andy is laboring a bit now. It's getting close to short leash time.

The walk to Ruiz was fair - it was just pitch 1 that was a horrible call.

BEAUTIFUL!!

Thank you.

[638] !!!!
Genius, pure genius.

YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!

Golden god.

Andy, my Andy.

5-4-3 spells 4-1 end of 5! WOO!

WOOHOO!

Four more innings boys

YEAH!!!!

FUCK YEAH, MUTHAFUCKA!!!

Andy's dandy!!!

[638] rbj calls it.

DAMN FUCKING STRAIGHT!!!!!!

yes - good shit boys

andy is a mother fucking golden god!

[639] Yeah, I wasn't making myself clear. Maybe lurking instead of looming? ; )

Aha, that helps!!!

YES! Didn't think they'd get Rollins at first. BIG DP!!!! Way to recover, Andy!

Do we get him out of there now?

But in favor of whom?

beautiful turn by arod and robbie

we're past the point of "I'll take 5 ok innings from Andy tonight"

I didn't think we'd get there

hey, my prediction is looking pretty good.

Andy Pettitte is a fucking pro.

[642] Sixth inning is Bruney/Coke territory. Let him get through that.

[655] lurming?

4 more innings..Countdown starts now?

Now it's batter by batter. He should get Victorino. After that, maybe he fools Utley one more time. If not, we see Marte, methinks.

[657] No, leave him in. We don't have four innings worth of relief better than Andy is pitching right now.

Psst, Baseball Gods, if I still have your ears, another 2-3 runs right now would be much appreciated.

andy should definitely pitch the 6th. he's basically the only pitcher who seems able to get utley out.

Robbie's bat has been garbage. But he can still sling that dp ball like nobody's business.

[642] I hope Marte and Phil will get ready and shadow him for the 6th and then Joba/Marte in the 7th.

Next batters up for Philly are

Victorino (S)
Utley (L)
Howard (L)

So Andy should face them....maybe if Victorino gets on you pull him for Marte, but I think I'd let him work to Howard.

[657] Yeah, Pedro is done.

I think you have to go with Andy next inning, but get that pen working.

cult of basebaal says hello to all of you. he's watching from a bar in LA. he texted me about Matsui-san's HR, while i was teaching. i heard his 2 run single in the car.

Andy = Golden God

[666] Oh, rbj, with that numbered comment you are supposed to appeal to the Dark Lord of the Diamond.

I want at least two runs here.

Durbin's coming in.

[667] True.

Oh, weeping [657] did you mean Pedro or Andy?

i hope our bats realize we're facing "chad durbin".

then again, our bats include hairston & garnder. : /

Andy is at 75 pitches, with 38 west strikes (which is defined as any pitch that is swung on and missed). In actuality, he should have about 50 strikes.

it's so funny how andy talks into his glove almost all the time and often in times it there is no need to - but then he occasionally mouths the pitch to po

Patience, patience, all Yankee batters.

We have the lead, but I can't help but think we're letting Pedro off easy.

It's getting late fast.

[678] I have more faith in JHJ

[683] Okay, Hugh, your "troll" status is officially removed.

yeah cap!

that's my CAPTAIN!!!

YES!

That'll do Cap. That'll do.

Yessss!!!

Matsui's production has been overlooked in the post season. I hope that this game changes this. Can he win MVP?

ground double for the cap! good way to start

Hairston is 1-8 against Durbin with 4 K's....I really think you bunt here and get the run..runs are too valuable at this point.

Ooh...Jeter is pressing Matsui for WS MVP.
.
.
.
.
Yeah, i know, I'm tempting the Baseball Gods.

.
.
.
And for the record, HAirston should BUNT.

get him over JHJ

[678] I loved Timmeh's "analysis" that Manuel should bring in Durbin to face the top of the Yanks' lineup because he throws harder than Pedro. And I'm really glad that Manuel listened!

OK JHJ, all you!

Francisco running through quicksand on that play?

[683] Hugh I respect that.

IN THE AIR MARK

Nice bunt by Hairston.

Nice bunt. Almost....
.
.
Come on, Teix.

[694] Dude. Good call.
And he almost reached.

Oh shit. There goes 0.25 runs....

[697] Hey!

I hate the bunt. But . . . I'll let it pass this time. JHJ almost beat it out!

good job by j-hair.

man, i wish damon was in there.

make this stand up. ya hear me, Score Truck?!?!!!!!!!

SMASH one Teix. FOR THE LOVE OF MO!!!

[694] I still like Mo for MVP, but Jeter and/or Matsui would be good too.

Or even Andy Pettitte, my dark horse pick

get him in Mark

hit it outta the park, tex

[673] Oh Dark Lord of the Diamond, if you are still listening, 2-3 more runs this inning would be much appreciated. I am willing to barter Pedro Martinez's soul.

Durbin's afraid to throw a strike

That's good too!

TEX!!!!!!!!!!

I KNEW he'd come through eventually!!!

YEAH BOY!

WORD. Atta boy, Mark.

there you go tex!!
score truck time

Fuck yes.
You're on the mark, Teixeira!

Slump? What slump?

Hey! Finally!

Pour some Score Truck on me!

WAHOO!!!

i fucking LOVES it!!!!

c'mon A-Rod!!!!

Teix! (About fuckin time!)