"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Tune Up, Tune Out

Bartolo Colon’s playoff spot might be determined by what he does tonight. He’s been like a balloon with a small tear in it. The air has been slowly escaping for more than a month now.

Eduardo Nunez SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Mark Teixeira 1B
Nick Swisher RF
Jorge Posada DH
Russell Martin C
Brett Gardner LF

Never mind the nonsense:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Cortes 2]

 

Categories:  1: Featured  Game Thread  Yankees

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235 comments

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1 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 27, 2011 5:36 pm

I like the flip-flop of Cano and Teix. At long last.

2 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 5:41 pm

Yikes, what to make of that photo?

3 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 5:41 pm

[1] Truth.

4 Chyll Will   ~  Sep 27, 2011 5:50 pm

If Colon's a balloon (and I have yet to see evidence otherwise), I'd hate to think where that tear could be, especially if it's new...

Oh, I'd like to share with certain Banterites (you know who you are) a sentiment expressed today by my brother-in-law, who also used to play bass for a local cover band in Connectdadots: "Screw you, Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame! Until Rush is inducted you're a shallow sham." >;)

5 Alex Belth   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:00 pm

4) Diane would agree with you.

2) I don't know why I chose that.

6 a.O   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:01 pm

[0] And yet despite the escaping air, he has remained perfectly round!

[1] Word!

(Think we need a close italics)

7 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:08 pm

[4] Wait, Rush isn't in the R-n-R Hall of Fame?

I don't even LIKE Rush and I think that's a travesty.

8 Alex Belth   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:17 pm

7) Yeah. Agreed. Just goes to show that a Hall of Fame or an Oscar, Emmy or MVP is all just a bunch of horseshit.

9 a.O   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:23 pm

[8] Funny you should mention that, because I was thinking the same thing about the schmack from "baseball pundits" who all agreed Tampa would not catch Boston.

10 ms october   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:23 pm

speaking of balloons or ballooning up - seems like phil has put on some weight - he looked pretty hefty around the midsection when they showed him in the pen last night.

11 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:29 pm

[9] Well, it's like staying with a pair of face cards when the dealer shows a 6.

The math is the math, doesn't mean the dealer isn't going to turn over a face and pull a 5 and send you home unhappy ...

12 randym77   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:36 pm

I'm kinda hoping the Sox and Rays have to play a tiebreaker.

I don't know who would pitch for Boston...

13 a.O   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:36 pm

[11] Yeah, the math was pretty solid. That's what fascinates me about this situation. The pundits seemed to rely solely on the math without seeing the defeat in the eyes of the Boston players. The psychology trumped the math. And I don't understand why people who follow baseball think it can be reduced to math. It can't.

14 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:39 pm

Teix admits he's been trying to pull the ball too much.

Gee, Teix, you don't say!

15 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:40 pm

[12] Kinda???
That's all I can think about. If they play that game, the winner is going to be completely screwed up for their ALDS.

16 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:43 pm

Jesus really does remind me of Manny with his swing.

17 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:44 pm

[15] I know, right?!

18 ms october   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:44 pm

[14] haha yeah. that short porch has tempted many a lh hitter.

19 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:50 pm

[13] Momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher.

Unless, of course, you're talking about MO-mentum, which is completely different ...

20 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:51 pm

[14] File under:

::facepalm::

21 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:54 pm

From LoHud:


Teixeira said he’s been working with Kevin Long on changing his approach against right-handers. He’s squared up his stance a little bit, and he’s trying to use the whole field a little more. He admitted that the right-field porch at Yankee Stadium became a little too tempting and got him into some bad habits after his strong 2009 season. Now the defensive shift is frustrating him, and Teixeira is trying to correct the problem without losing his power.

File under: ABOUT FUCKING TIME.

22 a.O   ~  Sep 27, 2011 6:57 pm

Word.

23 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:06 pm

Whether it's Tampa or Boston, they're going to lose to Texas or Detroit. Can't believe that's not set either.

24 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:09 pm

[23] I don't believe that at all.

Fate's a fickle bitch and ANY team in the hunt right now could be hoisting the trophy at the end of the season.

25 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:10 pm

[23] Wow, that's right, not set yet. Which one of them owns the tie-breaker? That race is really important, because the Yankees are a much tougher draw than the WC, obviously.

26 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:13 pm

Insightful comment Kay, whoever wins the tiebreaker gets in?

27 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:14 pm

[26] Suddenly the word 'tiebreaker' makes sense to me. I never noticed that before, tie... breaker. Huh.

28 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:21 pm

1-0 ORIOLES!!!

29 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:22 pm

[24] Verlander and Fister are scary good right now. Texas is tough, though didn't the Yankees do well against them this year?

[27] Heh.

30 randym77   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:22 pm

Boston and Atlanta behind already.

31 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:22 pm

Quick toad!

32 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:23 pm

:!

33 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:23 pm

This is interesting -- if the Sox lose, then we want to win. If they win, we kinda want to lose.

34 ms october   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:24 pm

tigers own the tiebreaker - they were 6-3 vs. texas.

35 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:25 pm

Attaboy. That's our Nuñe5.

I was looking at Fangraphs. Nuñe5 has a negative WAR. He's worse than a replacement player.

36 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:25 pm

[34] Thanks, and hello. :-)

37 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:29 pm

Jesus, Alex!

What do you want?

A fucking invitation!?!?!?!?

38 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:30 pm

[35] Not that they're wrong in that case, but do you believe WAR?

I don't ...

39 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:36 pm

[38] Eh. The defense portion is noise, as far as I'm concerned. But it's nice to have confirmation of the obvious.

40 ms october   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:37 pm

[36] you are welcome and hello :}

41 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:38 pm

Well, good for JD.

42 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:41 pm

Ho hum.

This is a strange feeling.

43 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:43 pm

ZoBRIS, the Jewish Slasher!

44 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:44 pm

Colon is more like ASS tonight ...

45 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:44 pm

Definitely pumpkin time.

46 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:48 pm

Red Sox up 2-1 after an Ellsbury 2 run home run.

47 randym77   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:49 pm

So...where the SWB Yankees going to play next year?

48 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:51 pm

Bodie goes DEEP!!!

49 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:52 pm

[46] That dude is carrying them. Amazing.

[47] Embarrassed to admit that I didn't know they were moving.

50 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:54 pm

Russell is a man with no limbs in the dried leaves
Homer is a man with no limbs flying over a fence

Russell=Homer.

I'm with you RI, if Boston wins, Yanks have to lose. This is emotionally draining.

51 randym77   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:56 pm

[49] They're not moving. PNC Field needs drainage improvements. (Probably more than ever after Irene.) They won't be able to play there next year while the work is being done.

They wanted to play in Newark, but the Mets blocked them. They made several offers, but the Mets still said no.

That seemingly rules out a lot of other places they were considering, like the Staten Island Yankees ballpark. I would imagine the Mets can block that, too.

52 Simone   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:57 pm

I want the Yankees to win so I'm rooting for the Os to beat Boston. I think tie breaker between Boston and the Rays would be exciting. Ideally, Boston would lose sending Red Sox fans into a meltdown.

53 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:59 pm

Out ...then ... safe!!!

54 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 7:59 pm

[47] A real faux pas that the Mets prevent the SWB Yanks from playing one year in Newark. The A level team there now is draining money for the city, and it would be a good thing for "Newark On The Move".

55 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:00 pm

[52] Yes, that would be the ideal outcome, I agree. The fun of the playoff game, the extra wear on the Rays... and the bitter, cold winter for RSN, winning the label of Greatest Chokahs Evah.

56 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:02 pm

Jeez, every time I start thinking Maddon is a good manager, he does something stupid like this. Moron.

Fuck him up, Alex.

57 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:04 pm

Strange days. Maddon is a fucking douche.

58 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:05 pm

[56] Really? I think this a totally defensible move. Cano is hot, Alex is VERY much not, plus the sidedness issue with Hellickson.

59 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:05 pm

[52] [55] I like the way you think.

60 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:05 pm

Ha.
Eat shit, Maddon.

61 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:06 pm

Tough pitch to take there, but it saves face for Arod.

62 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:06 pm

O.k. Mark, hurt 'em

63 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:06 pm

[58] Free base runner. So early in the game, it's a terrible move.

So, okay, it worked out. But still terrible.

64 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:07 pm

[62] Right now, Tex is only hurting 'em on the field.

65 randym77   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:08 pm

[54] Yeah, it's too bad. Newark really wanted it.

The Yankees promised it was for only one year, and even offered to let the Mets relocate any of their teams into the NYC area if it ever became necessary, even a hundred years from now. They still said no. The only explanation they offered was, "It's our right." Which it is.

No idea now where the SWB Yanks will play next year. There was some talk of using the old Ottawa Lynx ballpark in Canada. If that's the way they go, I'm not going to be seeing any SWB home games next year.

66 Marek   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:10 pm

[65] You know, I never felt the hostility towards the Mets organization that so many Yankees fans do. Who could not be grateful for 1986? But this is a real dick move.

67 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:13 pm

65] Well if they go the Ottawa route, the International League would be back to truth in advertising.

68 Alex Belth   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:15 pm

Big three run homer for the Sox. Now up 5-1.

69 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:15 pm

There must be some SW Connecticut venue the SWB team could use for a year. No?

70 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:16 pm

[68] Big Jewish home run! It must be Jewish Homer Night.

71 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:16 pm

5-1 Red Sox.

LAH-VAUGHN-WHEY with the HR.

72 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:17 pm

[70] Shana Tova!

73 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:21 pm

[72] Hey yeah! Tomorrow?

74 randym77   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:21 pm

[69] Haven't heard about any CT ballparks.

There was some talk about Rochester, NY. Sharing the Rochester Redwings ballpark.

75 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:22 pm

[73] Sundown

76 randym77   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:26 pm

Braves losing. Boston winning.

The double tiebreaker is shaping up nicely!

77 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:27 pm

Weird Lottery Commercial. Win a million, "buy" a hot girl when you're a schlub? This is a government agency advertising with that kind of sentiment?

78 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:28 pm

There was much buzz in Rochester about he SWB Yankees playing here next year. I thought the big club was supposed to make a decision a few weeks ago. I lost track.

79 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:29 pm

Haiku Recap, anyone? Mr OK Jazz TOKYO has a change-of-season-cold but is chained to the desk here at AMCE, Investigations Japan Branch.. :(

80 Chyll Will   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:30 pm

[74] What about Norwich?

81 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:30 pm

[74] Whoops. Ya' beat me to it. ; )

82 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:32 pm

[80] They have a Giants affiliate, I believe. Anyway the old Navigators stadium is occupied.

[79] Recap: zzzzzz.
Martin hit, nobody else for us. Big Jewish Homer. Another in Tampa by the bad guys.

83 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:34 pm

[82] Big Ugky Youkilis is back? Thought he was on the DL for good this season?
Looks like it will go down to 162 for Tampa & Bahhhhston..

84 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:36 pm

[83] No! Different Jew! New catcher, Lavarnway.

85 Marek   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:36 pm

C'mon Brett, we want #50!

86 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:37 pm

[83] No, the new Jew, Lavornay (sp?) playing for the slightly injured Salty hit the homer for the Best Team Evah.

87 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:37 pm

I like how the Yankees are now poised to rally, just in case the Orioles do. And there's Ace. Man, he is pitching a lot. But Francona doesn't have a lot of good options.

One pitch, one out for Ace. Now two down, runners in the corners for the O's.

88 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:37 pm

So conflicted....... : /

89 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:38 pm

No dancing with the umpires

90 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:38 pm

[86] Yeah, close :-)

91 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:38 pm

WIth the O's coming back (Bedard out of the game), so should the Yanks.

92 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:38 pm

O's rally snuffed out. Now ours has to fizzle too.

93 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:39 pm

[91] [92] Heh. You are waaaaaaay behind.

94 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:40 pm

(90) LOL, too lazy to switch to another website to confirm the spelling. Please forgive me.

95 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:42 pm

[94] It's a crazy name. I believe it's actually a corruption of "Livernois". Something like that. So in a way you were right -- the 'w' has no business being there.

96 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:44 pm

[77] They know their target audience. Most people who buy lottery tix are not that bright. Well, how could they be.

97 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:47 pm

[84][86] Thought Boston had a quota for non-WASPS? :)
I'm still waiting for those Indian pitchers to move up the Pittsburgh farm system..but not holding my breath..

Who starts for Boston and Tampa tomorrow?

98 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:48 pm

[97] That's only for the fans these days.

99 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:49 pm

I can't believe tomorrow's the last night of the year we'll here MK say "driven."

100 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:51 pm

[98] Exactly! And anyway, not WASPs. They've always had plenty of Catholics.

Hey, Mr. OK, I had a look at the Fangraphs power ranking...

The answer is that the Sox have a whole lot of WAR on their roster. The fact that the players have sucked badly in September doesn't show up much, because of all the 'ballast' of the whole season.
It makes sense.

Show/Hide Comments 101-200
101 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:53 pm

[100] But..I really don't understand that. They have players with great stats over the course of the season, but how can any system say they are a better team than Tampa, Detroit, Texas, Phillies, Milwaukee at this point of the season..is this not a flaw?

102 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:53 pm

Two Baltimore pitchers combine to walk the bases loaded around two outs, and Lavarnway is up again...

103 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:54 pm

[101] The system isn't rating their current streak. It's rating their whole season.
And anyway, you know how much sabermetricians love to 'regress' stats!

104 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:55 pm

Well that's a good sign!

105 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:55 pm

Holy fuck! Lavarnway almost had himself three more rbi. Great catch.

106 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:56 pm

SUBMARINEFACE with the HOLYFUCKINGSHIT catch!

107 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:57 pm

[100] Not always, the Patricians of Boston burned down the Seminary in 1820's in attempt to drive out the Catholics (read Irish).

108 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:57 pm

[100] Not always, the Patricians of Boston burned down the Seminary in 1820's in attempt to drive out the Catholics (read Irish).

109 mhoward120   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:57 pm

How the fuck did Tex not score???
Go Rays

110 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:58 pm

Since you all started mentioning it, I'm getting really annoyed by Kay's bad fly-ball calls. It's like he has no clue where the ball is going.

111 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:58 pm

[107] But even then the Irish ruled in Fenway! :-)

112 mhoward120   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:59 pm

At the very least, this helps Nova's Rookie-of-the-Year chances

113 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:59 pm

Well that sucks.

114 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:59 pm

[103] But that's even more perplexing..Over the course of the whole season the Sox are not one of the top-5 teams, clearly. Yanks, Phils, Rangers, Detoit and Milwaukee all better..I just don't get it.

115 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:59 pm

Well that's something you don't see every day.

116 mhoward120   ~  Sep 27, 2011 8:59 pm

Except for the triple play, of course

117 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:00 pm

Holy Shit-tah!

118 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:00 pm

[99] But we're going to get an awful lot of awful TBS & Fox announcers.

119 Alex Belth   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:00 pm

Well, now.

120 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:00 pm

Triple Play? Wow..

121 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:00 pm

[114] They aren't? I'd say they were, clearly.

122 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:01 pm

Shit, a triple play?

Really?

Shows me for watching the Sox vs Orioles.

123 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:01 pm

[114] I agree. They've sucked since the all-star break. They sucked the first 2 weeks of the season. And they've uber sucked this last month.

124 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:01 pm

[114] You think the Sox have had a worse year on the whole than Detroit? I don't think so. Not Milwaukee, either.

One interesting thing is that the Sox have under-performed their OBS, OPS, etc. That is, they've hit weakly in clutch situations. So their WAR and other such stats are higher than you'd think, given their overall production. And, they've scored more runs than any team in baseball, so the geeky estimation of the offensive power is really high.

125 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:02 pm

[111] Yeah, they were relegated to the swamps.

How about that, a TRIPLE PLAY to maybe save the Rays year.

126 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:02 pm

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

FUCK.

Seriously, though, STOP DIVING INTO FIRST BODIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

127 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:03 pm

Well, no, Michael, Lavarnway did not "hit a bullet to right". It was a pop fly that almost dropped.

128 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:08 pm

This might be the only time in our lifetimes that a Yankee team suffers a triple play, and it doesn't give us the shakes.

129 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:08 pm

[121] 34-36 since the All Star break makes them a top-5 team?

130 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:10 pm

Uh oh.
We have to lose, I'm afraid. Crawford triple, Scutaro homer.

131 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:11 pm

[129] Uh.
No, it's not a "since the all star break" thing. It's a "whole season" thing.
Did you notice that they've scored more runs than any other team? And that the Red Sox hitters have been, over the whole season, far more productive than the hitters on any other team? This is the key.

132 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:12 pm

Be nice to see : finish at .500, play SWB tomorrow.

133 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:12 pm

[129] You're double counting, on top of selective end points.

134 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:13 pm

[131] What he said.

135 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:14 pm

[131][134] Seen their pitching numbers? Those count too! Cannot fathom how anyone would say they are a better team than Texas or Philadelphia now, as FanGraphs rankins do. Better than Philly??!!?

136 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:17 pm

[135] Uh, "better than Philly"?

Not even close to what you were claiming in [114].

137 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:20 pm

[136] Sorry trying to multi-task here and was unclear. What I meant is, I do not understand, still, how FanGraphs ranking system puts Boston ahead of both Philly and Texas. Yes, they have great cumulative WAR "O" stats, etc for the whole season. But their pitching stinks, and they are 6-19 in September..great teams don't blow 9 game leads in September by going 6-19..and losing repeatedly to Baltimore!

138 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:24 pm

[137] Their pitching doesn't actually stink. Over the whole season their starters were excellent -- better than the Rays.

I don't really understand what you're basing this on. I mean, you haven't given even one piece of evidence! And I know you haven't watched the Phillies all season, or anything like that. So, gimme something here. The Red Sox individual player stats are a whole lot better than the Phils, it's not close. Admittedly it's hard to compare NL vs. AL, but to the extent it's possible the Red Sox really do have better parts.

Oh, and please, "great teams don't" blah blah blah, that's silly. I hope you aren't going to say that the Yankees aren't a great team because great teams don't go 5-11 against the Red Sox...

139 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:25 pm

great teams don't blow 9 game leads in September by going 6-19..and losing repeatedly to Baltimore!

I'm old enough to have witnessed the 2000 Yankees, I think what you're saying is nonsense.

140 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:29 pm

Hoooooooboy.

Well well.

Huh.

Not sure what to think.

This is a very strange feeling.

141 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:30 pm

[140] Soriano can't be trusted in a big spot. That's what I think. Oi!

142 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:31 pm

[138] Eh? ESPN has Tampa's pitching ranked second over the whole season, Boston ranked ninth..Phillies have one of the best rotations we've seen in years and the NL East is not awful (not as good as AL East, will give you that).

And it's not silly! 6-19 in September and blowing a NINE game lead..that is apalling. Their pitching in September has been putrid, they've given John Lackey 28 starts..great teams do not give 28 starts to guys with +6.00 ERAs! I'm just not getting all your Sox love..

143 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:31 pm

[140] It's bad in the sense that the So part of the SoRoMo equation has collapsed ... again.

144 Alex Belth   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:31 pm

Oh, Sori.

145 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:32 pm

So I guess Soriano is rusty.

146 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:32 pm

[139] Not nonsense. It just proves that not all World Series winners are great teams, and not all great teams win the World Series. What is so non-sensical about that?

147 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:32 pm

[140] Preserves the tie. Tiebreaker on Thursday.

148 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:32 pm

Soriano playing the secret double agent for his old team. I'm glad it was him that gave up the necessary runs, and not Hama or Mo.

149 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:34 pm

[146] If you're stuck on "great teams" you're jousting at a windmill most of us have long since passed beyond.

But, suit yourself.

150 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:35 pm

[141] I think we have to trust him. Aside from Sabathia no body is going to give us 8 innings.

151 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:37 pm

[146] ????
So, then, why did you say, "Great teams don't blow 9 game leads in September..."??? The only conclusion you can draw from that is, the Red Sox are not a great team. Okay. So what? Who said they were a great team?

As to [142], look at what I said: their starters have been better than the Rays'. Did you mean to deny that? My point was not that the staff has been better than the Rays'. You said that Boston's pitching "stinks". That's definitely not true, and you haven't given any evidence for it at all.

Really the only point you've made is that the Red Sox have been really bad in September. Given that I've pointed out (over and over and over again) that the Fangraphs ranking is based on the whole season, it's just puzzling why you keep bringing up one segment of the season.

152 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:37 pm

I hope Arod is playing possum in advance of the Post Season.

153 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:38 pm

[150] Doesn't matter. If they give us seven, we got Da Hamma.

154 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:38 pm

[150] Well, we might have to pitch him but we don't have to trust him.

(And Kay is funny sometimes: "I just want to tell you I was totally against it.")

155 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:38 pm

[149] Perhaps. But you guys seem to be stuck on the stats train that says JD Drew is a great player and Boston is still great despite blowing a 9 game lead. Like Bill Parcells says, you are what your record says you are.. (ok, I'm being combatitive a bit, I do see you guys points..but don't think you get mine..)

156 Boatzilla   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:39 pm

[152] Yes. His evening has been troubling. He does not look confident at the plate.

157 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:42 pm

[155] STRAW MAN much?

Hey, RI, did YOU say something about JD Drew, I know *I* didn't ...

158 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:43 pm

22 K for a game you're fighting for the WC? Move the team.

159 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:44 pm

[155] Yes, I will frankly admit that I don't get your point.

Oh, and this was a good one:

you guys seem to be stuck on the stats train that says JD Drew is a great player

I take it you do not evaluate JD Drew based on his stats. And I'm pretty sure you don't watch him play a lot. So, how exactly do you evaluate him?

And if you want to know what I actually think about JD Drew, you could just ask -- that's a little more polite than just making something up and attributing it to me.

160 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:44 pm

Whooooooaaaaaa... another Jewish homer in Camden Yards!

161 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:45 pm

[155] I am with you. It's a matter of factual numbers vs. aesthetics in my honest opinion. It doen't make sense to me that a power ranking can have a team ranked top 2 but could miss the playoffs. Anyhow........my 2 cents.

162 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:47 pm

[151] Their starters have been better than Tampa's? I'l need to check the stats on that one, would be incredibly surpising given all the starts Lackey, Wakefield and Miller have made.

[157] Not you guys, but a lot of that out there among the stats guys.

163 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:47 pm

[158] Yesterday it was 18,700, I think. Incredible!

164 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:47 pm

Hey, RI, did YOU say something about JD Drew, I know *I* didn't ...

And if you want to know what I actually think about JD Drew, you could just ask -- that's a little more polite than just making something up and attributing it to me.

Yeah, I'm going to jump the gun a bit and state that's a "NO" ...

165 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:47 pm

[155] Maybe I'm old school, but I believe what I see, not what can be conjured up. Cano is a better player than Padroia, I know that, even if the advanced stats say it isn't so, These are human beings playing a game, so I agree with you. There is a collective reason Boston has stunk in September and been mediocre since july. Boston is not a top 5 team in MLB, IMHO.

166 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:48 pm

[162] Okay! If you actually do check numbers, cool! (But be careful, as soon as you start that kind of thing you will almost immediately start to believe that JD Drew is a great player...)

167 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:49 pm

[163] Yet I heard all this noise about how excited and loud they were when they stayed to watch the sox on the big screen. What a joke.

168 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:52 pm

[159] Don't get testy, I wasn't attributing anything, just lumping you in with the "defend JD Drew" crowd! No offense intended! (Mr. OK Jazz is a peaceful man, I assure you!)

As for Drew, I've watched him a lot though as we got Boston games on tv here the last few years because of Dice K. When he plays he's ok, but never reached 500 ABS even one season with the Sox.

But why are we arguing anyways? Let's just enjoy the end of a great season. I'm still torn on who to root for..honestly think the Rays are scarier team in a short season with that pitching..

169 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:56 pm

[168] Right, Drew doesn't play enough to be a great player, I agree. And this year, he wasn't good when he did play. But earlier in his career he was extremely valuable.
But of course, I didn't watch him all those years, so probably I don't know what I'm talking about. You can only tell how good a player is by watching him.

I think the Rays are a little scarier, too. But I'm mainly rooting for the tie.

170 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:56 pm

[167} Give credit to the few that do give a shit.

[158] I believe that the Rays should move to Portland, Or and play obviously in the AL West; The Marlins change to the AL East, and Pittsburgh change to the NL East. That will give equal divisions in both leagues.

Portland is by far the largest market without a MLB team, and would give the Mariners a natural rival.

171 weeping for brunnhilde   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:57 pm

Ohhh, that was *so* gratifying!

Fuck you, Jack.

172 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:58 pm

[169] "But of course, I didn't watch him all those years, so probably I don't know what I'm talking about. You can only tell how good a player is by watching him."

That was a huge bait which I am not falling for! You can't call me Joe Morgan, I'm halfway into the new stats revolution, just not all the way yet..

173 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:59 pm

whoa. i got a tiny bit of static on the radio. through the white noise, i heard boston was up 7-3 (at the time) and we were up 3-2 w/ soriano about to start the inning.

strangely, i had mixed feelings. then said, oh well, shit sox won't be strong in the playoffs anyhow. then, the leadoff walk. then a long ab, where sori couldn't put away longo. got outta the car before the ab ended.

now i'm home and see we're losing. i had a feeling sori would...come thru? is that how to put it?!

anyway, braves got crushed...again. i heard in the car - where the reception was pristine! - cards down by 5. then, they scored 5 in that frame.

maybe i shoulda listened to a cd instead...

174 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:59 pm

[170] Do the M's sell out, though? You wouldn't want to add competition in a market that's already stretched.

Oooh, strange play in Baltimore.

175 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 9:59 pm

[172] Damn.

:-)

176 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:00 pm

bart looked a little hittable, but otherwise alright.

how was he in reality?

177 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:00 pm

[173] Thelarmis, you can take some joy in the fact that it has been Huge Jewish Hitting Night.

178 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:02 pm

[177] Lavarnway. I won't make you guess. Two homers.

179 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:02 pm

[176] He looked kind of tired, but he didn't blow.

180 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:03 pm

[177] lavarnway? i doubt youk played? maybe our boy kinsler? i dig ryan braun and he's having a monstrous season.

i'm just getting home and STARVING. i'll catch up on all the baseball news here in a quick minute...

181 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:03 pm

oh crap, we hit into a bases loaded triple play???

fuck the heck?!

182 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:05 pm

[178] in his first start? christ, i hate the fuggin' shit sox.

at least he didn't hit a grand slam on his first pitch. whatever happened to nava? 1 A.B. and then straight to the hall of fame? i guess he retired and is waiting 5 years. there a statue of him outside the Fens yet?

183 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:05 pm

8-6 Boston!

Orioles still aren't dead!!!

184 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:06 pm

[175] http://www.firejoemorgan.com/search/label/scrappy

"I'm telling you, he just looks like a ball player out there, hustlin' and scrappin' and playing winning baseball. I'd take ten of him before some of these home run divas we have in the game now" - paraphrase of Rob Dibble radio spot I once heard.

185 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:06 pm

ooh, 2 more runs for balltumor.

c'mon boids!!!

8-6

186 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:06 pm

Well this isn't right. The Orioles wait until our game is over to stage a rally??? That's just not fair. They should have done it earlier, then we could still have won.
Well, they're still underdogs here, but damn, Bard. Holy shit.

187 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:06 pm

[183] hey buddy!

188 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:07 pm

[174] Considering their futility lately, no. They average about 25K per game. Portland is too distant from Seattle to effect normal attendance.

189 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:07 pm

[183] Wow, Bard must be hurt, right? He's just not the same guy recently. Can Andino continue to be a Sawx killer?

190 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:09 pm

[187] Yo, Bro!

191 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:09 pm

ellsbury hit *another* fuckin' homer???

fuck the heck?!

192 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:10 pm

[189] They say no, it's psychological. I have absolutely no idea. Head, arm, mechanics, could be anything. He went from being awesome -- their version of D-Rob -- to really, really terrible.

193 rbj   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:10 pm

[170] Problem is Portland is a more do your own thing in good weather town. I lived there in the early 1990s and went to a number of Beavers games (talk about missing a marketing opportunity) it's not a baseball town. People would rather bike or hike than go to a game.

194 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:10 pm

wow, jomerun javy w/ a complete game victory and 9 more K's in what might possibly be his last start ever.

195 jjmerlock   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:10 pm

Can someone give me a recap of how various guys looked? Pitchers, hitters...

Colon?

Was Soriano awful?

I really like Soriano and tend to trust him. What happened? Can't say I'm heartbroken - and if the time comes, I will explain exactly why, but I don't want to talk about it prematurely.

196 jjmerlock   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:11 pm

Iow, as to [195], please take mercy on a guy who was stuck in class...

197 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:11 pm

stros up 6-5

198 kenboyer made me cry   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:12 pm

[185] We're rooting for the tie at the end, then Tampa can win in the one game playoff on Thursday.

With the Yankees losing, "Let's Go Sox?"

199 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:13 pm

tigers lookin' tough...

200 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:14 pm

[195] Overall: boring game.
Colon: not terrible.
Soriano: terrible.

Highlight Yankee-wise: Russell Martin hit a homer.
Highlight baseball-wise: Russell Martin hit into a triple play.

Show/Hide Comments 201-235
201 cult of basebaal   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:15 pm

Cardinals can't seem to be bothered with taking the obvious gift that the Braves are trying to give them ...

202 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:16 pm

Hm, so, are we rooting for the Rangers to lose, so the Tigers can overtake them and we play the Rangers instead of the Tigers in round one? Or do we figure we have to beat both of those teams to reach the Serious, so who cares?

203 jjmerlock   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:18 pm

[200] Was he wild? No velocity? No control of his breaking pitches? Flat fastball?

[199] Would the Angels please make themselves f'ing useful, for once.

204 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:18 pm

Papi out on batter's interference!
Can't predict baseball.

205 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:19 pm

siddown, ya fat fuk!

206 jjmerlock   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:19 pm

[202] I don't see how Verlander in a short series, plus Pfister, who we looked terrible against (not that there's anything dispositive about that of course) can be the preferred option.

207 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:19 pm

[203] Sori? Bad location, I guess. He was very hittable. I'm not good at saying exactly why. Not fooling anyone.

208 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:20 pm

word press is awful.

let's try this again...

siddown, ya fat fuck!

0-5 for their fearful cleanup hitter.

alright, showalters - fight 'em til ya can't!

209 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:20 pm

[205] So, you go for option one: root for Texas to lose?

210 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:21 pm

[202] Got to beat both most likely..Texas scares me more though. Detroit, can't you just IBB Cabrera everytime up and take your chances with the rest?

[201] Read TLR over-managed into a loss the other night..

211 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:25 pm

I'm trying really hard not to be pleased that Papelbon just gave up a hit to the lead-off man and the tying run is up with nobody out.

Really hard.

Failing.

212 Mr OK Jazz Tokyo   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:26 pm

[211] Got to say..Papelbon really impressed me the other night agains the Yanks..he's been great this year.

213 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:26 pm

[209] me? oh, i don't know. i'm not going there.

what was it - 2006? we all wanted the tiggers. it didn't look possible, but then they got swept in KC (iirc). we won one game and the gambler fooled the world. what was the brown oily substance again?

so, i don't care who we face. it's all gonna be tough. i'd just like to the shit sox complete the chokefest and miss the playoffs. because i LOATHE that entire fucking organization and every last one of their fans. : )

214 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:27 pm

[211] failing is good. it's an important part of life. it'll make you enjoy the successes more.

215 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:27 pm

[212] always amazes me how so many players have awesome seasons in their contract years. funny how that works...

216 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:29 pm

Get another man on!

217 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:30 pm

wow. 10 pitch ab, so far. 5 fouls in a row.

walk, homer. don't make an out!

c'mon Kake!!!

218 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:31 pm

I'd hate to see the Cards make it in just b/c of LaRussa. Bleh!

219 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:32 pm

fuck.

c'mon Vladi!

it must hurt making that stoppid douche face so many times in a row to the same batter. if i were his catcher, i'd be cracking up.

220 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:32 pm

Bad Vlad!

221 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:33 pm

[218] and b/c you want the braves in the playoffs. postseason is fun and i wanna host it! : )

markakis hasn't turned into the star predicted of him...

222 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:33 pm

atta boy, vladi!

pinch stand there?!

223 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:34 pm

angle to run.

steal on the jew!

RI - the kid have an arm on him?

224 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:34 pm

[219] Seriously. It's like he's taking a shit. They need to stop showing it.

225 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:35 pm

wow. cards up 9-6.

not good for atlanta...

226 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:35 pm

How fucking slow is Wieters. Fucking a!

227 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:36 pm

ok, base hit adam jones.

tie the game, dude.

228 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:39 pm

18 innings. Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap!

229 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:40 pm

steal 3rd. fuck it.

righty on the mound and the plate. rook behind the dish in his first start.

i know you can't make the 3rd out, let alone in the 9th, at 3rd base, but i think he'd make it. i wish runners stole 3rd more...

i'm a daring sumbtich!

230 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:40 pm

[229] might make papelbitch a bit jumpy. more pressure. ya never know...

231 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:43 pm

[230] This at bat is making ME jumpy.

232 Just Fair   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:44 pm

Shite!. Oh, well. Tomorrow will be fun.

233 RIYank   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:44 pm

Ahhhhhh. Okay. Good. Or bad.

Yeah, thelarmis, Lavarnway can throw, for real.

Okay, buenas noches, amigos.

234 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:45 pm

crap. another epic double digit ab, ending in an out. feh.

still tied for the WC.

to tomorrow!

235 thelarmis   ~  Sep 27, 2011 10:45 pm

[233] if, for some reason, i don't see you here tomorrow...

HAPPY JEW YEAR!

good yuntif, my friend.

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
--Earl Weaver