Trying to figure out if the Yankees don't win, which team do I have to root against. Turns out to be the Twins. An otherwise o.k. team to win the W.S. except for one fact: Carl Pavano.

The Yankees have played two months of bad baseball, making it hard to just move on to the playoffs. A successful season is about more than just winning the World Series, but enjoying the games. The way Girardi has managed in particular really took away from that. It's one thing to get beat, and another to lose because of indifference. The Yankees have played the last month-plus like they really didn't care.

1) sadly Pavano already has a WS to his name, so another one would not bother me all that much. And I like Thome.

2) repeat the following to yourself: r-e-s-t-i-n-g.

Make you feel any better? me neither.

[4] Nope! I realize that I spend way too much time following this team, but I don't think I've ever caught myself wondering if I should care when the organization might not.

I really don't think home field will have that much bearing. If...and admittedly, its a big IF, the Yankees face the Rays in the ALCS, I would feel just fine with a Game 7 in that awful stadium. It will be full of Yankee fans anyway.

[3] I don't mind a pre $40 million theft WS, but post, yes I really do mind.

While keeping an eye on Yanks and the NL, Yankee fans should be paying attention to a few middling teams like Tigers and Angels. The battle for having a proctected pick is tight. If Angels win and get help, they lose protection status, meaning the Rays would get a 15th overall selection in the event Anaheim signs Crawford.

Guess it's time to go watch Braves vs Phillies ...

[9] I have no idea why I am watching this game. Wish the Yankees would do me a favor a just formally forfeit the damn game.

[10] Indeed, think of all the "rest" they'd get!

Well, *that* was nice.

Good thing we had K-K-K-Kearns out there last night ...

[12] I really have an irrational hate of that guy. He was pretty hot for a minute there, but he fell off a cliff Wile E. Coyote style- the anvil, the trampoline, the Acme brand gunpowder, and the ledge above all fell on him on the way down.

good catch, nancy!

Whoops!

A-ROD!!!!!

Always good to see A-Rod hit one hard up the middle.

[13] Eh, I can't work myself into much of a lather over him.

He seems a nice guy and *he's* not the one who keeps writing his name in the lineup card, after all.

Now, John Lackey, that slack-jawed, mouth-breathing, bug-faced fuck???

Him, I have an irrational hatred for ...

Nicely done Alex!

[18] Hating Lackey is entirely rational.... That guy fell from the top of the ugly tree, hit every branch on the way down, and then starting poking himself with sticks when he landed at the bottom. Which is fine, but the way he shows up his teammates drives me nuts.

braves tied it up at deuces.

and the braves take a big 3 run lead!

[21] Root, root, root for the 3 way tie!

YEAH!!!

good baserunning Fat Liar!

Great base running, Popi!

ugh. i forgot about buck and his OR-teez.

jesus nino. what good are you if you can't catch the freaking ball??? : /

Pena, what are you doing?

[25] How about Buck earlier claiming that the Yankees didn't have an athletic outfield compared to the rest of the AL contenders- "they've got guys like Gardner and Granderson who are really fast, but, ummm, uhh..." Nice one.

better, nino.

i love watching vagitek fail. fucking cocksucker.

[28] yeah, he's a tool. and then there's his smoker's cough...

strike 'em out, throw 'em out for the bravos. mccann just nailed victorino. they're all fired up at The Ted. i think i heard the roar at my house...

good brett. now steal 2nd, 3rd and home. thank you, please!

[29] Boston sure brings out your inner Al Swearengen, don't they???

=)

Crap-tain.

[33] i don't know who that guy is, but yeah, the shit sox are pretty much the only thing in life i truly do hate. i really wish they'd be contracted...

no mention of slackey's incredibly high reading on the ugly-meter? huh.

[35] Here's some Swearengen for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsPYJIat0lo&feature=related

c'mon Mose, 1 more out!!!

7-2 Braves!

FUCK!!! : /

FUCK.

[37] that fucking ruled! i loved that shit! : )

Good thing they had him fooling around with pitch outs and crap.

Great pitching decision there, Mose.

How shall we get this guy out???

I know, a hanging curveball directly down the middle!

Brilliant!

[42] Deadwood- I loved that show and am still bitter about the way it went out.

[45] oh, i had never heard of the show. cult just sent me the link for the great cursing. i enjoyed it verily!

fuck you, blue.

c'mon robbie, get your 200th hit!

[46] All that cursing?

All from just *one* episode!

=)

Royals up 2-0.

Ring again? Do we really deserve this?

I hope there aren't baseball gods because, if so, they are going to get even with the Yankees in October.

[52] Well, they certainly owe us for 2000, that's for sure ...

This team is asleep.

motherfucking bullshit.

well, there goes the division.

total bollocks.

Great idea by Girardi to use the reliever who threw the most pitches (28) yesterday.

siddown, craptain facemask.

jesus fucking h. christ.

loading 'em for lars.

[54] Asleep.

The only way Jorge could throw someone out now is if they fell over on the way.

Red Sox are embarassing the Yankees now, although they are doing a great job of it all by themselves.

[56] Yeah, not sure what he was thinking. Robertson looked wiped.

Shit.

Posada's throwing is sad to watch. The attitude of this Yankee team is sad to watch. Feels like watching a Hollywood starlet who has lost her looks.

Embarrassing is right. Rays want to git wrap the division and the Yanks are playing like a little league team.

i'm glad i missed the steal of home. i'm embarrassed.

wild card.

This has stopped being about winning the division and homefield and whatever else, and become just a farce. If the Yankees win the World Series, this season will still rank behind so many others in my fandom. It's the first time I've every felt the team simply didn't care. It's beyond disgraceful. The best outcome from this season would be one that winds up with Girardi managing in Chicago.

No Berkman...just wave a damn white flag.

Playing for the division yet Pena is batting in the 7th?!?!

[67] yeah, but if the yanks win the serious, i'll be seriously elated!!! : )

still, 95 wins is nothing to sneeze at...

oh my god, please don't be hurt.

don't be hurt.

c'mon Swish. please be okay!!!!

crossing all digits. and eyes.

oh, and fuck you jed lowrie.

and fuck you, too jobber.

[70] I hope my tune will change by the Wednesday, but there is a part of me that doesn't think this team is worthy of the Yankee legacy.

take swish out of the game.

put in golson. or someone...

[74] you'll be fine!!! i think the 'worthy of yankee legacy' bit is a bit much. if they win, it's still a well-balanced 95 win team. we look like crap lately and we don't have much of a rotation beyond cc, but it's still a good yankees team, worthy of the postseason. i'll be super glad to crown them world champs if they win it...!

so, this means we're headed to Minny, right?

[76] I don't think it's a bit much because of how the organization approached the last month. This has nothing to do with the players. They are a very good team with many likeable guys. But the attitude of Girardi, which was endorsed by Cashman, does not mesh with my attitude as a fan, not to mention what I believe has been this team's identity. I loved the Boss, so maybe I am being sentimental, but I can't believe this would have taken place if he was still around.

The Yankees theme song says "everyone knows they play to win because they're the New York Yankees". Those words ring hollow this season.

Ugh, Braves making this more of a game than I wanted .... 8-4 in the 8th, Phillies still threatening.

[78] ah, i hear ya, man.

new season starts next week. let's hope we turn it on and this one goes to eleven!!!

now steal 3rd and score...

[79] i thought you wanted the 3-way tie? braves will pull it out. yeah, werth hit a 2-run homer before...

[81] I did, but the Braves gotta win to make that happen.

CRAP-tain jetes.

8-5.

Fuck.

Wagner's already close to 15 pitches.

[82] acha!

holy shit. 8-7 now. yikes.

8-7.

Wow, could the Braves actually blow this game?

Yeah, Wagner is the guy the Pads want in there in this big spot.

I think this Yankee team is good, but they were well on their way to being great and they took the foot off of the gas. It may very well turn out to be terrific strategy, but I have my doubts. It's really uncharted territory unless you think the Yankees deliberately slowed down in 2000 (I don't).

Phew.

Still, can Wagner possibly pitch the 9th now?

billy wags got out of it...

Geez, Wagner threw 21 pitches. Bring in Farns!!!

200 hits for Robbie...good for him.

200 hits for Cano, but no 30 homers I guess....

200 hits for robbie!

Umps already getting into Post-Season form over in SF, blowing the call on a ball that went over 3rd and hit the chalk.

Royals up 2-0 heading into the 9th with Soria presumably closing.

"I don’t think it’s a bit much because of how the organization approached the last month. This has nothing to do with the players. "

4 for 35 with RISP.
This has nothing to do with the players?

3 Errors and AJ brainfreeze at 1st base allow a run to score.
This has nothing to do with the players?

Teix: .232 .353 .368 .721
Cano: .262 .304 .346 .650
Nick: .237 .310 .368 .678
Gritty: .231 .346 .385 .731
JoPo: .207 .313 .379 .692
This has nothing to do with the players?

This has nothing to do with the players???

William... you've crossed over from angry to insane.
This has nothing to do with the players?

Oops..
IN SEPTEMBER:
Teix: .232 .353 .368 .721
Cano: .262 .304 .346 .650
Nick: .237 .310 .368 .678
Gritty: .231 .346 .385 .731
JoPo: .207 .313 .379 .692

Here's my thing about the Yanks seemingly not getting home field advantage- does no one remember 2006, game 5, against Anaheim? Crosby and Sheffield crashing into each other, unable to hear over those godforsaken thunder sticks?

[99] Oops, that was 2005.