I used to like the idea of Ozzie Guillen more than I actually liked Ozzie Guillen himself, but upon further consideration, I’ve changed my mind–I really like Ozzie Guillen. Doesn’t matter that I don’t like everything that comes out of his mouth. I like that he calls ’em like he sees them. Ozzie is a bona fide character in the land of the canned-quote. He’s a reporter’s dream and a fan’s best friend, cause he never stops talking and always adds fuel to the fire. Most of the time, he just cracks me up. I’ve really enjoyed the bits I’ve seen of the MLB Reality Show about the White Sox.
Yanks are in Chicago for the weekend which means Ozzie is wearing bad-guy black for us. At least it won’t be dull.
AJ the Mysterious is on the hill tonight for the Bombers against ol’ Freddy Garcia. Fresh from the Lo-Hud Oven, here’s the line-up (Cliff does the rest):
Brett Gardner LF
Derek Jeter SS
Mark Teixeira 1B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Curtis Granderson CF
Francisco Cervelli C
Ramiro Pena 3B
The Rays and Sox also play this weekend–who do you root for? Here’s hoping the Yanks take two-out-of-three.
Feels like the playoffs are starting now and will continue–even through a couple of series against the Blue Jays and especially Buck’s “New and Improved!” Orioles–until they officially begin in October.
Never mind the holiday, Let’s Go Yan-Kees!
Dig in:
It's Friday night and I will likely be at work when this game starts.
I don't like Ozzie and I don't like deep dish pies.
Beat those pale hose.
Hmmm .... I just finished pizza for dinner.
Still have some work to do from this afternoon ... (yes, I can work from home too).
Here's something to make you smile ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpSmprqptSk
Do you like Guillen when he calls someone a faggot?
[0] Yanks sweep White Sox, and Rays take 2 out of 3 (consecutive 15 inning games) from Boston would be nice.
[3] pretty safe bet that falls into the [0] "I don't like everything that comes out of his mouth" category.
[2] Love that clip. I saw it the other day. Mywifeknowseverything.... Mywifedoesn't know. : )
AND DOWN THE STRETCH SHE COMES is my favorite non baseball relatetd sports phrase.
3) Like I said, I don't like everything that comes out of his mouth.
professional hitter gives lester and the shit sox an early 1-0 lead. its gotta be an insanely crazy situation to root for those scumbags. this is definitely not one of them. go rays...
in 1986, i collected baseball cards something fierce. i literally got in the 3-digits of ozzie's rookie card. it seemed like there were doubles of him in every single pack. god that was annoying. i certainly didn't know of his personality back then; who knows if it was even fully formed yet. i guess the annoyance was a portend of things to come. that said, i kinda feel like alex does. he's okay sometimes...
i'll miss most of the game. have fun.
GO YANKS!!!
[4] If you promise me a sweep, or even 2 of 3, I am rooting for the Red Sox. Otherwise, I'd rather play it safe and root for the Rays.
When and where is that White Sox show on? Ozzie is a character. Someone like that says some dumb shit fairly regularly, but he is entertaining to me.
[10] MLB Network at various times throughout the week.
I also find Ozzie entertaining, but would never want him to manage the Yankees. Unfortunately, he says so many ill informed things that he negates any positive impact his outspokenness could have.
[11] Thanks. What is the show called?
I'm rooting for the Rays too.
I want to get the post-season locked up. Also, life is too short to root for the Red Sox, anyway.
[12] The Club. There are six episodes, which MLBN will start reairing on Thurs., Sept. 2 1:00 p.m.
[13] Lee and the Rangers don't seem so formidable, and the Twins may even wind up with a better record, so getting in seems paramount right now. Still, I do actually take pleasure in winning the division for its own sake.
[15] It's interesting how Lee has not particularly dominant with the Rangers. In the very short term, it looks good that the Yankees weren't able to land him for Montero. Now, we'll see how that looks in the short term (playoffs) and the medium term (next year or two) and longer term.
My gut tells me that Lee will flame out within three years. Still, that doesn't provide much comfort for this fall.
2-0 shit sox. 6 hits already off price. of course, lester is throwing a *no-hitter*. fuck boston.
[15] I'd like to win the Division. But making the post-season is the first priority. We can take care of the Division when we play the Rays (and if we get smoked in Tampa, it will be some consolation to have the wild card locked up).
I'm also gonna predict a big series for the captain. Of course, in so doing i probably just doomed the poor man.
[16] The game against the Yankees seemed to turn him around for the worse. Either that or his insistence on trying to pitch complete games.
[17] One advantage to Price not pitching great would be it clears the road for CC to win the CY Young.
If Gardner didn't slip, he might have been able to score on that.
What base is Gardner on? You can't tell his position and momentum at the same time.
Gritner.
Jeter has swung at so many bad pitches, and had so many bad swings, that it's really a testament to his ability that he has managed to hover around league average.
The good news is Jeter's isolated patience looks, finally, to be right around his career average. The not so good news is how much BA he has lost.
[22] I think he tunneled home, actually.
[26] wormhole?
[25] He is still well above his average in terms of swing at (and worse, making contact with) pitches out of the zone.
Why are fans so dumb?
Yay stupid White Sox fan.
Burnett is so damn frustrating.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel is on FX right now .... in case this game gets boring.
Dear Lord, Vizquel is *still* playing!
(I have that reaction every single time I see him.)
That fan owes Vizquel a dinner.
If Pierre and Vizquel are going to hit, this is going to be a long game.
Go Rays!
He had the base stolen, but doesn't it seem like Cervelli drops the ball every time he tries to throw?
The Rays scored because of two WP by Lester.
Oh, dear Lord.
Jeter showed no range on that.
The Yankees have to find a way to deal Burnett in the off season.
This is going to be a long & unfun game.
When they leave Chicago, can the Yankees leave AJ & Javy behind, and not tell them where the team is going next?
Wow. I don't remember the last time he was this bad.
[40] The Yankees have one reliable starter. Incredible.
AJ Burnett needs a serious kick in the pants. It's time for someone in the organization to call him out.
Four runs in 1/3 of an inning.
Nice work. Can we get at least one out before this next run scores?
Ah, I see we can.
Oy. Bad AJ? Or just a bad inning?
[41] Kidding, right?
[14] Thanks again!
[39] Deal Farnsworth? But his stuff is electric! He throws so hard!
[40] It already is both of those things.
[25] What is isolated patience?
[49] (Ah, thanks!--I mean to ask the same.)
It's hard to envision the Yankees being much more than a .500 team over the final 5 weeks of the season. Making the playoffs could depend on Boston not playing well.
Is there a plexiglass frame somewhere in the visitor's locker room for AJ to bash?
I hope there is nothing to the story about MLB investigating Nova. He might be the third most reliable starter on this team.
Makes no sense to have Siwsher batting 5th.
Is that a big bottle of Rolaids next to AJ?
Appropriate.
It's so deflating to be down 4-1 and see Francsico Cervelli stroll to the plate with Pena on deck.
Why on earth is Cervlli swinging 3-1?
Why isn't "Innings Pitched" a choice in that poll?
What's the story between Swish & Ozzie?
You can't keep the mighty Pena-Gardner combo down.
Horse shit.
Ugh.
AJ Burnett is a hard guy to root for.
Boston is winning 3-1. If they go on a run, the Yankees are going to be in huge trouble. It's going to be hard to play above .500 when you only have one starter you count on to pitch well. Throw in the offense's month long struggles, and the Yankees are working on a recipe for a collapse.
[63] for lightning to strike him?
I could root for that. Just enough to land him on the 60 DL.
All right, I'm done.
The Dodgers supposedly put Lilly on waivers. I doubt he'd pass through, but the Yankees could sure use him.
How many times has Burnett given up six runs this year? It has to be double digits.
Booooooooo!
BUT HE HAS ELECTRIC STUFF!
Burnett's a flat out dog, but Girardi is the one who keeps allowing him to obliterate games.
Ah, and a Jack Daniels ad. Very appropriate.
[68] This was the ninth. Shameful.
[71] i really don't think there are many other options.
[73] And the Yankees have lost all of them.
[74] There are 8 men in the bullpen. There are plenty of options.
What a pathetic embarassment.
[73] That's what happens when your entire gameplan is "I'll throw as hard as I can"
Holy cow. This is gawd-awful.
What the hell does Cervelli do well?
Red Sox head to the ninth up 3-1.
All right, night. Can't say good night cause it isn't.
[80] Make outs and errors.
[83] Even Kay is bring it up now. He can't keep starting three days a week, can he?
If the Yankees go 17-18 over the final 35 games, which isn't an unlikely scenario, Boston would have to go 21-12 to catch them. That's about the only thing the Yankees have going for them.
[84] He should have been sent down a month ago. Cashman has continued his poor offseason throughout the entire year.
Kay is mad.
Just got home from dinner. Now it's agita.
Mercy rule. Or at least start the circus music.
How do we solve a problem like Maria, I mean AJ?
$50M, years to go on his contract, great stuff, a head case. Who can the Yankees depend on besides CC?
The team looks shell shocked, the young ones have that sad panicked look.
They need to show some fight, to get right tomorrow.
When you can answer the question as to who would pitch game 2 of the playoffs (assuming you make it), then you have some serious problems.
[89] can't answer.
Good Lord Jeter.
It wouldn't be a Yankee game without a Jeter DP ball to the left side.