It’s supposed to rain for much of the night down in Baltimore so we’ll see if they get the game in or if there are delays or what. Phil Hughes gets the start. Given his luck he’ll begin the game, do ok, then it’ll be delayed for a few hours and that’ll be that for him. But if the weather holds up and if he’s given the chance to pitch uninterrupted the call here is that he’ll do just fine. I’m not predicting brilliance but I say he’ll be better than average.
Brett Gardner CF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Alfonso Soriano LF
Robinson Cano 2B
Vernon Wells RF
Eduardo Nunez 3B
Mark Reynolds 1B
Brendan Ryan SS
Chris Stewart C
Never mind the rain drops:
Let’s Go Yank-ees!
[Painting by: Nikolai Nikanorovich Dubovskoy, Silence, 1890 ]
I'm all in on pennant race ridiculousness.
EMBRACE THE MADNESS YOU GUYS!!!
Right now in suburban DC, it's hurricane weather.
I find myself getting too excited, setting up for the inevitable let down. OTOH, were what, 2.5 behind Texas for the 1st WC?
The NOAA forecast looks dire.
Guess I'll watch the Pats and Jets...
[1] Why not? I smile every time I imagine Bud Selig picking up the paper and finding out the Yankees have won again and Alex has done something else to help them.
It's taken quite a while, but this team has played its way into my heart. They're like a horror movie villain, they just won't stay dead ...
Via lohud, 8:20 first pitch.
Yeah, hm. Just around kickoff time...
Nice.
Now a long one, please.
Robbie is the team MVP. And he's been so valuable to such a depleted team he's got a case for league MVP.
Nerts. O.k. Phil, don't suck.
[9] Exactly. Please, Phil, don't suck.
Oh, no.
Gritner???
May the home runs be solos.
Wait, Phil is starting again? In B'more? I'm frightened of him facing CDavis..
Wait, what the hell happened to Brett?
Damn Oriole bastard! Oh, wait. Yay, Mark.
[14] He had a check swing K in the first, showed a real quick grimace and went directly into the clubhouse.
Reynolds ... RAPPED!!!
[15] Pain grimace? River Ave suggests maybe he was tossed for arguing. No?
[15] Thanks. Wrist?
Curry says maybe oblique.
Dear Phil,
DON'T WASTE THIS!
KTHXBYE
Left oblique strain.
Yeah it looked like it was Brett's left side. Shite.
Yes showed the replay once and Kay and Singleton both said they didn't see anything I SAW IT. I'm in the wrong business I tells ya! lol.....
Pour it on 'em boys, pour it on!
Hi all.
C'mon Robbie put 2 more on the board.
Hooray!
Well Hells Bells for Wells!
Or Vernon!
Hey Vern!
C'mon boys, make this lead Hughes Proof!
2 from this inning is NOT enough.
[25] おはよう！
I like this new offense very very much.
Reynolds, wrapped ...
[34] True Outcomes Reynolds.
The BoSox tie it up in the 6th, still batting. The Indians have a big lead in Chicago.
Mo Almighty! Brett might be screwed for the year. Fucking Bollocks!
Phil Phinishes!
Wow, that's nice to see.
[37] But of course! We need to wrap Cano in bubble wrap.
Isn't it a school night for Machado?
Couldn't phinish Machado.
Very sad about Gritner. Just a snake bit year.
Fuck you, blue!
WTF ump?
Straight down Broadway!
Wow, I'm impressed. It was shaping up to be one of those classic Hughes innings, but he bore down and blew away a very, very tough batter.
Need.
More.
Runs.
I imagine one is Palmeiro
Nune5!
Eduardo Nunez fucking sucks.
Fucking Nune5 ...
I don't understand this friggin' move at all. And I think Hughes stinks, too!
Yeah, I don't get it either.
I guess Joe thinks Hughes is crap after 50 pitches or so?
Yikes.
Super quick hook from Joey Joe Joe ...
Hughes deserved another batter or two. I guess Huff was warm and couldn't wait much longer.
Sori with the leather!
Hang on, I just realized -- their DH is/was Wilson Betemit??
[57] One of my all time least favorite Yankees
[57] Yup. Hughes pulled in a huff.
[57] Wow! No idea he was still in the league.
In related news..did you know Kevin Youkilis played for the Yanks this year? (it never stops being funny...)
[60] I don't even know why they allow that useless sack in the dugout. Seeing his head on tv boils me blood! Bah. Worst signing evah!
[60] He was injured most of year, with only 9 ABs. KY's back was jelly.
[62] As a non-athlete with on/off back trouble I should not make fun..but still. Awfil signning by CashMone.
[63] Ouch..worst typos evah! 'Awful signing by CashMoney'!!
Well, so far, Joey Joe Joe is looking damn good ...
True Outcomes Reynolds.
[62] ISWYDT
[64] But CashMoan is kinda accurate.
Wow, "Megan's Law" might be worse with the bat than Nune5 is with the glove ...
Great play, Robbie!
I've not been at all impressed with Ryan's defense.
The Rays have the lead and some base runners.
Phew.
Mr. "Best SS in Baseball" looked like shit again on that play ... but he couldn't stop ROBBIE CANO!!!
[71] Small sample, but so far not so great.
I for one, will miss Curtis if and when he's gone.
Isn't it grand
Might be able to rest the good relievers tonight
GRANDY!
[77] For sure they could have, if Hughes had pitched four and Huff four. I still don't get the quick hook.
[79] Joe manages *weird* in a pennant race.
Weirder than usual.
Alex watches six pitches.
Hook?
Markakis! Damn you!
Time for Bullpen Roulette!!!
Sox get two runners in the ninth but can't score 'em. Rays win.
Mo for 8 outs tonight?
AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!! HOLY SHIT!
Uh.
Who closes? D-Rob for six outs?? Boone?
NAILED.
Scary situation.
Fuck.
OH NO. And Joba is warming up.
Alabama getaway.
Bullpen roulette, and D-Rob's chamber was loaded. Damnit.
Oh, right I forgot, you can't write that word.
Bullpen rouxlette,and D-Rob was the loaded chamber.
Brendan Ryan: hit machine.
Chris Stewart: somehow managing to reach base machine.
Hmm. Turn channel at 5-2. Turn back and it's 5-5. sigh...
Curtis Granderson: bunting machine out of order.
So Ryan is 1-8 with three Ks, lousy D and he just tripped over nothing on an easy advance play.
WAR. What is it good for?
Fixed.
The ol' throw it the backstop play.
Love that go ahead wild pitch.
No, I don't want to go ahead on an unearned run.
Okay, I changed my mind.
Need at least 2 more runs.
Uh. IBB Alex to face Soriano???
What, just to get the DP?
Genius.
I hope that's good enough. We're protective of Mo these final days. It's always a lot to ask.
C'mon No!
I question whether David Robertson will be an effective closer next year. Guess I'm getting ahead of myself.
Ohhhh. So that's the plan.
I thought he was unavailable.
I feel confident!
Is this our old friend C-Dick?
C'mon, Mo! One more baby!
That's a beaut! Just win. Praise be to Mo.
Uno mas...
Thanks be to Mo!
Praise to MO! It's always something else.
All praise to Mo!
All hail M0 ...leads the AL in saves. Yanks take seasons series vs. O's
That'll do. Now sweep Boston
Mo gets the win instead? I guess D-Rob couldn't deserve it.
I heard the 9th inning note radio. Sterling talked about how baseball is unpredictable the entire time, along with this being the wildest and most improbable win. Then Suzyn strung together 8 sentences without a breath as she spoke with Ryan after the game.
[121] Yeah, that sounds about right.
Oof. I just read about Gritner. Will suck if he's done for the year....
Note radio? Thanks a lot, iPhone. On the radio..., like the Joe Jackson song.
I was too polite to mention it.
You know me.
Hey, stand by for a RIYank Geo-Historical Picture puzzle! Maybe tomorrow.
[123] Sorry, what? Suzyn and Joe Jackson did a duet??
I typed "I heard the 9th inning ON THE RADIO". My iPhone apparently changed it to "I heard the 9th inning NOTE RADIO", for some unknown reason. I didn't notice until I posted another comment.
But, yes, Suzyn and Joe Jackson did a duet together. I got the 3" gatefold promo Japanese CD single off ebay for $6.66 ; )
[125] "Doncha know that it's different for girls?"