And Nick Swisher hit a game-ending grand slam this afternoon in Cleveland as the Indians beat the Angels in 10 innings.

[1] Cool hit bro

So, who will pitch the seventh and eighth innings tonight? I won't be pessimistic by asking about the sixth.

Phew. Don't run into Mark. He's fragile.

Of course Melky would get a hit.

Now that Cano is gone, Melky on the Yankees next year when he's a FA?

C'mon Phelps. Do better! :)

OUT!

Mr. Phelps. We will have to disavow all knowledge of you. (I hope not)

challenge!

Leiter vindicated.

Too funny.

Melky cut down by the Yankees. That last sequence might be the turning point of the game.

Ok, here's something about this replay business. I don't like the idea to begin with because I tend towards knee-jerk traditionalism.

That said, I could live with it if there were some element of risk involved, if the umpires and the players were on even footing.

One should NOT be allowed to use intel from video to mount a challenge. Instead, a challenge should only be initiated by the player who is involved. Or *maybe* by anyone on the field or in the dugout.

But it's just too easy if all you have to do is ask someone watching footage. I mean, why have umpires on the field at all, then? Why not just reassign them to the camera crew and let them ump from there?

Gardy!

[13] Well, I get your point, but I think this way they get it right more often and I like those results better. It's a bit of a trade off in terms of what's more important to each of us.

[9] Ghost protocol.

(I know, I'm mixing media.)

That's become a Jeter special!

Good start.

Me gets a run in.

[15] I do like the getting it right part, but I really don't like a 3 minute review that shows that the tag at second on a steal actually missed the player by two inches.

[15] Well, fair enough, but if getting it right is the highest priority, then clearly the most logical thing to do would be to have the umps ump from the booth. There's just zero reason for them to be on the field in that case.

yay a run!

(13) live ball plays have to be called in real time. But I get your point. I sometimes wish that balls and strikes were called by machine...

[20] Fair enough. They do need to continuously work on efficiency.

[21] It's a fair thought, though I think at least one of them would need to be on the field so the players can be told the call. And there would need to be a quick way to signal things mid-play, such as fair or foul ball on a close one down the line.

[23] It could still be real time if the home plate ump was in the booth. Just push a button to render the verdict on the scoreboard.

argh.

Sigh.
You hate to see that.

Great throw by Kratz. If it was on the bag Jeter would have been safe.

[24] Yes, good points.

Okay, I have a confession. I am watching Greece play Japan right now. Listening to the baseball.

I'm embarrassed, but I felt I was living a lie if I didn't confess.

[30] Phelps just karim garcia'd the batter. I can't believe you missed that!

[30] hahahahaah

Ten Hail Mary's and two Our Father's.

[31] Who?

[33] was that a no no reference?

[32] How about if I say ten "Hail Andy"s and two "Our Closer"s?

The match is an exciting nil-nil tie, by the way, in the 84th minute. So, yeah, I got it bad.

[33] [34] Heh, no. Think about it.

[34] Who is Karim Garcia. Old reference.

Wayne Tolleson playing second base for Toronto.

[36] [37] ok, i do recall now there being something along those lines. Memory must be going...

[39] I don't remember how it got started.

[38] The little pitcher? Who's older than I am?

[39] Pedro.

And the soccer match ends in a thrilling nil-nil draw. (Actually it is huge for the Greeks, since it keeps them alive, and Japan are better, and Greece got a red card ejection early.)

Beltran Beats Bautista!

Beltran sneaked right on in there!

Damn, should have said:
Beltran Beats Bautista's Bazooka!

Chin music.

gotta love that 50 pitch count.

Gawdalmight.

Ugh. Remember when Jetes was the guy you wanted to be up with two out and the bases juiced?

0-2 Derek? Really?

Ah Derek, it would have been magic.

And as I log in to say "Good job so far Phelpsy" ... he gives up a line drive single ...

Damn you Melky!

And then ... a 2 run jack.

I'll be leaving now ...

Fuck.

[53] Happy Phelps Day!

In Phelps' defense giving up two runs with a Yankee Stadium special, and then recovering is not so bad.

I like Ellsbury's swing.

Me!!

Dang. Jacoby won't challenge.
I guess the ball was hit too hard.

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict the game won't end 2-2.

[56] Phil Hughes Made Me Cry.

[60] Olé, olé-olé-olé! Olé... Olé!

What's the count?

I thought that was strike three.

Uh.
Well, the first two strikes were foul balls, so I'm guessing that was indeed strike three.

[61] My crying days were over! Phil Hughes made me drink.

What in the name of fuck was that?

Fly ball, please. Preferable a very, very long one.

Dammit, McCann!

We're not going to score this run, are we?

Jacoby is very good at running.

Holy fuck!

That took BALLS!

ooh that was close.

It never even occurred to me he'd tag on that one.

Wow.

I'll take it.

oh he dropped the ball. I totally missed that. He would have been out I think too.

[71] And wheels.

Man, Ellsbury is my kind of guy. He's a valuable player.

So we're 2-for-5 with RISP, scored three runs, but only on sac flies.

Can't predict baseball.

[77] I always considered him overrated, but he's surely our MVP. Well, among position players.

wow. I don't think i've seen that called in a long time.

Wow. Never seen that one before.
[78] You are correct.

This is the hardest rule in baseball, I think. How interference gets called.

Oh, ffs.

Let's just get on with it.

holy mess.

Okay, but it's not that hard. How on earth could Navarro be safe on first??? Deep confusion.

I saw Clay Bucholz pitch this afternoon for Pawtucket. He's just as ugly in person. : ) Unfortunately, he tossed 6 shutout innings..

Hard to believe that it's only the fourth inning.

OK, I've never actually seen offensive interference called in a game before. That said, the result doesn't make any sense. I thought the ball is dead at the moment of interference, the interferring player is called out and the other runners go back to the bases they started from. So shouldn't that mean the runner goes back to homeplate and his AB continues?

[78] Well, that's doing it the right way.

[87] I know.

This could be a four hour 9 inning game.

[88] I know.
I am trying to research this, but I'm a bit drunk and I keep getting mixed up.

I wish the team would start hitting.

[42] Terrible result for Japan, up a man and can't score?

So what I miss here on Phelpsy Day?

RIP Horace.. :(

Okay, I think I understand it.

When the runner interferes unintentionally with a fielder's attempt to play the ball, the play is dead. This means Teixeira cannot put out the batter by catching the fly ball (because nobody can be put out when the play is dead). Runners may not advance, except that runners (including the batter) already in the act of advancing may take the base they were heading toward.

So that's why Navarro was ruled safe at first.

I mean, that's the best I can do. Not confident about this.

[95] Which rule is that? I'm still sober.

[94] I think a different Horace Clarke passed away, not our long time Yankee.

No, that was Harry Met Sally.

Also, it's nice that Kay and I are on the same page re: the Wave.

Nice play.

Pfew!

NICE JOB, PHELPSY!!!

[99] They did the Wave??

I miss Old Yankee Stadium..

There he goes again.

He's such a good hitter. He just hits it where it's pitched.

Funny to see Phelps look for the ball and react like it was animation, when he found it. Reminded me of little league for some reason.

Dammit, thought that one was going to the wall.

[102] Evidently.

[105] Me too.

[102] And Paulie said that he liked it ...

[102] I hate the wave. Never participate because Yankee fans don't do that.

RUN, RUN, RUN!!!

[96] 5.02 is the main one. Also look at 7.09.

Me with another steal!

[102] I miss OYS too, but fans did the wave there as well.

Bravo, Ellsbury.

He's trying to single-handedly win this baseball game.

Phew, good throw would have had him.

[115] Whew.

Ellsbury has to steal third so he can score on a fly. No other way.

Oops, too late.

[116] Potatoe.

Thank you, Beltran.

Fucking warning track!

Woot!

OR THAT!!!!

ok i can stop complaining about Beltran!

Well, 1 less than we could have had, but I'll take it!

Is it too much to ask for a hit?

[111] Thanks. Guess it wasn't willful.

Man, two fat runs for Ichiro...

Damn it.

Damn it.

Damn it.

[126] It was.

Beltran! 5-Hour Energy!! (mlb.com TV users will get that)

Side note: Texas released Daniel Bard from Single A. He had a 175.50 ERA, walking or hitting 16 of the 18 batters he faced..feel bad for that guy. What happened?

Endut! Hoch Hech!

[131] A cautionary tale for everyone suggesting the Yankees turn around and put Betances back in the rotation?

[133] Ouch..remember when Joba & Bard were going to have a 10-tear rivalry as fireballers? Pitchers..don't fall in love with them.

[131] Yeah, head case.
[133] Yike, food for thought. (I'm one of those 'everyone's.)

Jerk fan almost effed up that Gardner catch.

[102] I just watched most of the 1977 WS Game 6 on Youtube. It just made me miss OYS even more than I already did. And I mean OYS in it's best post-remodelled configuration, with a real Death Valley in LCF.

[95] Aha, thanks. I'm too distracted this evening to do the leg work myself. Maybe later, once I'm ore drunk.

[137] I have the DVD box-set of the '77 Serious. Also includes the LCS game 5 against the Royals, the Nettles & Brett fight game. Death Valley was 430 then I think?

Good old 708(b).

[135] My name is Bill and I'm a head case...

[140] I missed it. Did Leiter say it's rule 7.08(b)? That's wrong. That's intentional offensive interference.

COME ON, PHELPSY. ONE MORE OUT DAMMIT.

Kay did.

Did Bard get injured or did he just lose it? For half a season he was among the most exciting young players.

Yay!

[145] He just lost it. All between the ears, 100%.

As Cult intimated, they put him in the rotation for a while, and that may well have been the cause, I dunno. He hit batters like crazy, they sent him to Pawtucket and he hit batters there... it was awful.

Good job, Phelpsy!

Now, who the hell is available in the bully?

[148] Fuck all. Not Betances, who had to pitch yesterday with a four run lead. Adam Warren maybe for an inning, his two were fairly easy. D-Rob for one. So I'd say we need one inning out of the scrubs.

Warren might be available for an inning

Another run would be big. Presumably by sac fly.

A Giambi throw!

Wheeeeeeeee!

Brian! Thank you Jays.

[149] [150] Yeah, Warren maybe for an inning. Whew.

Brian pulls an Ellsbury!

Aaron Loup in the for the Jays..that's a name asking for some puns.

NO PLAYS.

NO. PLAYS.

I think the answer to the question "Who pitches the seventh?" is: Phelps.
At least he starts it.

[156] He left 22 loopy.

Hey, Brian!!

Okay, I allow that, that's not covered by [157].

I'm loving this running game.

Come on, Brett, don't the fuck strike out.

Good.

Hang in there.

And I'm going to give Brett permission to steal.

[162] Interesting! Not, "Don't strike the fuck out"?

I'm kind of so afraid Derek will bounce into a DP that I would kind of prefer to see him try to bunt Gardner over to give Ellsbury a chance to drive in two.

[165] I really meant it. Really trying to get his attention.

Yay!

Wow, that was a play. It was a play, and the got a run because of it. I'll be damned.

Can't predict baseball.

Wow.

Jesus, that was lucky.

I guess that's even better than my bunt idea.

Jeter saved by a moving Gardner.

nice!

Man, is the ball dying out there tonight? I swear there have been several occasions where I was convinced the ball would travel farther than it did.

Dang, missed that. Had to out the dogs to bed.

[173] It was a hit-and-run (I think, not a straight steal), Gardner took off and Jeter's would-be GIDP turned into an RBI.

[174] Thanks. Looks like Phelps for hitters 8 & 9

Ahhhhh.
Good work, Phelpsy.

I'm starting to not hate him, I have to admit.

Clap clap clap clap!

Bravo, sir.

One. More. Out.

[174] So, by sending Gardner, Girardi converted Jeter's AB from one of moral failing to an example of selflessly playing teh game teh right way and doing what it takes to get the run home.

[176] What's to hate?

He's a cromulent back-end starter.

STRIKE THREE!

Oh, that was sweet!

Goddam.

Okay, I am officially won over. Phelpsy da man.

Well hells bells. Good on ya' Phelpsy! This Bud's for you.

GOOD JOB PHELPSY!!!

[179] Yes. The fragility of virtue.
And, the beauty of smallball. By forsaking the selfish longball, you convert your teammates to virtue.

Day-um. Phelpsie for the 7th too. CC who?

[180] I'm not sure. I just despised him. But it's over. I'm over it. I feel a lot better.

The bourbon doesn't hurt, either.

Now, how about 5 more runs.

Meanwhile, I amuse myself by feeding some bastard aphids to my ladybugs.

Feast! FEAST MY MINIONS!!!

Through the shift ... nice!

Overthrowing. Take something off

[188] Whoa. You take this Baal thing seriously, huh?

I'd like to point something out.

Yesterday:
Whitley. Warren. Ramirez. Betances. Robertson. Nine innings, almost all of them grade-A.

Today:
Seven innings of Phelps, also grade-A.

The common thread: all home-grown.

Looks like Shawn Kelley will break the string though. (At least the home-grown part; I hope not the grade part.)

Dang, Ichiro.

Shit, thought he got less of that.

You can't bring up Karim Garcia and not expect me to be summoned!

Ok, back to work I go. Have to submit my final grades now that the quarter just ended...

GO YANKS!!! GO BANTER!!!

[191] Those little orange bastards are all over my butterfly weeds (milk thistle). Like, this aggression will not stand, man!

RI - I have out a lot of A's, too. But also a lot of non-A grades...

[197] Good.

I hate grades, actually. But, ya gotta.

C'mon Jervis, work it and hurt it!

Green light please!