The ol ARod-Teixeira switcharoo. Hope is sparks both their games.

I feel bad for Girardi. Having lost my dad only 3 months ago, I know how tough that is. He's gonna be a wreck after this game either way.

Oh, and another thing: NY sports radio is INSANE.

Let's win one for Joe tonight.

(And not hack at everything thrown up there.)

Am SO up for this game. Hughes will come through, the O's are dead meat!

garydsimms, I saw your Q from the earlier post. If you are staying in a hotel you can get the game live on TV, channel is NHK-BS1 or BS2. With Ichiro on the team now they will be showing every game live for certain, 0830 start for the 1930 EST games. Morning baseball is nice, except when we lose..then you have all day to stew over it!

Wow... Teix batting 3rd and running the bases should be a real adventure.

I must remember everything Jorge taught me...
I must remember everything Jorge taught me...
I must remember everything Jorge taught me...

[4] He'll probably walk four times and just clog up the bases. He's such a liability!

Heck of a game between Nats & Cards. Now a game 5.

(7) Put all the year-long managerial hatred aside - lets all keep Joe Girardi in our good thoughts - the loss of a father puts everything in perspective.

[7] +1
PLAY BALL!

Hopefully this will be a high scoring game. I fully expect Phil to give up at least 3. Question is: Is the Score Truck around?

Come on, Phil. Not one of those games, please.

I hope Fred warms up early.

8 pitch lead off walk, Yayy!

Oh wait, the O's are batting..Booo!

Just throw the fuck strikes. Fuck.

Okay.
Now a nice GIDP, please. Although that's not exactly Phil's specialty.

Scary at bat now. Wieters with two aboard against Homer Boy.

1 more out, Meat!

Exhale. : )

Well, that's good. That's good.

But must be better, Phil.

I would really appreciate if the Yanks would score 10 in the first so I can watch the debate in peace.

Well... that was fun. Please pass the Maalox.

Joe Saunders..the ball must be hit and it must be hit far.™

™Shout out to Al Davis, RIP.

[18][20] Barry O and Moneybags are debating again already?

[21] Undercard. Ryan vs. Biden.

[22] Yikes..um, will stick to the game..
Time for Gameday though on the morning commute. Let's go Yankees!

There he goes, clogging up the base paths!

[5][24] !

Jesus, this asshole is throwing slop.

That was not the debilitating offensive outburst I was hoping for.

Goddammed canadian cable: the game is not being televised on the normal Rogers Sportnet regional channels, because all four of them have the stupid NFL thursday night game. Instead the Yankees-O's are on SportsnetOne, the specialty (i.e., costs more) channel that I don't get.

Looks like it's the ol' MLB.tv high-behind-home camera view for me.

[26] And he can't even spot his breaking ball. They just have to sit on a "fast"ball. 87 mph.

[28] At least there's no hockey.

[30] True, but...the lockout does not stop endless replays of Canadian world youth hockey tournament victories from the past two decades, nor does it drive Hockey Tonight from the airwaves. It's torturous.

Atta boy, Phil!

Nice.
A swinging strike instead of eleven fouls!

Well, done, Phillip.

And two quick ball-in-play outs!

Here we go, Alex. Little bingo.

Happy so far that my nats won. Smebody is worth it
Now it's arod time.

Did you all see Buck's postgame conference last night? He was pretty snippy with the press. Made me smile a little thinking about the old days.

Swing or don't. Enough of this half ass shit! Though a walk is good.

Way to work the BB

It's a start.

Or that!
Good work, A-Rod. Rally starter!

Now, time for Swish to start feeling good.

[37] Somebody is worth it?

Who?

Off the end of the bat. Drat.

A-Rod BB, great! They got to moider this Saunders chump..

Swisheroops

Isn't Swisher going to unfunkify himself one of these playoff years. Oi! Saunders is s slob. Hit this chump..

Werth

Whadda ya say, Russ?

He hit that ok.

[44] Jason Werth hit a walk off homer.

Hey mr ok jazz tokyo- can i send you a q offline? Im coming your way next week.

Hey Now, Grandy. Let's go.

Ohhhhhh, Werth.

Damn, 0-2. YA THINK HE'LL WHIFF?

Does grandy need raul to ph?

Wow. Just fucking terrible. The lot of 'em! b double o.

Stinkeroo.

No surprise there. Though I think Grandy's got a big hit in him tonightski.

Garydsimms, sure no problem. Fire away

Leadoff walks suck

He'll be running.

Hey, Phillip. Strikes, man. Strikes.

Dammit, Phil. Lead off walks always score. 99% of the time.

Uh oh

Problems.

Get out of it down, 1-0 and they'll be ok.

Sigh.

Phil, you idiot, don't kill your catcher.

Hughes is pitching for his future as a Yankee

Good.

Heh-heh. Now a ground ball, baby!

Oh, nice.

Tightrope act tonight.

Nice play phil

Alright, now a double play.

Oh, Davis had a good pass at that first pitch.

Phil. Need a ground ball dp or a k

Wow!

K works

That's some bullshit. Hughes got lucky.

Not convinced he'll get out of this.

He has the K pitch, when he really needs it.

Exhale

Wow. Horseshit. And we'll take it!

Or a k and a grounder.

Huzzah! Now score some runs!

Escapes the jam! Attaboy, Phil.

Smolts: thats getting away with a bad pitch. A-hole.

[87] He's right, but he is an A-hole.

Evening All!

ATTABOY NIXIE!

There goes the no-hitter.

Of course! Nix is the man. Because he's right handed!

[87] Yeah, he's becoming impossible to take. Even the Fox booth will be a relief.
Runs make for better moods. Nix knock, good.

We need something

Bunt time

Hang in there, DJ. FUCK THIS CHUMP.

Funny, hooking that one foul. LOL.

[89] Evening, nickname king!

Hughes is doing alright. I've always had faith in the kid.

Could the Score Truck show up now, please?

"Joe's got to be careful here..."

Because he sucks.

Good, tough at bat.

Jeter making it a point to get everyone fan in NYS a souvenir tonight ...

This is kind of amazing.

[99] As O'Neil and Sojo were on folks minds earlier, this reminds me of their respective epic ABs in the 2000 Serious.

New bat might do the trick.

Heck of an AB byJeter.

Square one up, Derek.

Damn.

Or maybe not.

Now, it's time for Ichiro to drive one.

Right over Mark Reynolds.

That was a little bit of a letdown.

[108] [109] I'd take that!

I don't get how Ichiro bails out and looks so bad on good pitches.

Sheeeeit, that looked like a pitch Ichi could go yard on.

Welp, up to Mark to finally get a "big" hit.

Joe Saunders FUCKING sucks. I just don't get it. Damn you rally killing lead off double.

This is not ideal. Not what I was hoping for.

Ball Fucking Saxbury.

Don't tell me we aren't even going to advance a lead off double.

Urge.

To.

Kill.

Rising.

I do not want a game five.

Pathetic.

Fucking pathetic.

SO incredibly weak.

Unreal. Seriously pathetic. Joe Saunders may haunt my nightmares.

The offense picked a terrible time to go into a total funk (Leon and the 9th inning of Game 1 aside). Game 2 was bad enough - this series could have been over - but this is getting ridiculous. WAAAAYYYY too many strikeouts.

Infuriating three innings for both offenses so far. LOL

Saunders, strike out king? This team has been a challenge to love all year. The hitting philosophy just seems ad hoc. Who will finally get smart?

Strikes, Phil.

STRIKES.

Way to go, douche bag.

Hughes is courting disaster too often

You goddamn Blockhead, Phil. This is going go bit you in the ass as some point.

Thome is going deep.

This lead off walk poison will reach critical mass soon.

Deep as in high in the sky I mean.

Good going Phil, just how many times do you expect to get away with walking the leadoff man?

I could see Reynolds jacking one, though. Can't you?

The announcers are trying to get them to hit a dinger. LOL

[133] Yeah, but I can also see him striking out...

[133] Mini-me Millar. Please Mo, No.

Oh, baby, he got away with one on the 1-1 pitch, didn't he?

Jeez, got away with THAT one, too. Phew.

Hurray! Keep the circus music at bay.

Lucky there was no lift on that one. He ripped it but good.

God, that was right down the pipe.

Ugh. Get the kid out.

Swish acquitting himself not too shabbily down in that corner tonight.

Oh, Jeez.

How long can he get away with this shit?

A little longer, I guess

Yeah, PHIL!!!!

I'm starting to have some faith.

Phil gets out of it

Phil is hudini!

Phil Huge. Living dangerously, though.

Well, so far, Hughes has been slipperier than a greased pig.

Getting in range of the bullpen as well, which is nice.

HEY OFFENSE!

HOW ABOUT SOME FUCKING RUNS FOR ONCE???

Cal just says the opposite of truth. Sounds familiar. cough-cough.
Phil has trouble getting two strikes. But not getting the third one. Sure, Cal.

I think the string of 8+IP starts is not going to extend. I'll sign up for a win by committee here.

Can't tell who is most horseshit--Hughes, Saunders, the O's offense or the Yankees' offense.

[150] In the end, the W is the thing. Hughes has gone 4 scoreless, in just 63 pitches, regardless of how ugly it might have been (3 hits, 3 BB, 3K).

Now we need RUNS!

How do the Orioles only have three hits? Seems like they have 12.

[152] Maybe it's an accurate description of Phil's perphormance tonight? I know it's the opposite of his m.o.

[154] E. All of the above. ;)

Good swing by Alex. Just wait on that soft stuff, Papi.

It's true. There must be fans of other teams watching and going, "Wait, these guys are the playoff teams?"

Hey, how was the crowd recption for A-Rod first time up? Missed it.

Nice.

And EXHALE.

That makes me happy.

I think I figured it out. The O's must be hiding a block of kryptonite somewhere...

[160] They're the playoff pitchers, anyhow

[161] Good. Very supportive.

[165] But they aren't, is the thing! They actually are sucking.

Atta boy ARod.
And Phil is a phucking walking heart attack.

Cornflake on the other hand ...

Couple of decent swings so far for Swish. Nothing to show for it though.

168) I think Phil should be on a VERY short leash. I'd have Phelps up as soon as this inning.

[171] Yes.
Or Freddy.
Plenty of arms available, for sure -- maybe not D-Rob because he pitched two innings last night?

[171] I'm not sure I'd be that hasty, but I'm "watching" via ScoreCenter on my phone, so I'm probably less worked up than you all.

A-Rod's been the offense tonight.

Keep up the outs, Phil!

That's Phil. Grrrrr.

Too late.

Like I said, I hope Phelps is up and getting warm.

On an 0-2 pitch too.

Oy. Lowe time
Now

WTF. Who is this, and what has he done with Nate McLouth?

Well, it wasn't a leadoff walk

Tell me again how Hughsie doesn't have trouble getting strike 3???

Eh, Smoltzie?

Fucking Hughes.

FUCKING BATS.

[172] I don't Freddy is on the Yankee ALDS roster.
Time for Phelps.

Well, it was a solo. Which is all I ask for at the outset.

RI, yeah, I have to think Robertson is unavailable, though I'd hope Sori could go if necessary.

Rare hit with two strikes? Clearly he doesn't know Hughes very well.

[181] Hm, you're right. I thought I saw him in the dugout yesterday.

Gosh, Hughes is really missing location.

That's a nice pitch, though.

Okay, so, more sliders, please.

This game is shaping up very much like last night's. I hope Raul is in the cage getting ready. He may have to pinch hit for Cano tonight.

Let's all be honest here, Hughes has been shaky and is lucky to be down 1-0, but he's only down 1-0.

This is all on the bats.

Again.

Despite my bitching and moaning, 1 run over 5 innings is good work so far.

Wow.
Okay, maybe let Phil pitch the sixth, huh?

"One mistake" has been the standard epitaph of LPs in this series. Here's hoping Phil doesn't join the ranks.

If told that Hughes would go five and only give up one run, we all would take that in a second.

If told Saunders goes four and pitches zero runs, we would not believe it.

Our hitters are as tight as __________ (fill in the blank).

[191] Eh? It's fantastic. I wouldn't dare ask for more.

STOP. TRYING. TO. HIT. EVERY. PITCH. 800. FEET.

C'mon, Grandy. Here starts your redemption.

Him trying to bunt there is a bad sign. And it was a poor attempt.

Yeah, "more aggressive" is the smart move when you've struck out 80 billion times ...

Bad goes to worse.

Curtis is pitiful

Hang in there CURTIS!!!!!

Well that's not trying for 500

Jesus Christ Kurtis.That was ugly.

wow.

Oh look, another pathetic strike-out from Granderson.

Like i said before time for raul to ph for grandy

Keep up the good work, Curtis.

Just don't hit into a fuggin double play, Nix.

C'mon Nixie, you're our only hope.

He needs to ride the bench.

Well, that just sums things up neatly, doesn't it.

So much for that.

Omg

At what point does Gardner, rusty and injured, become a better option than Granderson?

Well, shee-yit.

Nix keeps flirting with that wall.

That's at least half a brain fart outta Russell.

Taking all my strength not to scare the hell out of my wife and yell in anger right now.

Can we DH for Granderson and have the pitcher bat in the next game?

Great catch, more frustration.

Unreal. I can't believe this is the same Nate McLouth. He was DFA'd. By the Pirates. And signed a minor league deal with the Orioles.

Yanks get a bad break on the good catch and Russell compounds it with a bad base running play.

I can't believe it. I thought that ball was gone. Unreal.

And what was up with Granderson trying to bunt? Who's bright idea was that?!

Have the Yanks even gotten a baserunner to 3rd yet?

0-2, be careful.

221) They have not.

[219] Eh, given the luck the Yankees have had with random scrubs and AAA cast-offs over the years, I can't begrudge another team catching a little bit of lightning in a bottle ...

WHERE IS THAT PITCH?!?!?!?!

HOW THE FUCK WAS THAT NOT A STRIKE???

That ball has three potential outcomes from Martin's POV:

HR that lets him jog home
XBH on which he is at best 50-50 to score
Catch that forces him back to first

He should have been standing on 2B, not rounding it.

Can we get some offense please?

Really an excellent job by Hughes. Now...lest we sound more like the broken fucking records that we are: RUNS, RUNS, RUNS!

[223] Then cult is right [191] (I think). This is on the bats. The Yanks' pitchers have given up 8 runs over 3 and a half games. What more can the pitchers do?

Hughes: 6IP, 4H, 1R, 1HR, 3BB, 7K, 90 pitches. That's a brilliant performance. GET HIM SOME RUNS, DAMMIT!

Please joe, i think phil is done

Score Truck, Score Truck, where are you Score Truck? Someone wrestle the keys away from Leon. Shoot, he's a nice guy, just ask him for them.

Cap'n!

Way to LEAD Cappy. Ichiro has looked bad. We need him here.

What an amazing Cap'n! Having said that, hello McFly, do something.

Okay, there ya go.
COME ON FOR CHRIST SAKE, GET HIM IN.

Capt clutch again

CAN WE PLEASE SCORE HIM???

OK, bunt?

Lead off double. Time to go hide under the bed.

I don't like that bunt

Don't like that play. At all.

Ok ichiro

I can't get excited by a lead off double any more. It means absolutely nothing with this team.

Oh dear, Tesh.

[240] ;) Be careful - if the Yanks score here, you might spend a lot of the game there.

SCORE TRUCK! SCORE TRUCK! SCORE TRUCK! Please?

Horseshit zone.

Tex. Need am effon fly ball

I'll take a wild pitch or passed ball here.

It's going to come down to Alex again.

[242] Normally I agree, but it doesn't bother me too much here.

It has come to this: the Yanks have to sacrifice just to get their first runner on 3rd for the game.

Something has gone horribly wrong.

Gave away an out with a speedster like Ichiro who can slap hit anything...I hate it.

Cano should squeeze

Good job, Tesh. Way to make lemonade out of that.

Oh, man, there goes Teixeira clogging up the freaking bases again. ([5] [24])

No double play!!!!!

I'm sour on the Ichiro bunt too, but remember he's been uncharacteristically whiffy.

[257] I second that emotion!

Cat h the eye contact with dj and cano?

Here we go, Alex! Big, big ab.

HALLELUJAH!

Based on what we've been seeing that was monumental.

Wow.

I thought that play was to 2nd.

So did Saunders.

A run!

Tie game, we'll take it. Now A-Rod go Crackle Crackle Boom Boom, make Yankee fan go "Yay"

(I'm with monkeypants on the bunt: normally hate it, in this situation can't really complain -- for one thing, Ichiro plus Oriole fielding meant there was some reasonable chance he'd reach with no out.)

Alex. It always comes down to Alex.

He comes through right here!

[edit] Uh-oh, RHP coming in ... doh!

Raul for arod?

Tie game!

C'mon A-Rod . . . redemption time!

Yay a run! Baby steps. Maybe Alex can run into one?

Nopes.

I blame that inning sucking on the bunt.

Horseshit. It's got to be his head.

[271] Maybe...if he uses one of those big, fat whiffle bats.

Yikes, he looks bad.

Hunter has a .302 BAA and A-Rod couldn't even put the ball in play..sad to watch.

[274] But he reached safely in his first two plate appearances.

275) I disagree. He just got beat with 98 mph heater.

[273] It sucked? They actually scored. No, a leadoff double by Martin resulting in no run....that sucked.

276) That's Hunter as a starter not as a reliever.

One pitch, one out. That doesn't suck. LOL

[275] Hard for me to tell watching on the MLB.tv way-up-behind-home-plate camera angle.

Two more outs for Phil, please, dude.

Way to go, way to go after him!

one more phil

Question for people who've had time to watch the other series: Did TBS make one of those inspirational Springsteen montages for the Yanks? 'Cuz I sure haven't seen one. I don't need their video love, but it would be a telling omission.

One more out

Damn, Philip.
Go get 'em.

Stands and claps.

Wern't always pretty, but that's a good job, Hughsie.

[273] Respectively differ, might have been a zero with out it.

This Balto pitching is not that good, the hitters are just too anxious and nervous and undisciplined?
Is Arod even seeing the ball, he seems to be cheating on every swing.

What will happen when if the Yankees face the aces on Detroit, or SF or DC or St. Lou?

Couldn't have asked for much more. He flirted with danger a lot in the first four innings but that was a good performance. Well done, Mr. Hughes.

Can't complain about this change.

Just don't fucking walk him, Boone.

@286 they made a yanks one

Great fucking job by PhiL!

290) I think he's seeing the ball well tonight but he guessed wrong in that Hunter AB. Sitting on the heater gets the 81 mph change to start and then outthinks himself and looks at the next pitch, a fastball. That was the best pitch to hit.

[290] Dude, your biggest concern right now is how the Yankees will hit Detroit pitching??

It's Match Game 12 time.

Dag, Boone got away with a heater on that first pitch. It was right over the damn plate.

[286] They made one for every team that made the postseason.

Good take by McClouth on the 1-2 bender.

Did Robertson go two last night? Joba in the eighth? Yeesh. I knew it was the wrong week to quit sniffin' glue.

Nice. So the 8th inning could be the toughest all night. With no Robertson, presumably, who'll pitch?

Gasp...Joba?

[299] A TBS made Springsteen-baseball video montage just gave my Jazz Spidey-Sense a serious jolt to the system.

Good Job, Boonie!

Take it.

Cano looked like he just happen to catch that as he was running to the dugout. Dude has liquid nitrogen in his veins.

301) Correct, Robertson went two last night.

[302] I would go with Phelps. And if it's tied, I'd leave him in for the ninth.

[307] that would be gutsy but I actually like that play.

Kudos to Phil. 1 run in 6.2 IP w 8 Ks. Can't ask for anything more then that.

If we can keep our team ERA around 1, we might have a chance in this PS.

[296] Nah, but i have faith about tonight. Worried about future embarrassment.

C'mon Swish. You. Are. Due.

307) I agree. Joba would make me cringe.

Time for a swisheroo

Damn, Nick justmissed.

Almost!!!

End of the bat for the second time tonight.

YOU MUST TAKE ADVANTAGE of this.

O.k. Time to take advantage

Ok make something of the e4

Curtis!

Didn't Russell suck at hitting all season long?

Do you pinch hit for Curtis now?

[322] Have to. He's looked worse than A-Rod.

With whom? Ibanez or Nunez?

FauxJohnSterling on fire on twitter right now: "DROPS! Suzyn, they dropped that like Jeter escorting off a model after a one-night stand, but w/out a courtesy baseball!"

Has anyone noticed there have been A LOT of costly errors this PS, many leading to Runs?

[321] Not so much in September, but I know you know that. Was your question rhetorical directed to some pablum uttered by the TBS booth? I have not been listening.

Well, at least Curtis didn't strike out pathetically ...

Granderson has been TERRIBLE.

[325] Gift basket ... Jetes gives out Gift Baskets.

Nixie.

He's been our best player tonight ... with all that implies.

Sigh.

Jayson Nix, good man.

Raul PH for Jeter????

Oh Captain our Captain.

Can we let Nix bat again? The Yanks might score another run!

[330] One (some?) had autographed baseball(s) inside, IIRC.

The more of their relievers that Showalter uses, the more I like the Yanks' chances.

I am all for re-signing Nix as or UINF.

[336] Can't wait till he gets to their closer...

Wait ... THAT Luis Ayala?

C'mon DJ.

[339] Yep.

C'mon Cap'n, drive the Score Truck already!

Ouch.

Captain foul ball tonight.

Oh, man.

.....

If the Yanks can get through the eighth without losing giving up a run, they'll win.

That is one big "If."

Ugh.

Jesus jumping Christ on a teeny, tiny pogo stick.

SHIT FUCK.

This is the TBS Yankees/Springsteen video.

They also have a full video featuring all the contending teams, and one each for the NL and AL teams. Now that the postseason is here, there's one for each team that's left.

That was one long strike zone, Jeter was as hot as I've ever seen.

two called strikes Jeter didn't like. What did they look like from the CF camera?

So much for Joba.

So the Hammer will pitch the 8th after all. OK.

Robertson again? it must be a short leash.

Oooh.

Yeah, I like this! Good call!

350) The first one was low, pitch tracker had it as a strike. But it's been a consistently called strike all night. But it was low. The strike three call was clearly a strike but it was up, so I think Jeter was saying you can't have it both ways.

C'mon Hammer.

Everyone's a nail.

[350] right down middle little high but definitely a strike

That was impressive!!!!

HAMMERED.

I see nails all over the ground.

STOP: Hammer Time.

If we're EVER gonna score, its gotta be this inning.

OK. Now it's RAUUUUUUUUUL time.

May i have some more please?

DRob of last year....For a stretch after the injury he abandoned the curve and I thought it really took away from what made him special

This is the time, yes indeed. Get a run or two, bring on Soriano, go to bed happy!

Sorry for profanity break but "Fuck You Rob Neyer, Yankee Hater". What an a-hole.

The Hamma ringing.

[366] Made no sense without the details..he put up a .Gif of Jeter "whining".

So you can't have him bunt. Do you have him steal?

Steal 2nd

Yes, that's the ticket!
Good start.

Avoid the tex dp

atta boy, Ichiro!

[369] Yes.

And if Teix gets on, I would pinch run with Gardner.

Tex!!!

c'mon... hit and run. run and hit. SOMETHING!!

Good!
No bunt, no steal, successful. NO PLAYS.

Still pr w gargie

Yes!!

C'mon A-Rod..please please please Focus! Wax-On, Wax-Off!

[376] No sir. NO PLAYS.

1st and 2nd, 0 outs. Bunt?

Cano has sucked so far. Can he redeem himself?

Cano should bunt.......

Cano, then Arod?

[379] Excellent. Exactly what he needs. Look within, Centaur.

C'mon, Robbie!

Matusz (or however you spell it) has got to be coming in now, right? No way Buck lets Cano face a RHP, no matter how off he's looked.

[378] Quick, Heimlich.

Robbie, put one in the gap, bring a run home, keep it moving.

Oh, I'm all mixed up with my lineup, Robbie is up next..time to show some MVP worthy results!

That said, you know this is coming down to Alex, right?

Cano bunts. They walk arod. Then raul ph

[378] Yes, absolutely. Let the threat of a double steal rattle Matusz.

Bring Swish in to play 1st and put Leon in RF.

[383] NO. NO PLAYS.

Tie game, 2 on, nobody out, Cano and ARod due up.

Both teams' fans are scared shitless.

390) it ALWAYS comes to Alex...it's amazing really

[374] Interesting. I had thought of that---then Gardner goes into the OF and Swish goes to 1B. If you PR, you almost have to steal. Or bunt.

[390] If Cano hits a three-run bomb, it's not.

393) I was just trolling...

Then again, bunting with Cano is maybe not optimal.

[396] That would work too - Ichiro in RF, Gardner in LF.

AFAIC, the threat of a double steal makes it all worthwhile.

RandyM - thanks.

[398] I am hypersensitive about this.

Swinging bunt.

Cano is just a CHOKE artist!

I think that was ball four, Rob.

[402] You don't say? ;)

'Course, if Cano walks then it is up to A-Rod.

I'm watching on the radio. Is this an unintentional intentional walk?

Do they walk arod now?

Alex.

It ALWAYS comes down to Alex.

Uncanny.

Productive out!

Down to arod.....of course. If this is a righty, it's Ibanez time

[406] Or a ground out.

Sheesh, Cano.

OK, A-Rod, let me say it again: redemption time!!!

A pitching change. Just to make us sweat.

This is Alex's biggest at bat of the year. And the funny thing is he doesn't even need to get a hit, just a deep fly ball.

Although, I'd pinch hit.

Right here, right now.

[411] No, A-Rod is lost forever if they pinch hit again.

I'll settle for a wild pitch, passed ball, or a balk, too.

413) you think he hits?

Can't pinch hit for him. Can't do it.

God, the temptation to PH Ibañez...

Not even so deep alex w ichiro on 3

I'm calling it. Line single up the middle, to the right of 2nd base.

His nemesis, O'Day.

Come arod, rise above it. Channel your happy places. Remember those mushrooms....?

right now, are you optimistic or not? I always live in the optimism.

415) just saw your comment...looks like your right. I personally don't think Alex can hit hard throwin righties. Hope I'm wrong

I'd go for an HBP

OR.... a sac fly to deep LF.

[413] Yep.

Though of course, O'Day is probably the hardest guy to get a deep fly ball off of.

If A-Rod was proficient with it, I'd try a squeeze bunt myself. The O's will NEVER expect it.

Infield in

[419] Or Chavez?

Christ not this submarine guy again..

Right down the chite

I can feel a score truck drive by coming

Ugh.

C'mon Alex...you can do this.

Jebus, Get your eyes checked ARod.

C'mon Alex.

[429] Never mind then.

Wait for it, A-Rod, wait for it . . .

How was the second pitch a strike, BTW?

Time to be the hero Alex.

That was SOOOOOOO predictable

Arod is so done

He's so lost at the plate, its upsetting me.

Dammit all to hell. You should have held up, Alex!

Jeebus.

Man...

OR.... 3 swings and not as much as a splinter.

85 mph. Are you kidding me? That's garbage. GARBAGE.

Dreadful.

I'm sorry, Alex just can't face another RHP this post-season unless we're comfortably ahead.

It's fucking sad.

It's pathetic, I almost feel sorry for him. But, $250M+ pays for a lot of therapy.

ARod will get all the shit, but Robbie has killed us this game.

Just hideous hitting.

Holy shit I couldn't be more pissed off right now

Gd dm it

The useless remain ever thus

UN
FUCKING
BELIEVABLE

I mean, do we scout their pitchers? Have they actually looked at tape? I mean, they've faced them plenty, but c'mon - it's like they have no clue.

BOOOOOOO!!

[449] When you score only one run, it's usually a group effort.

They should cut Arod and the just make hank pay him for the next five years. That would make me happy

O'Day is another guy the Orioles picked up off the scrap heap.

Group lack of effort

Soriano.
I'm impressed, that's the right move.

[440] I agree that Arod might be finished for this year, but he might get it right starting next spring. The old adage, once a hit, always a threat. He is obviously not right in the lower body, and maybe will work it out in the off season. But for the rest of this year (and hopefully that is beyond tomorrow), he must be throttled.

Yeah, but Thome is going yard.

Nix is the only Yank in charge at the plate

[461] Agreed. 3 quick outs and then a run, please.

Grandy: .071 .133 .071
Cano: .125 .176 .250
ARod: .133 .235 .133
Swish: .143 .235 .143

462) True, Alex looks horrible. But then what to do with Swisher and Granderson?

I miss mo right now(although he hated tie game situations)

we've seen this all year. men at 2nd and 3rd with less than 2 outs and nada. So goddamn frustrating.

Please be Good Sori. Please be Good Sori..

Got to stay away from Thome. No sliders inside.

[461] D-Rob hardly threw any pitches though..

Sitting A-Rod does nothing to help get him right. Gotta just play through it.

Meanwhile, our only offensive threat just botched that play. Sigh, Nix.

[466] That makes NL rules look more attractive.

Well, Jeter wouldn't have even gotten his glove on that one, so...

Does Ford try to steal?

Seriously?

Shit, this cocksucker. I hate the sight of him.

467) Gardener in cf....granderson and arod platoon dh split? I might be drunk

homina homina homina

YES!

YES!

NICE PICKOFF!!!!!

Way to make Nix's error go away, Sori!

What a pick!

Think he might have been safe.

OOOOOOOOOH yeah.

Lew Ford! Nice knowin' ya!

Take that, play maker.

Buck Ball. Send in the fucking score truck loaded with pie!

Please let Sori untuck outta sight in the dugout - NOW

That'll do, pig, that'll do.

Thanks boids.
Now let's have a wAlk off.

Top-of-the-ninth defensive wackiness? Check. True to script.

Put in Rauuuuul so we can all go to bed happy

[484] agreed

[478] You know, that's what I need right now - a beer!

Pitching has done its job for 9 frames...time for the offense to find some way to plate a run NOW.

[484] I think so too, but he deserves to be out. Tex's size 15 shoes blocked a lot of the base

Scorer changed it from an error on Nix to a hit.

My comment is awating moderation? Talking about Tex's shoes is a no no?

Time to sock it to Anita O'Day

Do you pinch hit for Curtis? Man, he might get lucky.

Letting Grandy bat here?!?

0-2. We know what's coming next.

I think Girardi is playing a hunch.

Grander son down 0-2? I'm shocked

0-2 I might still send Raul up for him.

Boy, he WANTED to swing at those two pitches though. LOL

Hang one O'day

ONE TIME CURTIS! PLEASE!

Walk him!

Got it, but didn't quite get it.

Fuck Smoltz saying frisbee anymore

This is just asking too much. But I'm asking anyway.

Except this time Ibanez isn't going yard. And this game is going to extras. And the O's are going to win.

Well, at least not a strike out...

Love to see him but he's PHing for the wrong guy IMHO.

ugh.

cant say this is where id use leon.

I'm just not a fan of PH with two outs and no one on, and PH for the one guy who's had a decent night with the stick.

Then again, if he hits another HR, my complaints will be "mute."

0-2 and he's going to whiff, too.

This feels greedy to me

well, that was premature

Now, who? I'd go with Phelps.

Argh.

So, hm, any way to double switch so Ibanez can stay in the game??

Assuming no HR here, would you pull a double switch with Ibanez, so that he stays in the game for another potential AB? For example, pull Granderson or Swisher and leave Ibanez in the OF, moving Nunez to SS?

[522] Damn you.

The Yankees performance against Hammel, Chen, Gonzalez and Saunders is the mark of a team that doesn't deserve to advance. Just absolutely putrid against incredibly mediocre pitching.

it's like '01

[523] The flaw in your plan is someone might hit the ball to Nunez or Ibanez.

Yeah, not the move I would have made.

Meh.

[526] 2001 had Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling.

This is not like 2001.

[525] Thing is, I don't care whether they deserve it. I want them to advance whether they deserve it or not.

Desert is overrated in baseball.

Oh, the sure handed Eduardo Nunez now at short.

Besides, Nune5 at SS, what could possibly go wrong???

[530] Depends if we're talking about cheesecake or not. Cheesecake is NEVER overrated.

[532] Perhaps that will be the key to the game!

The beer I'm drinking now is helping me almost believe that.

The ball will find Nunez this inning......

[527] That's not the flaw in my plan, it's the flaw in Girardi's plan for PH for Nix. In any case Nunez will be in the field.

[525] A win is a win. I'll take it however ugly they might be.

Can't walk him, man. Please, don't walk him.

Gotta get Babe Flaherty here

I completely missed this implication of that pinch hit at the time. Terrible decision.

Good job.

[529] I meant the general anemic offense. You're right, opposing pitchers better in 01

Machado scares me to death...not sure if its his first name or Andrew jones flashbacks

Raul PH for Grandy and the D change is so much less dangerous.

[543] Yikes! Both terrifying thoughts.

C'mon Sori, put him away now.

That 2-2 fastball was just elevated enough not to be dangerous. Phew.

That's two. One more. The motherfucker McClouth.

548) trademark that

So last night when he said he was playing a gut feeling pinch-hitting for A-Rod, I thought he was just being diplomatic. But based on NOT hitting for him tonight, he really must have been managing by gut because there was no reason to think A-Rod would get the run home there. Unreal. I'm not picking on A-Rod but he has looked awful against O'Day.

[548] McClouth is Trot Nixon level annoying at this point.

No, Cal. Don't be careful with him. Douche.

Beautiful. Now Let's Earn that MONEY BOYS!

McClouth's hair should get its own AB

[542] Oh, I get what you mean. But not hitting Johnson and Schilling at their terrifying peaks is so much different than getting shut down by Joe Saunders.

Soriano has been great this season. All is forgiven to RandyHankHal for that signing.

[554] He looks like Paula Poundstone.

God damn this is fun! Get it done this inning! My job performance can't suffer any more

Of course, there's an excellent chance we won't get to the Nix/Ibanez/Nunez slot again in this game, so maybe the point is mute.

Enough of this O'Day character, really.

Time to end this series, boys.

Feck!

Check swing? Really? Ugh.

Got to be kidding me.

Getting a Wakefield 03 vibe.

What is this first pitch swinging shit?

Two pitches, two outs. Good job boys.

Oh come on.
Two pitches!

God fucking dammit. 2 pitches. Bollocks!

If Joba comes in, it's over for us, man.

OH MY GOD, SCORE BEFORE JOBA GETS IN THERE

Joba, really???

Joba in the pen. Ho, boy.

Uh oh. We better score now

Hey! He didn't swing at the first pitch!

I bet Teix walks.

Jo Saunders. Yankee Killer.

That's the only inside pitch he'll see...

They should walk Robbie to get to Alex.

Hey - its not an out!

Knew it.

Gardner?

[577] the 09 team pounded him to clinch a series.

[579] Serious?
That's what Cal thinks too!

Okay, Cano. Hero time

Rip one in the seats, Robbie!

[579] Bring in Chavez then.

Cano hasn't done much either. Come on Robby.

PR for Teix? I wouldn't, but I'd be tempted.

What are you hacking at?

Cano has done dick

Terrible series by Cano. That was awful.

Dear Buck,

Please bring in Strop.

Thanks.

Weak sauce.

This team needs to be beaten with a hobo.

Pathetic.

Enter: Hell.

Bring forth the JOBA.

What's the over/under on number of XBHs Joba allows here?

Joba....nightmare

This won't end pretty.

[597] 3.

I'll take the under.

Yeah, I feel like our chance right now is lower than it's been all game! Is that ridiculous? It really seems that way. Yeesh.

2 hits, 1 walk, 3 runs.

Ichiro's hitting .211
Cano's hitting .116
Swisher's hitting .143
Rodriguez is hitting .133
Granderson's hitting .067 (!)

Again, Hammel, Chen, Gonzalez and Saunders.

I don't know what the alternatives are....phelps? Garcia? Lowe? We are at the point where nothing is ideal but this is not gonna end well

Oh shit, it's Mr. Creosote ...

Fuck these midges. Yanks will win this.

[601] Noted mediocre middle reliever Joba Chamberlain is in the game. Its not ridiculous

1-1 count, 1-1 score in the 11th

Tex!

Nice play Tex!

No fielding errors on your ledger here Alex. Yikes.

Galloping Centaur!

Wow, Teix!

Monkeypants, good thing no PR for him, huh?

Ooopha. That's a big cut.

Funky looking play.

That's a crazy cut. Now go fastball outside. Not another slider, please.

A-Rod at least still has some D.

[613] Perhaps so. But Swisher might have made that play too, bro.

C'mon Joba, put 'em away!

[607] And for the record, I don't blame Joe for this. You need to put in who you can. Someone on the team needed to hit Joe Saunders.

[613] Hey, Swish would have made that play too!

Like I said, bury another slider in the dirt.

[604] Garcia and Lowe were left off the roster. But Phelps is our best guy left.

Still, no complaints so far!

Can Joba go 2?

[617] Other than the throw, I suppose.

[596] nice to see you. I've been there for the last 60 minutes.

WAY TO GO NUNIE!!!!!!

Yeah! No e6!

Imagine if Alex did something good here? Imagine?

Joba and Nuney say, "Eat shit, Banter!" " : )

Nune5 made a clean play! Joba allowed no extra base hits - no hits at all!

Either this is the apocalypse, or the Yanks are winning this game!

Nunez ain't so bad.

7 pitches for Joba. We should see him again.

Joba and nunez getting the jib dine . Amazing.....cue john sterling about predicting baseball

Nunez made the play. And exhale.

Christ, Nunie fielded that cleanly.

[624] Sarcasm FAIL (from both of us? :)

[630] Why is that necessarily an either/or question?

[629] LOL! So true...

How much more can we ask of our pitching? Fuck me.

OK A-Rod has a chance to be the hero...again.

This kid throws cheddar.

Strop, please...

[632] Ideally we won't need to!

[592] Ask, and ye shall receive!

[629] A stopped clock is correct twice a day.

Going to my big rally album from '09 - Small Faces' "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake"

Wow. Strop Time. Ya-hoooooo!

I am serious. I want ARod to swing as hard as he can.

Let"s go Centaur!

My dreams of A-Rod crushing a long home run and silencing all the haters just died an awful death. Sigh.

Shit

I am serious. I want Swisher to swing as hard as he can.

Yay, no strikeout!

[637] 2012. Yanks win the WS, and are champions in perpetuity when the world ends in the off-season.

Not a strike to Swisher. Not a strike, Blue.

[632] Only so many times you can roll the dice before you get snake eyes.

Win here

I am serious. I want Granderson to swing as hard as he can.

ARGH!

Don't do that to me.

DAMN.

I was scheduled for a root canal today, but I decided to watch this game instead.

I'm really getting pissed.

I just yelled "Come on! Come on! Awww fuckin fuckin fuck fuck fuck!" at the TV

[656] lol

No confidence in Russ. Sorry to say.

[656] OYF, that was hilarious. Well played, sir. Well played.

Except that Martin is up. ;)

I am serious. I want Martin to swing as hard as he can.

Dammit. I was hoping right along with the fans in LF. Not to be.

[656] Might as well.

Well, at least someone tried a homerun to the field the ball was pitched ... that's something, right?

Zero. Zilch. NO confidence. At all.

Everyone has warning track power today.

Yeah, exactly.

[656] That worked so well for us in 2004 ...

And isn't it asking too much for a second good inning from Joba? Isn't Mr. Wieters due?

Holy shit, that just brought back memories of Soriano (Alfonso) in the '03 playoffs. You called that one, AB. [668]

I've taken to rocking and muttering the name "Joe Saunders."

Well, that was hopeless. Joba for 2?

That commercial was the best part of this entire game.

shit.

c'mon Joba.. roll these bitches.

Just get these guys, Joba. Nunez is going to be the hero.

An exercise in futility, the best of the AL East?

we need a thelarmis infusion to fire up the goddamn score truck.

'LARMIS! WTF ARE YOU??

I am serious. I want Weiters to swing as hard as he can.

Jesus.

oh, crap

Welp, here comes the good/bad luck. Oh shit, Joba got hit.

Aw crap.

Jesus. Came back downstairs to that. Fuck.

Cripes that didn't look good.

Oh fer FUCK'S sake!!!

Joba's a bit cursed this year.

Don't be stupid. Take him out.

This can no way be good. He cant' stay in and be effective.

No control.

Poor fucking Joba. The Midges was his good day,

Guess the midges were busy tonight and sent the bat in their place.

Hit the shower Joba.

Yeah, he's tough, but he's not smart. Girardi's biggest move of the night.

Definitely take him out, definitely.

I'm not sure how we'd tell if Joba is pitching injured or pitching like Joba.

Damn. THAT SUCKS!

(alex, my comment numbers are off, is there a comment still waiting moderation?)

In the words of Steve Martin: "What is this bullshit, man?"

Derek Lowe, I guess?

Who comes in now? Phelps?

I'm suddenly reminded of Jaret Wright, and his tendency to attract flying objects. I haven't thought of him in years.

On the bright side: it's Lew Ford, not Jim Thome.

Seriously, the sharp end of that bat could have pierced his body. These skinny handled maple bats should be banned.

[705] I'd wager that terrible players have beat us more than Hall of Famers this year

703) CC

[705] shhh!

[707] Could be, but I'd rather face terrible players anyway.

[706] I've made the argument for years, and I stole it from my brother, the league should seriously look at more tightly regulating bats: get rid of the skinny handle-hollow end bats. It would be safer and fewer broken bats might even speed the game up a tad.

[706] Pretty sure someone did get pierced by one a few years back.

Who goes against CC tomorrow?
Meanwhile, Verlander has a 2 hitter against the A's. 2-0 after 6.

[707] Given that there are far more terrible players in MLB than Hall of Famers right now, I'd say you'd win that wager.

[706] Aren't maple bats darker in color?

So, if Joba's out for a week...who replaces him on the roster?

[713] Nobody.

Methinks I will be going to bed bummed out tonight

Wow, I totally forgot about Pettitte getting hit way back in '97. Nice work on TBS's part (for a change).

[712] Yes. Tyler Colvin.

Phelps is nervous, uh oh.

Keep cool, Phelpsy!

[716] Ummm . . . I have no idea. If Aardsma had gotten more pitching in the bigs, I'd say him. Eppley, maybe?

Nice move- no nerves at all

A 6-4-3 would be in order..but..Nunez?

No bunt, interesting. Probably right.

[714] I'd venture that the Lew Ford level atrocious player still in the bigs is pretty close to as rare as the truly great players.

[715] I don't think so. Maple is one of the lightest colored woods. They are also painted many different colors. IIRC, MLB did a study and found that two-toned bats are the least likely to shatter. They were considering requiring maple bats to be two-toned. Dunno if they did it or not.

Um, he's been calling that a strike ALL NIGHT!

Oh, that was strike three, blue. Damn you.