I'd have preferred to see Gardner in CF for Granderson as well, if he was even close to healthy enough.

Watching Curtis at the plate right now is even more depressing than watching Rodriguez.

Two teams enter. One team leaves.

Let's Go Yank-ees!

2) What you said.

[1] me too. i guess they don't think gardner is full time still, but if so then i would prefer someone they think is (like have dickerson on the roster). because if a-rod should be benched for this game so should curtis.

Ooooooooooooooo....
ESPN is dripping with drama....
"Orioles manager Buck Showalter has a chance to take out the only team he ever wanted to work for."

[1][4] If Gardner is not healthy enough to be trusted over Granderson, as bad as he's been, then Gardy shouldn't be on the roster.

[0][1] My lineup would have swapped CF and 3B, regardless of who is patrolling CF (Granderson or Gardner).

[4] Yes, Dickerson would have been a good addition.

[6] But, but ... he's the *ultimate* pinch-stander!

Yeah, Dickerson would be okay. I guess they are hoping that Grandy can run into one. There's always that possibility.

[8] And his ability to bend light and otherwise disrupt space-time provides amazing entertainment potential.

how come Sheff isn't playing first?

[6] agreed - didn't state it clearly but if the yanks don't feel they can play gardner a full game he shouldn't have been on the roster - dickerson should have been and he should be playing tonight. because again curtis "looks" even worse than a-rod and 063/118/063 is worse than 125/222/125.

and agreed with the second point as well.

and where's Bubba Crosby?
Confused.

[9] Right now, I get the feeling that a HR from Granderson (or ARod) is the only possible potential positive outcome. By that, I have no faith they can get on any other way (yeah, I know, ARod singled and walked yesterday...I'm speaking emotionally, not rationally here), and I have little faith they can even make contact most of the time. It's like they are going to strike out 9 times out of ten, but maybe if they swing hard enough and get lucky, that 10th time will be a HR.

according to the twitter feed on lohud girardi is not even spinning this as injury related for arod that it is strictly performance based. even if that is so (and that would be hard to believe, at least some of this has to be a little injury related as damn near everyone is banged up some at this point of the year and arod has had injuries) i would think girardi would at least try to throw in that arod only recently came back from a broken hand and note the timing is all off.

[15] Agreed. It's also why I am not convinced by all of the arod-is-cooked-cut-him talk. Is he only a fraction of the player he was? Sure. But he has still been an above average player at 3B this season and last, despite battling hip problems and having his fucking hand broken. He may be cooked, he may not. But historically great players often have one or three great seasons left in the tank as they approach 40 y.o. I bet we see a much more productive ARod next season, even if his days of 150 games played and 40 HR are over.

As I mentioned, my own irrational gut feeling is that the Yankees are going to have to win 0 to -1. For that to happen, it is absolutely essential that Brett Gardner be on the roster.

Also: I wonder what JJ Merlock is doing now.
Anyone hear of any reports of an odd unexplained explosion in Alaska?

[17] If you had a truly irrational feeling, the Yankees would have to win 0 to -π (I could imagine the Yankees winning 0 to √-1), but otherwise your point is very well taken.

I feel like this does not augur well for A-Rod. What's the chances Yankees go into intensive dump mode trying to get a return on him over the winter, even if it means eating salary? I'm not sure the feasibility of it, but it does seem like the faith is gone. (For the record: I think he's still got plenty of juice in the tank, so long as he's taken for what he is: past his prime, but still perfectly [in-season] competent hitter.)

[16] agreed again. just the two recent examples of jeter and ortiz come to mind. i'd like to see him have the chance to adjust a bit to his diminished bat speed and power and "reinvent" himself a bit. also maybe sit him more over the course of a season especially against tough righties. he probably isn't a 40 hr a year guy anymore even if he got enough plate appearances(and arod has had some old man injuries and weird injuries the last few years that have kept his plate appearances low), but i son't think he is fried. unless they release him next spring (which makes no sense) he is on the roster, girardi might want to keep that in mind in how he handles this. i'm not saying he shouldn't be ph it for or benched, just do it a little respectfully.

[16] His OPS in an almost full July was .860 and frankly he was looking even better right before he got hurt. He isn't 100% back from the hand and the pressure cooker of the stretch drive isn't the best place to try and get back to speed after all the time he missed.

That said, he's essentially unplayable right now against RHP (as opposed to Granderson, who's unplayable against everyone).

[19] I heart this.

[19] I hate to be so negative about it. But √-1? Get real.

I feel badly for Alex. I like rooting for him. He's a favorite of mine. I especially get worked up defending him because it seems as if so many Yankee fans that I know hate him and take such pleasure in his failures. But I like the Yankees more than any one player. So for today I can't worry about what this means in the future for Alex. I just hope the Yanks come away with a win--and who knows, maybe Alex gets in the game--and then start fresh against the Tigers.

[21]

If A-Rod hits a walkoff ... he'll get a π

[26] That would be transcendental!

Billy benched Reggie in KC for Game 5 in '77 and that worked out ok

yes I'm clinging here...

[20] If the Jays can get the Angels to take Vernon Wells, and the Dodgers will trade for Crawford and Beckett. There is a chance to find a trading partner for ARod. (Albeit the Dodgers took Adrian Gonzalez too.)

This is a gutsier call for Joe than pinch hitting for ARod.

[1] Agreed about Grandy, he should be benched too. But not a lot of offense from anyone right now, and you can't bench them all.

[25] Alex- You just like him because his name is Alex. It was the same with me and Craig Nettles and Greg Maddux (Close enough).

I root for ARod as a Yankee, but it is hard to like the guy. I will say that I dislike him less than I did a few years ago. How's that?

30) There are many reasons that I root for him but yeah, it starts with the fact that we share the same name.

I'm deep like that.

And 28) SO TRUE!

[31] Everyone likes to root for the underdog.

Maybe ARod comes up against a lefty today and pounds it into the upper deck?

The crowd might love him again.

Screw this: Yanks play today, they WIN TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[33] that's more along the lines of what i've been thinking.

fuck it: just WIN!!!

Hate to say it, but I have the same feeling before this game as I did before the 2004 ALCS.

Irony is, ARod has career success against Hammel - .364/.462/.909 in 22 AB, with four knocks. That's out the window of course with the way he's carried himself recently.

Grandy, not so much - .214/.313/.500 in 14 trips. Doesn't appear as if Gritner has ever faced him, so the binder is mute.

My hunch is Grandy gets a chance or two to run into one, then Gritner replaces him the moment Hammel leaves, if not sooner. Even against an LHP.

[0] - Money choice on the headline quote.

[36] a-rod's #'s vs. hammel are from a few years back.

GO YANKS!!!

Stupid reporting of the day from the NY Post:

"Watching Raul Ibanez homer as the pinch-hitter and then again later to win Game 3 was uplifting for Rodriguez. He wasn't so upbeat when Chavez made the final out in Game 4 hitting for him." -George King III

Come on! If ARod had a big smile on his face after the line out, then it would appear he is rooting for failure.

[38] it's the Post. what do you expect?!

[39] True.

[40] yeah, i've always called that rag the New York Joke : )

[24] i i i i i i

I am quite sad to have missed the imaginary numbers discussion, but excited for the game tonight, even if the start time is not helpful.

[36] et al - My guess is that, because Granderson is a really good fastball hitter, and because Hammel throws a fastball almost 2/3rds of the time, Girardi is expecting him to do well. That's a reasonable expectation, and I hope it works out right.

From Sweeny Murti on Twitter:

"Obviously I'm not happy...You want to be in there in the worst way...this is not a story about 1 person, this is about a team."--A-Rod.

"As you know 27 outs a lot can happen. I'll be ready from the first inning on."--A-Rod.

"It's never about Joe. I always have to look in the mirror...don't assume that you've heard the last from us, or me." A-Rod.

I haven't read the Post in about 20 years. Do they really have a sports writer named "George King III"?? Is that a joke? He's the one who went mad, right?

[44] yeah, lohud has a post up dedicated to the Q&A. good stuff.

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

Thelarmis, why is it that Girardi prefers to use Raul as a pinch hitter?

(This is a musician riddle.)

[46] something about a 2nd string? though Ibanez guitars have 7 strings!

anyway, it's my day off. no music! (though i will practice a little, at some point...)

right now, i need to go run a few errands. by the time i get home, i expect a yankee lead, preferably a comfortable one!

[37] Figured. Thanks

Ugh. Feels like time is running backwards right now.

Meh.

OK, dilemma. Do I crack open a cold one to help ease my anxiety over the game, or do I not drink so I can do some woodworking later. Of course, if the Yankees lose, maybe I shouldn't be around power tools anyhow.

The Yankees know this is just a post injury/rust slump for ARod.
The Yankees also know they're married to him, and didn't get a prenup.
He will continue to play for them until he is less than an average 3Bman.
Then he will continue to play for them until he is less than an average DH.
They don't have the money these days to eat $20m+/yr.
And ARod will continue to pass milestones, and as he approaches the end, I believe he will be appreciated by the fans.

Look.... if you want to fantasize that Miley Cyrus and Lindsey Lohan drop by with a bottle of Yager for a weekend of Ménage à trois, I can dig it. But talking about someone taking ARod's contract? Com'mon... get real!

50) Forget the woodworking. Have that drink.

51) I agree with everything you said except for the part where he's appreciated. Just don't see that happening.

oh and by the way....
I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE!
But it's like a train wreak.
I have to watch.
I can't help but feel that last night, they simply handed the series to Baltimore. We will play scared, and they will play with wild abandonment.... kids at Disneyland.

Ibanez and Chavy might help, but this sucks.

54) We'll be strong together. Banterities Unite!

I'm actually going to be on the subway riding home so will miss the first three or four innings but then I'll be back and with you guys, win or lose.

Let's Go YANK-EES!

[52] Yeah, that's what I'll probably do.

Let's go Yankees! Let's go Big Fella!

And here we go . . . !

Wow, Alex benched. I thought that would happen to Derek before it happened to Alex. This does not speak well about his future with the Yankees.

3 up, 3 down. OK offense, are you alive?

Damn.

[60] The Cap'n says no. What say you, Ichiro!?

Alright ... got Gameday going on my phone in front of my monitor at work ... Let's Go Yankees!!!

[62] (Where is Mr. OK Jazz or Boatzilla to translate "groundout" into Japanese?)

Ichiro bows respectfully, and now comes Cano . . . is the offense alive, Mr. Robinson?

Damn, just foul.

Oh Shit. Somebody hold me.

Strikeout and two weak groundouts. Ugh.

Of course, Robbie swings at ball 3, a ball all but in the dirt.

[64] What's that you say, Mr. Robinson? The offense will come later to-day, hey hey hey?

Another inning for CC to work his magic, then!

That's a nasty pitch there, CC.

My gosh, CC is mowing them down. The bats have GOT to come through for him (and for us).

I turned on the game just in time to see Swisher strike out

[72] They aren't very good.

[72] You've also missed a lot of groundouts by the Yankee bats!

And some excellent pitching by CC!

Whiff.

See what I mean? Dude is not losing this game.

Okay, lets score some runs

[77] YES!

This is a crisp-moving game. I would like 5 runs now, to slow things up a bit.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Score some runs you schlubs!

Ok, more weak grounders or weak popups this inning?

Huh.
Good sign, bad result.

[80] At least a flyout is a ball in the air!

Hey, there's another!

And there's another.

They're hitting him pretty hard -- it makes me somewhat optimistic. Not tooptimistic.

And another!

Three line drives to the outfield. Keep it up, boys, they'll drop.

Ah, flyballs.

And we can't even get a hit off Jason Hammel now
This entire series has been infuriating.

Gamecast called that one a line out - that's a different kind of out for this game.

Game is actually being broadcast here, but I'm busy making pizza. The first three innings sure went by fast.

[87] Granderson's could have been called a line out too.

[86] I am choosing to see it as the offense getting all of its kinks out before the remainder of the postseason.

Gotta rationalize it in some way.

At the rate this game is flying by, it might be the 5th before Alex gets home.

There's a hit. Not the good kind.

[91] It seems unfair that the O's got the first base hit. Of course it was McLouth. I wish the Pirates had held on to his ass.

Just wondering - who is the home plate umpire, and how the fuck was the first pitch to Davis a ball?

Baltimore with a hit. Are they declared the winner?

Not to keep beating a drum, but Sabathia, Pettitte and Kuroda dominating are all at least some level of understandable.

Hammel, Chen, Gonzalez, Hughes and Saunders? No.

Making me nervous out there, Curtis.

[93] Whoever it is, he looks like he's at constant risk to fall down, so maybe he's missing calls.

[90] Alex is just out getting the Score Truck.

[94] I think that's the third tie-breaker.

Now Baltimore hit a ball relatively close to the OF wall. Are they declared the winner?

[96] Bring back the ground outs?

Cap'n?

Nice perfect game so far.

ITS JASON FUCKING HAMMEL.

Look, Jeter struck out again and Ichiro! grounded out again. Consistency! Didn't no less a sage than Joe Morgan say that the key to winning was consistency?

No need to swing at that meatball. 1 for their last 28 in 9 innings. puke

Free Gardner! Free Gardner!

1 for 28 in the last 9 innings?
.036 BA

Jason Hammel is throwing a perfect game against the Yankees in an elimination game.

Why?

[106] [107] Clearly A-Rod was the problem with the offense.

Cripes. This was old in the 11th inning last night. I think I've run out of superlatives to describe it.

It doesn't seem fair that the O's got the first walk in the game.

a perfect fucking game?!

WTF?!?!?!

this is JASON FUCKING HAMMELL!!! he *sucks* at pitching!!! holy shit.

GO CC!!!

Beauty.

All you, Rob.

nice Robbie!

now, SCORE TRUCK this sonuva bitch!!!

Pretty. Now score some fucking runs. Oi. This is getting repetitive.

[112] About time.

[104] I admire your capacity to still find anger in this situation, I think I reached a state of bemused resignation sometime this morning.

Well, CC's doing his job so far.

I'm here. What did I miss? Ah, one base hit.

Is this Groundhog's Day or what?

We just saw a pop out, so how about a ground out? Maybe a GIDP?

[118] Sadly, yes.

[116] i know. atlanta traffic is brutal.

[117] Bemused resignation is difficult to achieve.

I have found a higher plane, personally. It's a little chilly here, but comfortable.

[121] Oh, and: because an Ibañez isn't a 'Fender!

Obviously I missed the first five hitters, but I've yet to see solid contact

OK, how about a home run now?

[124] Only Ibanez had solid contact among the Yanks' first five hitters. So you didn't miss much.

Rejoice!

A hit!!!

I'm the good luck charm. A hit! Through the shift! A HIT!

Shit. No Perfect game.

A hit!

[118] Thanks for the hit delivery, got any runs?

A Hit! A HIT!!!

So Raul is going to hit into a dp, right? LOL

[127] A hit! A hit! Can this be? A YANKEE on FIRST BASE? Without having walked there, or been hit by a pitch?

Oh good. Now we need like three more of those just to score

Now I've seen everything.

Holy shit. Who put the acid in my water?

Second sign of the apocalypse.

Now a play that worked!

[135] Matt, Teixeira has something to say to you now...

...What was that?

A stolen base?!

What team is this?

Man, somethings wrong with Gameday, because it says: With Raul Ibanez batting, Mark Teixeira steals 2nd base ... and well, that can't be true, right?

Does this mean Tex gets stranded or does he get thrown out at the plate trying to score?

[143] And he swiped it easily. (Huge jump.)

Way to foul pitches off and hang tough, Raul.

[122] It looks something like [144], set to the tune of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life".

7-STRINGS!!!

YES!!!!!

RaOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL!

OH, baby. RAAAAAAAAUUUUUULLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!

The game's over now, right?

[123] acha. i wouldn't have gotten that.

LEON!!!

ONE MAN WRECKING CREW!

Nice.

What does it mean when a Yankee runs all the way around the bases and touches homeplate? I'm confused.

Stay away from the DP now...

Bench 1 - Orioles 0

(155). It means you're asleep

A run!

A run!

The Yankees scored A RUN!!!!!!!

Swish. It's Your TIME, brother.

The Yankees took the lead on Mark Teixeira's speed.

Yay!

the Yankees scored a run! The Yankees scored a run! Raul Ibanez hits a groundball to the right field side of center...!

De-lurking here. Do my eyes deceive me or does Yahoo's box score really say the Yanks executed fundamental little ball to score an actual run?

so, i may be wrong as i am sometimes susceptible to delusions, but did tex steal second?

[144] Yo Alex: "Screw that, Yanks play today, Yanks win today!"

SMALL BALL!

Uh oh, INJURY DELAY?

Is it possible to score another?

C'mon Cornflake, just a bit o' bingo, baby!

bollocks.

Oh, right.

THERE is the Yankees we know and love.

Mother fucker! Goddamn it Swisher for fuck's sake!

Oh, Nick.

Nope. Swish dp is "huge"

[166] home plate ump has a bleeding cut on his ear.

165) Right. My bad. Word up!

swish, grandy, cano have all been so terrible in this series.

go grandy!

[143] The 1Bman was playing behind Teix and the pitcher didn't even look over, so Teix got a huge lead and jump.

Ahem.

"Just a bit o' bingo, baby" doesn't mean "GROUND INTO A FUCKING DOUBLE PLAY".

FUCK.

[158] Well I have given up drugs so it can't be that.

Curtis, baby!

Now that DP hurts, ouch.

Wow. Way to go, man.

hell yeah way to show me grandy!

Look what happens when you don't try to pull a HR!

Can we officially say its no longer a small sample size with Swisher? Its 43 games and almost 170 plate appearances. That's two months.

Wow, the corpse of Granderson ... is starting to twitch?

[171] Yes, but see [165]!

Now I would like to punch all of the TBS announcers in their scrawny and/or fat necks.
If I have to pick one, Smoltz.

[186] Yeah, his puppy-on-meth demeanor doesn't seem to serve him well in these games ...

[186] is what a small sample size? dp balls?

Maybe we should play the entire Bench + Jeter?

[190] Can we sedate him? Does that count as a PED?

[191] Post season

OK, that's twice that Yankees baserunners have run from first to second while the pitcher is throwing home. Is that even legal?

Opportunity Knocks.

[194] ah yes i think that's the case. he sucks.

Nada.

crap.

Well, two would have been nice there; but 1, well, 1 is SO much more than 0 ...

Does anyone think their 2nd baseman should have knocked down Ibanez's hit?

[195] Yes, I looked it up in the rulebook and it says they can do that. It also says they can score as many runs as they can until they get 3 outs in an innning.

Maybe in the next inning they'll score 2 runs!

[201] I assumed he was gonna until it went through

Shut down inning, CC. Shut. Down. Inning.

Good morning!

Umm..A-Rod was benched but Granderson and Swisher weren't? Do I even want to read about this or should I just dive in and watch CC go to work?

[205] Granderson made contact TWICE! And one of them was even a hit!

We need a nice quick inning from CC and then get back at Veronica Hamel.

Wait, why are they still playing?

When the Orioles scored, the game was over. It's true that I vaguely remember a run being scored before that, but it's all so hazy.

Tex!

Nice play, Mark.

[205] Right handed pitcher.
As you should know, it is impossible for right handed batters to get hits off right handed pitchers.

205) Just dive in to the game.

[206] Whoa! I need to clear my head..cannot compute that!

Up to 94 mph on that heater...

Jeez, don't lose him, CC.

Dive Swish, Dive!

[215] "Relax, babe, I'm in control."

[211] That's my gimmick

Again. CC, don't lose him, bro.

Finish him. No walks.

Holy Christ

Ha. All the fans pointed foul

Gulp.

Enter: Controversy.

OMG!!!

wow. this is nate fucking mcclouth, for christ sake.

definitely a FOUL ball.

just a long, loud strike everybody.

C'mon CC, c'mon . . .

Yeah, it's foul.

Clearly foul

Hey, a lead! CC on the mound. Optimism!
My wife was watching, I been working on the phone until now. She's yelling and screaming, and cursing out the TBS announcers. She has no pre-conceived notions about Schmuck and Gal, and sez, what's with these announcers favoring the O's? She's ready to send an email to TBS about it.

That long fly was close...

So if it touches the pole at all it's a HR? I didn't know that.

That super close up looks like it might have bounced off the pole.

It didn't (Nick) Swisher the pole.

Clearly foul. But Jesus

Yup, just foul.

I take it there's some kind of replay going on right now?

game of inches.

[230] If it touches the pole at all, HR.

YEAH!!!

Perfect. Appropriate. Sit down, chump.

[230] Just think of all the homers that have doinked off the right and left field poles over the years. The announcers are clearly disappointed.

Cue: P.C. Richard.

This is the problem with watching on Gamecast.

Got 'em! Way to be, CC!

[237] i'm sure he was kidding. of course, he knows that! : )

[235] Yes. The foul ball was a monster fly, just foul, inches. Maybe one inch. The TBS announcers were having fits trying to figure out how it might possibly be a homer.

Play review and stands as called?

WTF does that mean? (I stepped away from my desk for a minute)

[242] I'd almost rather watch on Gamecast than have the heart attack I just did

I honestly didn't know. I figured if it nicked the pole and passed to the foul side, it was foul. (Like a field goal in football.)

Let's Go Chavey.

[245] Ah, I see above.

247) No. If it hits the pole, it's a homer as far as I know. I could be wrong.

Chavez picks up where ARod left off...

Arod can strike out too

[243] Yeah, I'm owned.

Hey there, DJ.

Good eye, good eye...

Just checked the official rules, nothing about touching the foul pole. Maybe it's just a very common ground rule.

[247] Nope, the entire foul pole (fair pole?) is in fair territory... if it hits the pole, it's fair, no matter where the ball lands.

Ah, leave that shit alone, B.

[245] Nate McLouth missed the foul pole by maybe an inch

[250] Just like the foul line, if the ball touches it, fair.

c'mon DJ!

Okay, full count, okay...clap, clap, clap.

What would have happened if it had nicked that pesky squirrel that hung out on the pole years ago? Hmmmmmm..........

[257] Oh, I get it, because then it has touched fair territory beyond first base before it touches foul territory.

So the rest of the rules imply that touching the foul pole makes it a homer, they don't have to say that explicitly.

[253] PETA would protest

Way to go. Now...Ichi Magic. Do it. Do it. Make it happen.

oh. huh. yeah - if it hits the foul pole, it's a homer. no matter what.

good job, jetes!

Atta boy, Captain. String some hits together now. How's that for a plan?

ICHI MAGIC!!!

Fucking sweet.

WHOOO TO THE FUCKING HOO ICHIRO!!!!!!

Another baserunner!

Are we in for another steal?

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

ICHIRO

On Demand. Way to Go NEGRO!

A base on balls for Captain Gift Basket!

Alright, Ichi, go, Go, GO!!!

Yay, Ichiro!

Good Lord, Smoltz and Ripken are hard to listen to

Ich i ro!!"

Ichiro!
Hey, we got another one of those whatchamacallits.

Ichi Reachie the wall! Keep it coming boys.

ICHIRO!

[256] Rule 6.09 (d) specifies that a ball that leaves the playing field in fair territory at least 250 feet from home is automatically a HR. Since the foul poles in all stadiums are set up in fair territory (i.e. they are lined up with line, which is also fair), if the ball even nicks the foul pole, it must by definition be fair (just as if it landed barely on the line and bounced foul).

Got to get this run homeski.

ANOTHER RUN!

ANOTHER RUN!

THE YANKS HAVE A TWO RUN LEAD!

Huge run to back up Poppa Large.

[264] Yep. I wrote [282] too slowly.

Let's go Robbie! Drive him home, baby!

Robbie. Your Turn.

[277] esp. smoltz. he is beyond brutal. it's nice not to see his shirt all over town anymore. it used to be THE most popular in atlanta. (him, then vick)

Good eye. Leave that shit alone, Robbie. Relax. Wait for your pitch.

My daughter says its time fir cano to hot a f* cking hr

Yow, that 2-0 pitch looked tasty.

Mr. OK, please express the undying gratitude of all Yankee fans for the great gift of Ichiro.

In exchange we sent Bobby Valentine. It doesn't seem right.

[274] ???

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.....

[289] It's true, Smoltz is actually much worse than Ripken. And I would excuse Cal, frankly, for being Oriole-biased.

Tough strike.

that was pretty high, blue.

About the worst call tonigjt

A Yo, Swish, it's on you, whatcha gunna do?

good. cy hammel is done.

[296] I actually think Cal is pretty good and trying very hard not to be a homer.

Wow, this strike calling is soooo inconsistant. I hate the umps, hate the announcers, hate that fucking strike box graphic that is definitely off. Hate TBS.

Like i said yesterday, the Fox booth will be a relief (hard to say, but true).

[301] cy anyone who pitches against us some weeks. we are so damn streaky at the plate. and one the playoffs hit we went to sleep. or at least cano, grandy, swisher, arod did.

[294] It's his all-purpose term of affection, especially when he's psyched up.

I know the Yanks hope that CC can hold up here. But if he falters I wonder who'll replace him?

[303] it beats this quad view thing. so strange.

[302] I am not rational when it comes to the team-thief, so I will refrain from commenting.

My bad, it's Raul.

Fire the usher! lol...

This would be the spot to PH Alex.

Craig Sager (and his toupee) says he found someone that saw it nick the pole.

[311] Yes - though if he comes up in the 9th vs a RHP, who pinch hits for him? Gardner? Nune5?

Wow, almost.
Nail one, you huge werewolf.

[306] Joba!

A Rod could have struck out there.

[306] I think you go right to the Hammer.

Once again....
Bench 2 - Orioles 0

It's time for my yearly complaint about the base line umpire and the outfield umpire on the right side being about 20 feet away from each other. WTF!

[296] Cal seems decently evenhanded considering his Os career, but the two of them with their inane "analysis" make my blood boil.

[318] ichiro and Jeter aren't the bench

[315] I don't think Joba can pitch after taking a broken bat to his elbow on the pitching arm last night.

[317] I think you let Sabathia lose the game. Don't pull him unless he's blown the lead.

I miss the pitch count.

CC for 9!

One.

324) It's there on the strike zone box.

Well, 2 is better than 1, and much, MUCH better than 0!

[321] It's some kind of joke I believe.
Teixeira scored the first run and he's not a bench player.

[324] They show it on top of the "strike box" graphic.

YEAH!!!

CC!!!

That's two. Jones makes A Rod look like Jeter.

7 to go.

Hold the fort, gang. Dinner obligation with the wife. The restaurant best have a tv or else I'm sitting in the car til it's over. GO YANKEES!!!!! 6 more outs!

[323] Sounds right. Unless it's obvious that he's lost command.

Or, needless to say, if by some chance a right handed batter is up.

YES.

My daughter days cc is pitching likr its the 3rd inning. Smart daughter

[323] I'm with that. Or straight to Soriano, no messing around with anyone else.

I'm resisting the urge to go read about A-rodapocalypse..still can't understand Joe Girardi's logic though.

82 pitches through seven for the big guy

6 to go, 82 pitches (thanks C-Dawg!)

[328] Yeah, but let's be honest, $100M of the team salary has been fallow.

[306] Tidy inning, how you gonna question CC for a complete game shutout?

[337] To save you from the temptation, in summary: A-Rod hasn't hit righty pitchers all year. He's smoked lefties. He's also possibly not 100% following the broken hand.

[342] Clearly stated, thanks! Still think it's more of a distraction..and how you stick with Granderson..oh well, it's all about the winning. Go Go CC!

[343] Someone has to play center field.

Ok: More Runs.

[337] not everyone buys into this, but there's also a lot of weird negativity around arod. take him out, take out the negativity? don't think that's why Joe did it, but it might be real nonetheless

[323] yep, ride the big man all the way, unless the offence builds a huge lead.

Let's GO Swish.

swish looks lost at the dish...

[340] Sure, but fortunately another $75 mil or so are producing! (I'm counting CC's salary.)

TBS is just going to beat that foul ball to death!

Damn.

[343] I believe Girardi's quote was something like "Gardy's only had 3 ABs since he got back"

[346] let's not get too carried away...the bats have only scored two runs. It's not like benching arod has opened up the deluge.

what's with the bryce eye-black?

siddown, nick. you're terrible at hitting nowadays...

Time for Curtis to pop one.

Oh, good, thanks John Smoltz. As long as the pitch was "pretty close to that area where Wieters wanted it", that's good enough for me.

[350] Jeter, Tex Ibanez and CC?

Shadoobie, Shattered, shattered.

CURTIS!

FUCK YEAH!!!

GRANDY MAN CAN!!!

Curtis!

THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE, BITCHES

Attaway Grandy.

Two true outcomes for granderson.

stat padder.

Yeah BABY!

Regardless of the source: Gameday, Gamecast, whatever TBS calls their box - the home plate umpiring has been awful in this series. The strike zone is either not being called right, or everyone has their boxes messed up.

IT LIVES, IT LIVES!!!

ZOMBIE GRANDERSON ... ARRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Girardi is a genius. What can you say? He has a crystal ball.

And that's why Grandy isn't keeping Alex company on the bench.

Ok, that's why you stick with the Grandy Man.

Really do hope A-Rod gets to PH and at least gets on base!

A THIRD RUN!

A THIRD RUN!

THE YANKS HAVE A THREE RUN LEAD!

For the first time since the 9th inning of Game 1!!!!

smoltz sounds miserable. and bored.

fucking tool.

[358] And a few hundred yen for Ichiro, yeah.

[370] i lent him my "nostra" palantir. told him to hold on to it til november...

"Very rarely will solo home runs beat you."

We really need Ken Tremendous to beat John Smoltz' figurative head in.

Figuratively speaking, you understand. I abhor violence.

[375] You can throw the rest of the pitching staff in there too

[371] I bow to the binder.

Alright, heading home.

Keep the big man company until I get there, folks.

Go Yankees!

Stay tough CC.

6 outs. Just 6 more outs.

I'm in the minority, but smoltz and co. have not bothered me all that much. Then again, i haven't paid too much attention to them.

[378] But can I subtract $1.675M?

(Joba's salary.)

[379] STAY WHERE YOU ARE

Grittner in left. Now, we really need a double play.

Don't panic now, girardi.

please come back with a quick double play.

STFU, smoltz. stoopid fuck.

Gardner is freeeeeeee!

[384] So, what you're saying is, I shouldn't leave my desk either Mattpat?

[354] I'd vote for releasing him in a year. bad feng shui for the whole organization

Well, 6 outs away or not, I'm fucking nervous.

Oh god

I want D-Rob up. I changed my mind.

Very nervous.

Ruh roh.

How is that "scrambling," Cal?

[393] CC will get out of it just fine.

Nonetheless, I too would like the Hammer ready to pound some Orioles.

homina homina homina.

This reads to me as bat-shy. Sorry to say it, CC

Good pitch.
One more to get by Homer Boy.

Let's go! Big pitch here.

Yes.
Fuck yes.

I love Mark Reynolds.

One down.

SABS!!!

Big.

That's one. Now turn two.

Fuck. And yes.

I don't want Lew Ford to become the new Bucky Dent.

Damn, pasta.

shit.

dp - NOW!!!

DAMNIT

Oh No, late game Pasta!

How does he not throw home?

Damn it.

Waiter, I'll have a plate of Pastadivingjeter. With marinara sauce.

That Grandy long ball is looking big now.

[409] pasta sounds good. i'm eating spinach right now. : )

Give Gardner credit for a cool head not airmailing the ball home and letting the runners move up.

'Tis just a run. CC will hold 'em.

Double play here.

OMG.

Not a fielder.

Oh fuck me.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh Feck.

God fucking damn it.

OMG. what a bunch o' bollocks.

and now it's babe mcclouth.

uh-oh.

Bonehead play there, on both chavez and cc.

Cano was pointing to first there...damn it.

CC fucked up.

;:biting nails::

[428] Good luck on their part, bad luck on ours.

Really fucking nervous.

this is insane.

c'mon CC!!!

Take that Nate.

One more.

YES.

YES.

CHARLES STILL IN CHARGE.

Siddafuckdown.

Ugh - JJ Hardy scares me precisely because he shouldn't.

sit the fuck down, fucker!

ONE MORE!!! (as the pretty blonde in the stands said...)

yeah cc! one more baby...

THAT A WAY, CC!

1 more out, big guy!

Let's go Carsten, bend don't break!

[434] nicole eggert! ; )

Amazing how CC is absolutely coasting thru 7, we then pad the lead, and then CC spits the bit.

[437] thelarmis always notices the pretty blondes... :)

thanks for that insight, cal. sheesh...

So the Yankees do not want the balloon popped, and the Orioles do not want the air to come out. I see.

Sounds like they're on the same page!

Brick currently being shit.

Ladies and gentlemen, John Smoltz, master of metaphor.

[443] : )

One more strike, CC . . .

YES.

Cap can still play.

WHEW!!!

Yes!

No get that run back.

SABS!!!

nice play, cap'n!

Sori for the 9th.

got em! phew.

OK, a little defensive redemption for Jeter. That's probably it for CC. I hope the offense tacks on several insurance runs.

YEAH!

Fuck yeah!

ALRIGHT!!!

Now, more runs please!!

Carsten Charles Sabathia

[442] I'll cut him some slack for giving up a run with a little help from his defence,

Oh, man, that was enough adrenaline for this evening. I was pumping.

Everyone have a deep cleansing sigh. CC knows how.

Did Gardner have no play on Weiters or was it just the smart play making sure the runners didn't advance?

I would very much like a crooked number here for the Yankees

strop it on!

c'mon Cap!!!

I want at least that run back. And then some.

[462] I thought he had almost no chance. Maybe a perfect throw would have got him.

[463] I would definitely settle for a straight one.

I think Gardner made the right call. When you go the other way there, it leads to crying in baseball.

Reynolds over Tex on defense??? Shut the fuck up, you fools!

good. now steal!

Also, I had no idea JJ Hardy was that slow.

Ichiro. Must run?

Pitching change.
Lets get one more please

I've just decided: leave CC in to start the ninth.

Please relay to Joe.

crap.

3 MORE OUTS!!!

NO, a DP is better.

Oy robby shoulda ph'ed arod

Oy. That DP.

Not nice Robinson.

Well, here we go gents.

feck it. just need to shut em down. is it cc or sori?

Leave cc in!!!!!!!!!!

CC or Sori? Even with a short leash on CC, Sori no likey coming in with men on base. What to do?

[481] Who's up first? Jones has been lost, and Davis is a lefty, so I'd leave in CC for now. But have Sori ready at a moment's notice.

It's CC.

[474] done.

[474] Message send and received.

Strike One. Good.

there ya go, RI!

is Sori warmed up?

I'm a wreck

ok, let's do this cc!

[485] Glad to know Joe followed your call.

Two more!

that's ONE!

TWO more!!

One down. Two to go.

1

Don't forget, CC really only gave up one hit in the 8th. The pasta doesn't count, and his own botched fielding attempt doesn't count. Also the walk, of course.

One gone.

Get that stat off my TV, assholes

Big swing and ball off the bat fooled me for a second, then the camera cut comfortingly to gardner, moving leisurely under the pop-up.