Here we go!
TOP 1st
One, two, three go the Yankees! Carmona is doing exactly what he wants to do. Unreal. Just...unreal.
BOTTOM 1st
Grady leads off with a single!! Hot damn, Grady! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!
Interesting that Grady got on board to lead off the game last night, too. Cabrera looking to bunt and move Grady over. I'm getting WAY ahead of myself here, but let's not forget that Toronto stole home on Petite earlier this year...
Wow. Cabrera grounds into a double play just like last night. That's just eerie.
Pronk behind 0-2 just like last night. Petite seems to be more in command than Wang was last night, though.
Fouls off his third pitch. Good pitch inside gets Hafner looking.
TOP 2nd
A-rod pops up on the first pitch. Good stuff from Carmona, although the airborn outs are a little disconcerting, as he's a groundball pitcher. Still, I think those are coming on his change-up and not his sinker, which is a good sign that he's mixing things up at will.
Matsui, whose name I have to assume I'm misspelling every time, comes to the plate and is down 1-2. The crazed Cleveland fans make some noise as Carmona JUST misses.
Fausto nibbles and gets the count to full. We could see that sinker here...but he walks Matsui. Time for the first double play of the night, I think.
Posada gets a first pitch ball, I think the first hitter to get a first pitch ball from Fausto so far today. Carmona gets the count even, 1-1.
Fouled off and now Carmona's ahead. Again, I think we'll see the sinker here, either for the K or for the double play ball. And Posada fights it off for another foul.
Wow, that was a close pitch. I'm kind of surprised Posada took that, but I think he was fooled. And a ball in the dirt gets the count to full. We need something here...
YES!! There it is!! Fausto gets the double play ball!!
BOTTOM 2nd
Victor leads off the inning and takes a ball. And a second. Let's get something started here, Victor...
Victor pops up to Posada in foul territory.
Garko gets a hitters count, but grounds out to Jeter. Great interview with Queen Lateefa (sp?) who mentioned respect with regards to LeBron last night. The national media has not been kind to him today, with good reason.
Peralta 1-1, trying to get something going.
Jhonny works it to 3-1 and Bob Brenley has just decided that the Indians are stealing signs even though we have no one on base. That's nice.
Jhonny with a walk! Lofton up to the plate and the crowd goes crazy. It really is great having this link to the 90's. It's just nice symmetry. It would be even nicer if we won the World Series.
Petite drops a great pitch in on Kenny, 0-1. Big swing makes it 0-2.
I've just learned that there are two t's in Pettitte both times. That looks really wrong. That can't be right, can it?
Lofton breaks his bat and sends it foul.
Jhonny steals! Wow. Runner in scoring position now for Kenny, 2-2 count and he fouls off another one.
GAH!! Kenny rips one to center and Jhonny is cut down by a mile heading home.
TOP 3rd
Cano starts off with two balls, which makes me nervous.
Cabrera with a great play at second! One down.
The other Cabrera starts off with a ball. I preferred it when everyone started down 0-2, not up 2-0.
Wicked pitch to make it 2-1. Another pitch that was probably great but shown from behind the hitter gets the count to even.
Bob Brenley, who earlier accused the Tribe of stealing signs, has now announced to the world what signs the Tribe is using.
1-0 Yankees on a Cabrera home run. The Yankees seem to be celebrating as if they just won the game.
Boy, I wonder if anything strange happened to Doug Minkwhatever yesterday. And flies out to center.
Fausto going right after Damon. He doesn't seem to be too rattled by the homer. A foul ball gets Carmona ahead.
Dribbler to Fausto and we're out of the inning. Time to get the offense going!
BOTTOM 3rd
Michaels up, making his post-season debut. Takes two pitches for balls.
Michaels sends it to right for a stand up double!! And we're in business!
Casey comes up looking to move Michaels over. Gets a first pitch strike. Second pitch, knocks it to the right side and moves Michaels to third!
Grady to the plate, which is probably not our first choice. Grady strikes out a lot. But not so far in the post-season, so let's hope this is the new Grady.
Damn, Grady hits to first and Michaels is stuck at third still, two down.
But now get AC to the plate and I like our chances here. Count's at 2-1 now. Let's go, Cabrera, let's get this run in...
And now we're full. Here we go...
AC goes down looking. Damn.
TOP 4th
Jeter leads off with a single. We need another double play ball...
...but we get a hard out and a great play by Garko at first!
Not liking this situation here, A-rod up with a runner in scoring position. There's a decent chance Fausto will pitch around him, get him to nibble. He's down 2-0, if it goes to 3-0 I think they'll just walk him in hopes of getting a double play ball.
But he fouls off the third pitch, so Carmona can stay on him.
Nice pitch gets the count even. I wonder what Fausto will do here...
How 'bout a strikeout??? Hell yeah!! Great pitch, Carmona!
Now, let's get out of this inning and get back up to bat. I think we can get something started at the bottom of this inning.
Man, he's behind on Matsui, but gets a called strike to go to 2-1. We need this out right here. It would be big to strand a Yankee...
Garko takes it himself and we're out of the inning!! Hot damn!
BOTTOM 4th
Pronk up to lead off the inning. Let's go, Travis, let's get it going...
And he does! Pronk singles to center! Okay, people, let's do this!
Victor up as we're split screened with Shelton. Maybe that's good luck as Victor gets ahead 2-0.
I'm a little worried here. Victor hits into a decent number of double plays. However, he just hit into the stands, 2-1.
It's a good sign that Garko is up this inning. He made a key play last inning, so karma is on his side.
Victor has it at 3-1 now. Let's go...Big rip by Victor and we're full. We need something here, we really do. We need to take advantage of our chances. Pettitte's only at fifty pitches, so we need to make him work.
Crazy ass play and Hafner's at second! Wow. If Pettitte hadn't hit that with his glove, that was two. But instead it's a crazy sac bunt deal without bunting. And now we need Garko to step it up.
Garko takes the first pitch for a strike. We need something here, we really do. I'm worried about the last two to three innings against the Yankees. We need to score before then.
Garko grounds out to Jeter again and Pronk is still stuck at second. This is getting frustrating.
Let's go, Jhonny. Let's go...
Down 1-2. Man, this is so frustrating. Jhonny pops it foul and he's still alive.
Full count now. Here we go...
Down swinging. DAMMIT.
TOP 5th
Fausto ahead 0-1 on Posada.
I'll be honest, this game is killing me. Sure, the top of the fifth last night took a year or two off my life, but this one is peeling away the years. Carmona is doing great, but we need to help him out a bit with our bats.
Full count now and Posada fouls off a sinker. Carmona's pitch count would suggest he can go through six. He walks Posada and it's time for a double play ball -- it's odd that he's only gotten one so far today.
I'm nervous. I don't like being behind at this point, let alone having the lead off guy aboard.
WOW. Fausto Carmona does it again -- double play ball and the bases are clear.
Now Cabrera comes up and I'd expect Fausto to go after him. Let's go, Carmona, let's get him...
And Cabrera gets Cabrera on a grounder and we're clear! *whew*
BOTTOM 5th
Hot damn! Kenny drives the first pitch he sees into right for a single and we have ANOTHER lead off runner!
Even better, Michaels up to bat, and he's got great numbers against Pettitte. He's also a former NL guy, which means he can bunt.
God bless America, this is intense.
NICE BUNT BY MICHAELS!! That's what I like to see!
Okay, Casey, let's go. It's all about momentum, buddy. And he takes a strike because that's what Casey does.
Dammit, Casey down 0-2 just like that. Gwynn actually made a good point -- maybe they should send Kenny?
Meeting at the mound and I might have to pour myself a drink. My liver is not happy about the Indians making the post-season.
Lofton is just messing with Pettitte's head here. Let's hope that works in Casey's favor.
Dammit. Casey flies out to right and it's up to Grady. Fuck me, man. This is so damn frustrating.
Grady has started every at bat from behind. Killing me.
Well, FUCK. Kenny picked off at third. Inning over. DAMMIT!!
TOP 6th
I don't even know what to say anymore. Carmona 1-1 on Doug I-Tripped-Over-A-Camera-Guy.
I've poured myself a drink.
Garko gets more action, one out.
According to the TBS guys, A-rod said to Lofton "I can't believe you fell for that, we got you."
It's hard to believe more people don't like A-rod.
Damon grounds back to Carmona. Two down.
NICE PLAY BY JHONNY!! Three up, three down, and Carmona gets through six with only 75 pitches thrown.
BOTTOM 6th
Grady gets another shot.
Sidenote: They can't change the name of Jacobs Field. I love hearing the national media call it the Jake.
Grady takes a first pitch ball! Nice. Maybe Grady can make something of this second chance.
GRADY GOES THREE!!!
That is what Sizemore means to this team! HOT DAMN!!
Oh, fucknuts. Cabrera taps it back to Pettitte. You know, he was going to show his age at some point.
We still get a few more chances. Let's go, Pronk. Let's make our mark.
Pronk down 0-1 right off the bat. We've got two chances here with Victor on deck.
We are REALLY pressing. Pronk swings at a ball and he's down 0-2. We need to relax (because I clearly cannot).
And Pronk goes down swinging. Man alive, this will be devastating if we don't score.
Victor...he's exactly who I'd want up there right now. He is who I want up there.
Jesus, we're down 0-2. We're going to see Chamberlain soon, too. Man.
Fuck.
Just...fuck.
TOP 7th
Abreu to lead off the inning with a broken bat before he even faces a pitch.
That's pretty freaking hilarious, actually.
And Cabrera makes an error. I think that last AB is in his head. Someone needs to settle him after the inning, assuming we get out of this.
Freaking A-rod. This would kill me. Fausto gets ahead, 0-1.
Carmona ahead 0-2. Let's get this. I'd prefer a double play ball, but I'll take a single out.
STRIKEOUT! Hot damn, good stuff, Fausto.
I can NOT believe how great Fausto has been and the fact that he's in line for a loss right now. It is going to be completely demoralizing to waste a start like this.
Okay, a doubleplay ball would be great here. Fausto behind 2-0.
Garko makes a great play and gets the lead off runner, but no doubleplay. Still, good stuff.
Posada up to bat. Let's get this.
SIZEMORE!!! What a freaking catch!! God bless America, son! That was huge!
BOTTOM 7th
I can't believe it's just the bottom of the 7th. Thank god, though. We need all the chances we can get.
Carmona's only thrown 85 pitches. I imagine he'll be back for the 8th. Who will we see in the 7th from the Yankees?
It's still Pettitte.
Garko up, takes a first pitch strike.
He takes a second pitch strike.
Credit where credit is due. Pettitte has been amazing.
Gimpy McAnkle catches the foul ball, one down.
C'mon, Jhonny, we just need contact, not homers. Okay, we need homers, but let's just focus on contact.
It's 2-1 on Jhonny. He fouls one off to go even.
Wow. Jhonny hits a LONG double! SO close to tying this game!
And, of course, Kenny Lofton is coming to the plate. Dare to dream?
Takes a ball. This is all very familiar...
Walk to Lofton and we see Chamberlain for the first time.
The question is, who will face him first? Michaels? Gut?
It's Gut. He's down 0-1. Let's go, Franklin...
Gut down swinging, Casey flies out to right.
Son of a bitch.
TOP 8th
One pitch, one out for Fausto. I was worried there, that Wedge would pull a Wedge and go to the bullpen.
And now freaking Cabrera is up.
And back to Cabrera again, two down.
Great, the field has been attacked by bugs now. That's lovely.
God, I can't believe we're on the verge of losing perhaps his ONLY start of this series.
1-2 count and the crowd is on its feet! But we go to 2-2.
Man, those bugs look annoying as hell. Now we're at a full count and the announcer just made a horrible pun.
Swing at the bugs! Swing at the bugs!
Another bad pun and a ground out to Cabrera and we're headed to the first three of our last six outs.
BOTTOM 8th
Here we go.
Let's hope those bugs are on our side.
A ball! Is that the first ball he's thrown?
Let's go, Grady. Two balls! Is it...the bugs?
Wow, Grady's at 3-0. This should be interesting...
Walk!
God bless you, bugs.
Wild pitch gets Grady to second! Bunt will move him to third!!
Wow. I can't even believe this.
YES!! AC bunts and Grady is on third!!
Good god, we HAVE to win. We've never bunted this much EVER.
And now...PRONK. It's time. It's time.
Unbelievable. He could not have hit that any better to get out. There is absolutely nowhere else he could have hit that. Jesus.
And Victor with another chance. What freaking luck we've had. We need some karma...
Oh my god. OH MY GOD!!
Grady...TIE GAME. Unreal.
And Garko up with a chance to do some damage.
Garko has a 2-1 count. The bugs are flying. Chamerlain's all over. Give us a meatball...
3-1. C'mon...
Full count. Here we go...here we go...
Walk.
Jhonny up and takes strike one. Of everyone who's been up, he looks the most unfazed by these bugs...
Jhonny fouls it off, 1-2 count. We still haven't had a hit with RISP (aisde from Lofton's).
Jhonny down looking. And we go to the ninth.
TOP 9th
Carmona still in, thankfully. He should be allowed to keep going, as he's only at 95 pitches.
Fausto seemed like he did a good job despite the bugs at the end of the 8th. Hopefully he can keep that up.
Damon grounds to Cabrera and there's one down.
Carmona up 0-2 with pitch number 100.
Jeter fouls off a meatball, it looked like. Carmona's getting anxious, I think. Like I said, this could be his only appearance in this series -- and he gets Jeter swinging!! Two down!!
Dammit, Abreu aboard on an infield hit and freaking A-rod steps up.
I hate moments like this. It seems poetic for A-rod and I don't like that one bit.
I've poured myself another drink.
Let's go Fausto. You've earned this.
Ahead 0-1 on a foul.
"Let's go Fausto! Let's go Fausto!"
Ahead 1-2 now. God, this is killing me. Why must I be such a fan? I'm dropping years on my life left and right.
Dammit, Abreu steals. We need to get A-rod out here. We need to just get him. Count at 2-2 now.
Fouls it off, breaks his bat, still 2-2.
They're showing highlights of A-rod beating us in the ninth early in the season. We need this. It's payback time. We need this. C'mon...
Inside, count is full. I don't know if I can watch.
Where's the remote? Where's the Gameday feed? I can't watch this...it's too much for me and I'm not a strong man!
That four foul balls in this at bat. Good god, this is killing me.
STRIKEOUT!!!!
GOOD GOD.
BOTTOM 9th
And here we go. HERE WE GO.
Lofton to lead off and ready to make amends for getting picked off.
Kenny Lofton is hitting .863 in the post-season. Or at least he was, until he just flied out to center. Time for another one of our rookies to step up...
Gut down 0-1. He's 1 for 1 lifetime against Rivera! Good stuff.
Inside for a ball, 1-1.
Vicious swing, vicious pitch and it's 1-2.
And he goes down and we're down to Casey Blake who...well, he's freaking due is what he is!
I would imagine Perez will pitch the 10th, with a lefty coming up. But let's hope it doesn't get to that point...
Casey takes ball one.
Casey pops out to center and we go to extras.
Time for another drink!
TOP 10th
Pitching isn't the issue tonight, so much as gnat ignoring.
Perez in like I figured, 1-0 on Matsui, who worries me. Then again, I suppose they all worry me at this point.
Perez turns it around, 1-2. Crowd on their feet!
Pop up on the infield, Casey makes the catch. One down.
Posada up and I'm nervous again. On paper, we should be in good shape here, and that always worries me when we look better than the other guys on paper. It's like the kiss of death.
And Perez is up 0-2. A quick inning would be great here and I can't believe I'm even saying such things.
Gut at the warning track, hauls it in, and there's two down.
Cano up now and he pops up to Jhonny and it's three up, three down!!
BOTTOM 10th
Top of the order...here we go...Let's do this!!
Grady behind 0-2 on a strike and a foul. I have a good feeling about this inning. Don't ask me why. It might be the whiskey talking.
Hey, a Major League joke. Go figure.
Grady is fighting. That's a good sign. He's making Rivera work. Even if nothing comes from it, he's setting him up for AC. Good stuff, Grady.
And another foul! That's seven pitches so far.
Nine pitches so far! Grady is doing good work here for AC at least.
Sizemore strikes out but gets on!!
Grady EARNED that base. I don't care if Posada made a bad throw or not, Grady WORKED for that.
AC with a GREAT bunt! Grady at second and Pronk up now!!!
He's due...he's due...he's due...
Pronk down 0-2. He's going to beat the shift. He's going to hit it down the third baseline. I can feel it...
He's worked it back to 2-2. Good god.
Weak grounder to second, but Grady moves 90 feet closer. Now any kind of a single would do it.
And the lead of this team steps up to the plate...
And they walk him which leaves it all up to Garko. It's all up to the rookie. Let's go.
"Let's go Garko! Let's go Garko!"
Please, let's go! PLEASE!
Wow. Garko gets hit, which even I would have to question.
He DID NOT lean in. In fact, Garko pulled back AFTER it hit him. Strange.
And now it's Jhonny, hoping to make up for that single in the top of the inning.
Let's go, JP. It's time to shine.
Jhonny down 1-2 and he strikes out a lot. Dammit. C'mon. I am ready to POP!
And what did I say? He strikes out swining. FUCK!!!!!!
TOP 11th
Perez gets the first out to Gut.
Substitution, Duncan in for Mc-Kay-Vich. Perez up 0-2.
The count goes to 2-2 on a pitch just high.
PERALTA! Makes a NICE throw from the hole to get Duncan, two down!
Damon up, Perez gets ahead 0-1 on a foul. I don't like the look of Damon here.
We're at the four hour mark of this game.
Let's get him, Perez. Let's get him and get into that bullpen.
At 1-2 now and the crowd is up!
STRIKEOUT!!! Hell yeah!
BOTTOM 11th
I keep preaching symmetry. Lofton leads off the inning yet again!
This is what I'm talking about! New pitcher! And Lofton has a 3-0 count. I think he'll take...and he does! WALK!!
Gut up now, probably to bunt. He's gotten five down this year. Fingers crossed.
Gut fouls the first one. One more shot or we send Lofton, I think.
Vizcaino (sp?) is trying to hold Lofton.
Gut is 0-2 and can't bunt, I don't think. He's got to be shitting bricks, honestly. Hell, let him swing away. He's due.
Clearly, they think Lofton's going to go.
Gut 1-2 in a really long AB. Lofton is in his element.
SINGLE!!
Casey with the bunt!! Runners on second and third with one out! GRADY TO THE PLATE!!
And they're going to WALK Grady!!
AC in a position to make up for that dribbler to the mound earlier...
Down 0-2...Oh, god, I can't take much more of this.
DAMMIT
Down to Pronk now.
DAMMIT!!!!!!
Pronk at 3-2. Oh, my god.
GAME WINNER!!!!
I can't...I can't even process what I just watched for four and a half hours...
Friday, October 5, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
ALDS Game 1 In Game Blog
I need to do something with myself. It's only a quarter to four out here in Los Angeles, so I'm all alone watching the game.
TOP 1st
C.C. just got hosed on two pitches to Abreu.
I think C.C.'s a bit wired for sound. He just need to get through this inning and I think he'll be fine, but that's easier said than done.
A guy on the radio this morning pointed out that Derek Jeter, when getting a pitch inside, sticks his ass out as if to dodge it, regardless of whether it's necessary or not. I'd never noticed it before, but he did it in his first at bat tonight and it's pretty funny.
C.C. 1-2 on A-rod.
Sabathia doesn't seem to be afraid to run in on these guys, which is good to see. I'd rather he hit guys than give up hits (is that wrong?).
C.C. now 3-2 on A-rod. I don't know if I'm going to be able to watch this game with the sound on. Between the "0-6 in the regular season" and "A-rod's poor post-season performance" bits, I'm not sure I can handle three plus hours of this. Please, god, someone give them something else to talk about.
Yes, Sabathia walked two guys, but I stand by my claim that only the second one was legitimate.
Oh, yeah, people overlook POSADA. Yeah, he never gets, say, ESPN commercials about him. He never lost to freaking Pudge Rodriguez in All Star voting.
C.C. really is getting clamped down on the zone.
Sabathia threw two identical pitches in a row. One a ball, one a strike. And I LIKE Bruce Froeming.
He's 0-2 on Matsui after striking out Posada. C'mon, C.C....
Grounder to Cabrera and we're out of it. Okay, I have faith in C.C. to settle down now.
BOTTOM 1st
And before I can be excited about Sizemore getting hit, Cabrera hits into a double play.
Pronk at 1-1. Technical difficulties prevent TBS from giving us the fancy baseball card graphics for the Yankees line-up.
Down 1-2 now. We can't go in order, dammit.
Fall tip keeps it at 2-2. We're at a full count now, and Pronk keeps battling. The Jake looks good in HD.
Walk! Starts from behind and pulls out a walk. Good stuff, Pronk.
Oh, joy, TBS got it working and we get the baseball cards.
Victor got a pitch to hit and fouled it off. Plus side here, he can't hit into a double play. Aside from Grady, everyone has started off 0-1. In fact, Victor is 0-2 now.
Shot of Tony "Turncoat" Pena in the dugout. Shot of Wedge eating what has to be either Roloaids or magic mushrooms.
Victor singles! This is a good sign. Both Pronk and Victor showed great composure.
Ryan Garko's very first post-season AB. Contact, Garko, contact.
As Bob Brenley points out, not so much with the speed on the bases. So they try to pick off Pronk to no avail.
Garko SINGLES!!! HELL YEAH!!
Holy shit, that was awesome. I really don't know if I can handle nine innings of this, let alone at least three games...
Let's go, JP! Good god, this is insane. I'd forgotten this feeling.
Shot of Roger Clemens. That's nice.
JP takes a slider to go to 2-1. Then he fouls off a tasty pitch. Oh, Jhonny, come on...
Full count.
Fights off a nice pitch to stay alive. It might have been outside, but it was close.
Another foul. At least we're getting that pitch count up there.
Another foul! Good fight, Jhonny.
Draws a walk!! Oh my god. Oh my god. This is insane.
Okay, Kenny, let's do this, man. Fouls off the first pitch.
HELL YEAH!!! Kenny drives in TWO!
Oh, Jhonny, we could have kept that going. But whatever, I'll be upset about that later!
TOP 2nd
Okay, maybe not the whole game. Maybe not even as everything happens.
But SWEET JESUS, VICTOR! That was HUGE. HUGE!!
Yes, another walk, but I think C.C. is coming around.
We need to go after Wang again.
BOTTOM 2nd
Gut pops up on only two pitches.
Blake behind 1-2 and the "Yankees suck" chat has begun!
Casey goes down swinging. But we did all our damage last inning with two outs, so maybe this is okay.
Grady 1-1. Wang keeps trying to pitch him in, but I don't think it's working. And he goes outside this time for a 2-1 count.
Grady fouls one off, 2-2.
GRADY WITH A SINGLE.
Two outs now, I wonder if he'll get the green light to go. They probably have a read on Wang now, unlike last time.
And they got him. Dammit.
TOP 3rd
So I don't want to jinx it, but someone obviously said something to C.C. Sweet fancy Moses, Sabathia! Clearly, he's not happy with Johnny Damon and he's 0-2 on Jeter.
Jeter does the ass thing again on a pitch no where near him and it's 1-2.
He does it again on a pitch that WAS near him, 2-2.
AND JETER ALMOST FALLS DOWN swinging, two outs!
Abreu at 1-1, now at 1-2.
C.C. sends a message! Watch for in your ear!
Full count and C.C. walks him. And stupid A-rod.
Shot of Wedge looking like he'd rather be somewhere else.
And A-rod pops up! And no one yells "mine" at Jhonny when he catches it!
BOTTOM 3rd
AC up first, down 1-2 so far. Count goes even.
SOLO SHOT FOR CABRERA!!
Wow. Just...wow. And right after they were talking about what a great trade that was to get him.
Good pitch by Wang gets the count to 1-2 on Pronk, who grounds out to second.
Are you kidding me? LeBron is at the game with a Yankees hat on. WTF? I know you're a fan of the Yankees (which is sad in and of itself), but why show up to the game like that?
HA! TBS guy asked him if he's a "frontrunner"! His favorite teams are the Cowboys, Bulls, and Yankees? Total bandwagon. TOTAL.
Victor with a 2-1 count. Flies out to center.
Garko 2 for 2 tonight! Singles on a bloop to right!
Jhonny flies out to right to end the inning.
We're a third of the way through and that bottle of Jack Daniels in my kitchen is beginning to look awfully good.
TOP 4th
Posada gets a called strike one and whines about it. I really can't stand that guy.
Gut with a running grab in right.
Wedge looking grizzly. He must have ulcers as big as my head.
Sabathia ahead 0-2 on Matsui and gets the K!
C.C. has turned it around. He's getting ahead of these guys like we're used to seeing.
Swinging strike gets the count to 2-2.
Shit! Solo shot by Cano. Goofy camera man runs down the third base line with Cano.
C.C. comes right back and gets the first strike on Cabrera. And then he pops up to AC to end the inning.
BOTTOM 4th
Kenny up to start the inning, looks at a bunt, takes a strike. Second pitch in the dirt.
Bunt foul, 1-2. Pitch way outside and we're even.
Kenny pops up to second, one down.
I'd like to see Gutierrez get a good at bat here. Even if he doesn't make something happen, seeing a few pitches would really do him some good, I think.
He's worked a 3-0 count. He'll take, I'm sure. And he does, for a strike.
Gut draws a walk! Good AB for him. Casey needs one, too. He's only seen a few pitches.
They're holding Franklin at first. I don't think he'll go, but I think they'll decoy him.
Shoot, should have sent him. Casey makes contact, but sends it to A-rod who get Gut at second. Casey was a few inches from a double.
Grady up again. Let's go, Grady!
Sizemore down 0-2 on a meaty pitch he let go. Great shot of Grady smiling, though. Clearly, the man is enjoying himself so far.
We need to work more pitches out of Wang. He's around 60 now, but we need to knock him out sooner than the 6th.
Grady works the count even, 2-2. The announcers are spreading the Sizemore love.
Wang keeping Blake in check, what with the -- is four? -- steals this year.
Grady drives in foul. And then takes a pitch for strike three.
TOP 5th
Correction, Wang has throw 76 pitches through 4. We need to knock him out this inning.
C.C. comes out dealing to the new first baseman. He's 1-2. That third strike always seems like the hardest for the Tribe pitchers. Fouls off the next pitch.
Sabathia drops in a beautiful slider, but Duncan doesn't bite. Goes high heat and misses and now we're full.
Pulls it foul down the third base line.
Singles the other way. Shot of Duncan, who doesn't look like the sharpest knife in the drawer.
C.C. is still clearly angry with Johnny Damon. Starts him off with a strike. He just misses the outside corner, 1-1.
Again, just outside, 2-1.
Sabathia gets HOSED on a call on the outside, 3-1. C.C. walks him, again getting hosed on the corners. I know they keep pointing out the walks Sabathia has had, but more than a few have been questionable at best.
Jeter up now. First pitch ball. Sabathia needs to relax. And just as I say it, Carl Willis comes out.
Jeter flies out to right, Gutierrez with a good arm holds the runners at second and third.
Abreu up and we need a double play...
RBI double and we're only up by one.
And I've poured myself a drink.
Intentional walk to Bush League, I mean A-rod. And of course my second least favorite Yankee is up next. I don't know if I can keep watching...
Wow.
Just...I can't believe we're still winning this game.
BOTTOM 5th
We need to score. We need to score and knock Wang out because we've sen the last of C.C. and I honestly don't know who's going to pitch the 6th. We need to get to their bullpen.
Actually, dollars to doughnuts Jensen Lewis makes his first post-season appearance in the 6th.
AC in a 3-1 count. Let's go...
Yes! Leadoff walk!
TBS puts stats up for the starters, but they're strangely off by ONE pitch on Wang's numbers. How odd.
Pronk up and gets a lead off ball. Let's go, let's go, let's get something going here.
Tony Gwynn points out that Froeming isn't giving the pitchers the outside corners. It's taken him four and a half innings to catch on to this fact??
While I would love a blast from Pronk right here, I'd settle for a hit. Or a walk, as the count goes to 2-1.
Pronk pops out to center.
HELL YES!! VICTOR GOES YARD!! 6-3 Indians!!!
Interview John Adams all game!!
Wang has got to be on his last legs. Let's go, Garko, let's knock him out.
Not a good start, Garko down 0-2.
Garko connects, but right to second. Two down.
Jhonny on a bloop into right field but had two all the way!
Kenny with a chance for insurance!
Lofton with a career night!!! JP comes in to score, 7-3 Tribe!
Wang is gone and some guy I've never heard of is in! And Lofton steals! And single will get us another run!
Let's go, Gut, we need to get you some confidence...
Gutierrez goes down to 1-2. Gut is amped. You can tell by the look on his face. Just stay calm, Gut. Rookie on rookie here...
Works it back to a full count! Does the rookie try to make a pitch? Or meatball?
Tries to make a pitch and misses and it's a walk to Gut!
Good AB by Franklin. All of our guys are working the count, really, aside from Casey so far, so now is the time.
And it IS!! Casey doubles into right and drives in TWO!!
Wow, we're 4 for 4 with RISP. Wow. Wowowowowowowowow.
Grady up, takes a strike. Now takes two.
Grady fouls off to stay alive.
Not for nothing, but did I or did I not say we needed to get to their bullpen early?
Grady pops out to center.
Wow. 9-3 Tribe. Wow.
TOP 6th
Wow, it's Perez to start the 6th. So are they going to try to get two out of him? At this point you want to save your bullpen, at least somewhat. Maybe one for Perez, one for Lewis, one for Betancourt, one for Borowski? Just to get them all some post-season work with a big lead?
Perez 2-2 on Cano. Cano fouls off again. He's going towards third over and over.
Cano grounds to a perfectly position Jhonny, one down.
Perez with his first K of the post-season! Cabrera goes down swinging.
Everyone on their feet for a 1-2 count to Duncan. He fouls off the pitch.
Shot of Carmona watching the game, munching on sunflower seeds. He looks calm. He's got to like the looks of his offense.
We're at 2-2 now. Everyone standing again. Perez's pitch is low and we're full.
Strikeout!! World, Perez, Perez, world.
BOTTOM 6th
Time to add insult to injury! The rookie (whose ERA is currently 27.00) is still in there. Let's stick it to them. Statement game!
Cabrera with a 2-2 count at this point. Make that 3-2. But he grounds out to second.
PRONK!! A line drive home run from PRONK!! Damn, that ball got out fast.
Victor with a double! He's 3 for 4! As I said with Perez, hello world, this is Victor Martinez. Get to know him.
The Yankees are leaving the rookie in. They seem determined to make him suffer.
Garko 2-3 tonight. Let's go, Gark. Let's keep it going.
Garko gets hit and we've got two on with one out!
Jhonny grounds to Jeter who goes to third.
Which brings Lofton up for another shot!
NO WAY! Lofton with a double to drive in ANOTHER run!! That is a man who wants a freaking ring.
Gut pops up and we go to the 7th.
TOP 7th
Perez picks up where he left off and strikes out Damon. I doubt he'll get many headlines after a game like this, but Perez is really shining. People keep talking about how the Yankees never saw C.C. this year -- well, they didn't see much of Perez, either.
Gut with a great catch in right field! That's another "who is that guy" moment. It's time for the rest of the world to meet future all stars!
Wedge has got to get Lewis in next inning. It just makes sense to get him some time with a lead and there's no reason to use Betancourt or Borowski.
Crowd on their feet for 0-2! STRIKE THREE!!
Amazing. Just amazing.
BOTTOM 7th
Casey goes down on strikes. Blakes seems to be more and more of a momentum guy these days. If he has it behind him, he does well. If not, he's more likely to strike out.
Grady pops out.
The announcer just said "a coming out party for Cabrera," which is a great point, but you can say that about so many guys on our team. It's insane.
Hughes strikes out Cabrera to end the inning. My friend the Red Sox fan has warned me that we only have so many runs to score in the series, so we need to save some.
Only six outs to go.
TOP 8th
From my mouth to Wedge's ears, Jensen Lewis is in! And he's ahead 0-2 on A-rod!
Throws inside for the first ball. That third strike is the rough spot for Lewis. And he gets A-rod to pop out!
That's what I'm talking about -- Lewis gets his first post-season appearance against A-rod, but he's got some padding behind him. This is exactly what he needed.
Posada flies out to Lofton, two down.
Man, Lewis just picks his spot and hits it. Crazy. He's up 0-2 now and the crowd is up!
Three pitches!! Matsui down on THREE PITCHES!! Jensen Lewis is the man.
BOTTOM 8th
Pronk up again and looking surly.
He hits it hard, but not far enough, flies out to center.
Wow, Victor is a triple shy of the cycle. Granted, he's only ever hit one in his life. But it wouldn't shock me tonight.
And, no, flies out to left.
Garko up, still 2 for 3 tonight, I believe, after getting hit last inning. He's down 0-2 at this point, though.
Hughes trying to win himself a starting job, it would seem.
GARKO GOES YARD!!
A nice even dozen, thank you!
Wow, Garko's first post-season game and he goes 3 for 4!
Jhonny gives it a ride, but ends up just short. And we go to the 9th, three outs left to get!
TOP 9th
Huh. Betancourt is in. Don't know about this one, but I suppose it gets him some work.
And Cano goes down on three pitches.
Oh, god, on the home run recap they played the music from Major League. Should have seen that one coming.
Man, Perez struck out four batters in two innings. Lewis struck out one in a single inning. Betancourt already has one and has Cabrera at 2-2.
Lofton makes a great catch in left! Just in case we needed proof that he could do it all.
And we're one out away from taking game one!
And stupid roid rage Giambi gets a single past the shift.
Okay, let's end it with Damon -- it would only be appropriate, given how the game started.
Betancourt is 0-2 on Damon...here we go...high for ball one.
The pitch...low for ball two. Raffy is doesn't want to give him anything.
The pitch...high for ball three. Full count now. Okay, let's do this, Raffy.
Fly out to Grady!! Game 1 goes to the Tribe!!
TOP 1st
C.C. just got hosed on two pitches to Abreu.
I think C.C.'s a bit wired for sound. He just need to get through this inning and I think he'll be fine, but that's easier said than done.
A guy on the radio this morning pointed out that Derek Jeter, when getting a pitch inside, sticks his ass out as if to dodge it, regardless of whether it's necessary or not. I'd never noticed it before, but he did it in his first at bat tonight and it's pretty funny.
C.C. 1-2 on A-rod.
Sabathia doesn't seem to be afraid to run in on these guys, which is good to see. I'd rather he hit guys than give up hits (is that wrong?).
C.C. now 3-2 on A-rod. I don't know if I'm going to be able to watch this game with the sound on. Between the "0-6 in the regular season" and "A-rod's poor post-season performance" bits, I'm not sure I can handle three plus hours of this. Please, god, someone give them something else to talk about.
Yes, Sabathia walked two guys, but I stand by my claim that only the second one was legitimate.
Oh, yeah, people overlook POSADA. Yeah, he never gets, say, ESPN commercials about him. He never lost to freaking Pudge Rodriguez in All Star voting.
C.C. really is getting clamped down on the zone.
Sabathia threw two identical pitches in a row. One a ball, one a strike. And I LIKE Bruce Froeming.
He's 0-2 on Matsui after striking out Posada. C'mon, C.C....
Grounder to Cabrera and we're out of it. Okay, I have faith in C.C. to settle down now.
BOTTOM 1st
And before I can be excited about Sizemore getting hit, Cabrera hits into a double play.
Pronk at 1-1. Technical difficulties prevent TBS from giving us the fancy baseball card graphics for the Yankees line-up.
Down 1-2 now. We can't go in order, dammit.
Fall tip keeps it at 2-2. We're at a full count now, and Pronk keeps battling. The Jake looks good in HD.
Walk! Starts from behind and pulls out a walk. Good stuff, Pronk.
Oh, joy, TBS got it working and we get the baseball cards.
Victor got a pitch to hit and fouled it off. Plus side here, he can't hit into a double play. Aside from Grady, everyone has started off 0-1. In fact, Victor is 0-2 now.
Shot of Tony "Turncoat" Pena in the dugout. Shot of Wedge eating what has to be either Roloaids or magic mushrooms.
Victor singles! This is a good sign. Both Pronk and Victor showed great composure.
Ryan Garko's very first post-season AB. Contact, Garko, contact.
As Bob Brenley points out, not so much with the speed on the bases. So they try to pick off Pronk to no avail.
Garko SINGLES!!! HELL YEAH!!
Holy shit, that was awesome. I really don't know if I can handle nine innings of this, let alone at least three games...
Let's go, JP! Good god, this is insane. I'd forgotten this feeling.
Shot of Roger Clemens. That's nice.
JP takes a slider to go to 2-1. Then he fouls off a tasty pitch. Oh, Jhonny, come on...
Full count.
Fights off a nice pitch to stay alive. It might have been outside, but it was close.
Another foul. At least we're getting that pitch count up there.
Another foul! Good fight, Jhonny.
Draws a walk!! Oh my god. Oh my god. This is insane.
Okay, Kenny, let's do this, man. Fouls off the first pitch.
HELL YEAH!!! Kenny drives in TWO!
Oh, Jhonny, we could have kept that going. But whatever, I'll be upset about that later!
TOP 2nd
Okay, maybe not the whole game. Maybe not even as everything happens.
But SWEET JESUS, VICTOR! That was HUGE. HUGE!!
Yes, another walk, but I think C.C. is coming around.
We need to go after Wang again.
BOTTOM 2nd
Gut pops up on only two pitches.
Blake behind 1-2 and the "Yankees suck" chat has begun!
Casey goes down swinging. But we did all our damage last inning with two outs, so maybe this is okay.
Grady 1-1. Wang keeps trying to pitch him in, but I don't think it's working. And he goes outside this time for a 2-1 count.
Grady fouls one off, 2-2.
GRADY WITH A SINGLE.
Two outs now, I wonder if he'll get the green light to go. They probably have a read on Wang now, unlike last time.
And they got him. Dammit.
TOP 3rd
So I don't want to jinx it, but someone obviously said something to C.C. Sweet fancy Moses, Sabathia! Clearly, he's not happy with Johnny Damon and he's 0-2 on Jeter.
Jeter does the ass thing again on a pitch no where near him and it's 1-2.
He does it again on a pitch that WAS near him, 2-2.
AND JETER ALMOST FALLS DOWN swinging, two outs!
Abreu at 1-1, now at 1-2.
C.C. sends a message! Watch for in your ear!
Full count and C.C. walks him. And stupid A-rod.
Shot of Wedge looking like he'd rather be somewhere else.
And A-rod pops up! And no one yells "mine" at Jhonny when he catches it!
BOTTOM 3rd
AC up first, down 1-2 so far. Count goes even.
SOLO SHOT FOR CABRERA!!
Wow. Just...wow. And right after they were talking about what a great trade that was to get him.
Good pitch by Wang gets the count to 1-2 on Pronk, who grounds out to second.
Are you kidding me? LeBron is at the game with a Yankees hat on. WTF? I know you're a fan of the Yankees (which is sad in and of itself), but why show up to the game like that?
HA! TBS guy asked him if he's a "frontrunner"! His favorite teams are the Cowboys, Bulls, and Yankees? Total bandwagon. TOTAL.
Victor with a 2-1 count. Flies out to center.
Garko 2 for 2 tonight! Singles on a bloop to right!
Jhonny flies out to right to end the inning.
We're a third of the way through and that bottle of Jack Daniels in my kitchen is beginning to look awfully good.
TOP 4th
Posada gets a called strike one and whines about it. I really can't stand that guy.
Gut with a running grab in right.
Wedge looking grizzly. He must have ulcers as big as my head.
Sabathia ahead 0-2 on Matsui and gets the K!
C.C. has turned it around. He's getting ahead of these guys like we're used to seeing.
Swinging strike gets the count to 2-2.
Shit! Solo shot by Cano. Goofy camera man runs down the third base line with Cano.
C.C. comes right back and gets the first strike on Cabrera. And then he pops up to AC to end the inning.
BOTTOM 4th
Kenny up to start the inning, looks at a bunt, takes a strike. Second pitch in the dirt.
Bunt foul, 1-2. Pitch way outside and we're even.
Kenny pops up to second, one down.
I'd like to see Gutierrez get a good at bat here. Even if he doesn't make something happen, seeing a few pitches would really do him some good, I think.
He's worked a 3-0 count. He'll take, I'm sure. And he does, for a strike.
Gut draws a walk! Good AB for him. Casey needs one, too. He's only seen a few pitches.
They're holding Franklin at first. I don't think he'll go, but I think they'll decoy him.
Shoot, should have sent him. Casey makes contact, but sends it to A-rod who get Gut at second. Casey was a few inches from a double.
Grady up again. Let's go, Grady!
Sizemore down 0-2 on a meaty pitch he let go. Great shot of Grady smiling, though. Clearly, the man is enjoying himself so far.
We need to work more pitches out of Wang. He's around 60 now, but we need to knock him out sooner than the 6th.
Grady works the count even, 2-2. The announcers are spreading the Sizemore love.
Wang keeping Blake in check, what with the -- is four? -- steals this year.
Grady drives in foul. And then takes a pitch for strike three.
TOP 5th
Correction, Wang has throw 76 pitches through 4. We need to knock him out this inning.
C.C. comes out dealing to the new first baseman. He's 1-2. That third strike always seems like the hardest for the Tribe pitchers. Fouls off the next pitch.
Sabathia drops in a beautiful slider, but Duncan doesn't bite. Goes high heat and misses and now we're full.
Pulls it foul down the third base line.
Singles the other way. Shot of Duncan, who doesn't look like the sharpest knife in the drawer.
C.C. is still clearly angry with Johnny Damon. Starts him off with a strike. He just misses the outside corner, 1-1.
Again, just outside, 2-1.
Sabathia gets HOSED on a call on the outside, 3-1. C.C. walks him, again getting hosed on the corners. I know they keep pointing out the walks Sabathia has had, but more than a few have been questionable at best.
Jeter up now. First pitch ball. Sabathia needs to relax. And just as I say it, Carl Willis comes out.
Jeter flies out to right, Gutierrez with a good arm holds the runners at second and third.
Abreu up and we need a double play...
RBI double and we're only up by one.
And I've poured myself a drink.
Intentional walk to Bush League, I mean A-rod. And of course my second least favorite Yankee is up next. I don't know if I can keep watching...
Wow.
Just...I can't believe we're still winning this game.
BOTTOM 5th
We need to score. We need to score and knock Wang out because we've sen the last of C.C. and I honestly don't know who's going to pitch the 6th. We need to get to their bullpen.
Actually, dollars to doughnuts Jensen Lewis makes his first post-season appearance in the 6th.
AC in a 3-1 count. Let's go...
Yes! Leadoff walk!
TBS puts stats up for the starters, but they're strangely off by ONE pitch on Wang's numbers. How odd.
Pronk up and gets a lead off ball. Let's go, let's go, let's get something going here.
Tony Gwynn points out that Froeming isn't giving the pitchers the outside corners. It's taken him four and a half innings to catch on to this fact??
While I would love a blast from Pronk right here, I'd settle for a hit. Or a walk, as the count goes to 2-1.
Pronk pops out to center.
HELL YES!! VICTOR GOES YARD!! 6-3 Indians!!!
Interview John Adams all game!!
Wang has got to be on his last legs. Let's go, Garko, let's knock him out.
Not a good start, Garko down 0-2.
Garko connects, but right to second. Two down.
Jhonny on a bloop into right field but had two all the way!
Kenny with a chance for insurance!
Lofton with a career night!!! JP comes in to score, 7-3 Tribe!
Wang is gone and some guy I've never heard of is in! And Lofton steals! And single will get us another run!
Let's go, Gut, we need to get you some confidence...
Gutierrez goes down to 1-2. Gut is amped. You can tell by the look on his face. Just stay calm, Gut. Rookie on rookie here...
Works it back to a full count! Does the rookie try to make a pitch? Or meatball?
Tries to make a pitch and misses and it's a walk to Gut!
Good AB by Franklin. All of our guys are working the count, really, aside from Casey so far, so now is the time.
And it IS!! Casey doubles into right and drives in TWO!!
Wow, we're 4 for 4 with RISP. Wow. Wowowowowowowowow.
Grady up, takes a strike. Now takes two.
Grady fouls off to stay alive.
Not for nothing, but did I or did I not say we needed to get to their bullpen early?
Grady pops out to center.
Wow. 9-3 Tribe. Wow.
TOP 6th
Wow, it's Perez to start the 6th. So are they going to try to get two out of him? At this point you want to save your bullpen, at least somewhat. Maybe one for Perez, one for Lewis, one for Betancourt, one for Borowski? Just to get them all some post-season work with a big lead?
Perez 2-2 on Cano. Cano fouls off again. He's going towards third over and over.
Cano grounds to a perfectly position Jhonny, one down.
Perez with his first K of the post-season! Cabrera goes down swinging.
Everyone on their feet for a 1-2 count to Duncan. He fouls off the pitch.
Shot of Carmona watching the game, munching on sunflower seeds. He looks calm. He's got to like the looks of his offense.
We're at 2-2 now. Everyone standing again. Perez's pitch is low and we're full.
Strikeout!! World, Perez, Perez, world.
BOTTOM 6th
Time to add insult to injury! The rookie (whose ERA is currently 27.00) is still in there. Let's stick it to them. Statement game!
Cabrera with a 2-2 count at this point. Make that 3-2. But he grounds out to second.
PRONK!! A line drive home run from PRONK!! Damn, that ball got out fast.
Victor with a double! He's 3 for 4! As I said with Perez, hello world, this is Victor Martinez. Get to know him.
The Yankees are leaving the rookie in. They seem determined to make him suffer.
Garko 2-3 tonight. Let's go, Gark. Let's keep it going.
Garko gets hit and we've got two on with one out!
Jhonny grounds to Jeter who goes to third.
Which brings Lofton up for another shot!
NO WAY! Lofton with a double to drive in ANOTHER run!! That is a man who wants a freaking ring.
Gut pops up and we go to the 7th.
TOP 7th
Perez picks up where he left off and strikes out Damon. I doubt he'll get many headlines after a game like this, but Perez is really shining. People keep talking about how the Yankees never saw C.C. this year -- well, they didn't see much of Perez, either.
Gut with a great catch in right field! That's another "who is that guy" moment. It's time for the rest of the world to meet future all stars!
Wedge has got to get Lewis in next inning. It just makes sense to get him some time with a lead and there's no reason to use Betancourt or Borowski.
Crowd on their feet for 0-2! STRIKE THREE!!
Amazing. Just amazing.
BOTTOM 7th
Casey goes down on strikes. Blakes seems to be more and more of a momentum guy these days. If he has it behind him, he does well. If not, he's more likely to strike out.
Grady pops out.
The announcer just said "a coming out party for Cabrera," which is a great point, but you can say that about so many guys on our team. It's insane.
Hughes strikes out Cabrera to end the inning. My friend the Red Sox fan has warned me that we only have so many runs to score in the series, so we need to save some.
Only six outs to go.
TOP 8th
From my mouth to Wedge's ears, Jensen Lewis is in! And he's ahead 0-2 on A-rod!
Throws inside for the first ball. That third strike is the rough spot for Lewis. And he gets A-rod to pop out!
That's what I'm talking about -- Lewis gets his first post-season appearance against A-rod, but he's got some padding behind him. This is exactly what he needed.
Posada flies out to Lofton, two down.
Man, Lewis just picks his spot and hits it. Crazy. He's up 0-2 now and the crowd is up!
Three pitches!! Matsui down on THREE PITCHES!! Jensen Lewis is the man.
BOTTOM 8th
Pronk up again and looking surly.
He hits it hard, but not far enough, flies out to center.
Wow, Victor is a triple shy of the cycle. Granted, he's only ever hit one in his life. But it wouldn't shock me tonight.
And, no, flies out to left.
Garko up, still 2 for 3 tonight, I believe, after getting hit last inning. He's down 0-2 at this point, though.
Hughes trying to win himself a starting job, it would seem.
GARKO GOES YARD!!
A nice even dozen, thank you!
Wow, Garko's first post-season game and he goes 3 for 4!
Jhonny gives it a ride, but ends up just short. And we go to the 9th, three outs left to get!
TOP 9th
Huh. Betancourt is in. Don't know about this one, but I suppose it gets him some work.
And Cano goes down on three pitches.
Oh, god, on the home run recap they played the music from Major League. Should have seen that one coming.
Man, Perez struck out four batters in two innings. Lewis struck out one in a single inning. Betancourt already has one and has Cabrera at 2-2.
Lofton makes a great catch in left! Just in case we needed proof that he could do it all.
And we're one out away from taking game one!
And stupid roid rage Giambi gets a single past the shift.
Okay, let's end it with Damon -- it would only be appropriate, given how the game started.
Betancourt is 0-2 on Damon...here we go...high for ball one.
The pitch...low for ball two. Raffy is doesn't want to give him anything.
The pitch...high for ball three. Full count now. Okay, let's do this, Raffy.
Fly out to Grady!! Game 1 goes to the Tribe!!
ALDS Game 1
I don't know what to do with myself.
"We should have gotten a real chicken."
I spent most of the 1997 World Series watchng the games at my house (I was a senior in college) with my friends Mike, Jason, and Scott, drinking 40's of malt liquor.
I watched every game of the 1995 World Series from my dorm room. I probably drank a lot of Natural Light.
For the life of me I can't remember what I did during the 2001 ALDS, aside from watching the first game in a bar. Clearly, I must avoid going to a bar in the next seven minutes.
Right around the seventh inning, though, I might start drinking.
They've just started the very short pre-game show for the game. Big shot from the sky of Jacobs Field. I got chills.
Okay. Let's do this.
"We should have gotten a real chicken."
I spent most of the 1997 World Series watchng the games at my house (I was a senior in college) with my friends Mike, Jason, and Scott, drinking 40's of malt liquor.
I watched every game of the 1995 World Series from my dorm room. I probably drank a lot of Natural Light.
For the life of me I can't remember what I did during the 2001 ALDS, aside from watching the first game in a bar. Clearly, I must avoid going to a bar in the next seven minutes.
Right around the seventh inning, though, I might start drinking.
They've just started the very short pre-game show for the game. Big shot from the sky of Jacobs Field. I got chills.
Okay. Let's do this.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Indians @ Royals, 9/29/07
I hate the Red Sox.
I think I've just been waiting for something to send me over the edge. Let's face facts, it's an organization that likes to pretend they're the underdog, that they're the polar opposite of the "evil empire," yet they've basically become Evil Empire, Jr. And Red Sox Nation is even worse. "Oh, we're so tortured" and yet they're really not. They buy what they need when they need it. Try being the Indians, jackasses.
But I've held my bile in check. Part of that is the fact that I actually hate the Yankees more, so the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Part of it is my friend Matt, who was born a Red Sox fan (and who freely admits that he'd prefer to support a different team, but you don't get to choose these things, as Indians fans know only too well). And sure, I probably fell for their charm in 2004.
No longer.
Minutes after the Indians managed to lose to the Royals, the Red Sox made their decision as to which ALDS they would be playing in.
Now, every Red Sox fan I've talked to has said the same thing. Every sports analyst online and on TV has said the same thing. Basically, the Red Sox would benefit the most from the short series, because their opponents, be they the Angels or the Indians, have a pair of aces and the last thing the Red Sox would want to do is allow the other team to pitch both of their aces twice in a single series. On top of that, the Red Sox basically have an ace (Beckett) and some other guys who are sometimes great and sometimes awful.
Like I said, it seemed that everyone who was anyone piece together that the Red Sox would benefit most from the shorter series.
Clearly, none of those people actually WORK for the Red Sox. Because they picked the long series.
I have underestimated the appeal of facing Lackey and Escoabar twice each in a five game series. I have underestimated the cloning abilities of the Boston Red Sox, as they have obviously created a second Josh Beckett.
I would like to hit someone now.
I think I've just been waiting for something to send me over the edge. Let's face facts, it's an organization that likes to pretend they're the underdog, that they're the polar opposite of the "evil empire," yet they've basically become Evil Empire, Jr. And Red Sox Nation is even worse. "Oh, we're so tortured" and yet they're really not. They buy what they need when they need it. Try being the Indians, jackasses.
But I've held my bile in check. Part of that is the fact that I actually hate the Yankees more, so the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Part of it is my friend Matt, who was born a Red Sox fan (and who freely admits that he'd prefer to support a different team, but you don't get to choose these things, as Indians fans know only too well). And sure, I probably fell for their charm in 2004.
No longer.
Minutes after the Indians managed to lose to the Royals, the Red Sox made their decision as to which ALDS they would be playing in.
Now, every Red Sox fan I've talked to has said the same thing. Every sports analyst online and on TV has said the same thing. Basically, the Red Sox would benefit the most from the short series, because their opponents, be they the Angels or the Indians, have a pair of aces and the last thing the Red Sox would want to do is allow the other team to pitch both of their aces twice in a single series. On top of that, the Red Sox basically have an ace (Beckett) and some other guys who are sometimes great and sometimes awful.
Like I said, it seemed that everyone who was anyone piece together that the Red Sox would benefit most from the shorter series.
Clearly, none of those people actually WORK for the Red Sox. Because they picked the long series.
I have underestimated the appeal of facing Lackey and Escoabar twice each in a five game series. I have underestimated the cloning abilities of the Boston Red Sox, as they have obviously created a second Josh Beckett.
I would like to hit someone now.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Indians @ Mariners, 9/26/07
Well then.
Some of that unbridled confidence I had as we headed towards the post-season dropped away last night. Sure, we've all gone back and forth on the issue at hand, but the last two nights have proven that our weak spot is glaringly obvious, and his name is Joe Borowski.
It's hard to imagine calling the league leader in saves a weak spot, but that's the way it is.
Rivera, K-rod, Papelbon, Borowski -- one of those things doesn't match, does it?
He is our closer, though, and I don't see that changing any time soon. We have an option on him for next season and I can't see any possibility that would cause the Indians to pass on that.
Some people have suggested Betancourt become our closer (in fact, I think the majority of people on the official posting board have done so). But we tried that with him last year and he didn't do so hot.
Honestly, I see the future of the ninth inning being Jensen Lewis. He has 33 strikeouts in 28 and a third innings. His ERA 2.20 and dropping. He's only getting better and I think we'll see him become the heir apparent next season behind Borowski.
Anyway, we only need to win one more game to secure, at least, the second best record in baseball, which means we'll get the wild card winner and, most likely, the longer division series.
So we've got that going for us.
Some of that unbridled confidence I had as we headed towards the post-season dropped away last night. Sure, we've all gone back and forth on the issue at hand, but the last two nights have proven that our weak spot is glaringly obvious, and his name is Joe Borowski.
It's hard to imagine calling the league leader in saves a weak spot, but that's the way it is.
Rivera, K-rod, Papelbon, Borowski -- one of those things doesn't match, does it?
He is our closer, though, and I don't see that changing any time soon. We have an option on him for next season and I can't see any possibility that would cause the Indians to pass on that.
Some people have suggested Betancourt become our closer (in fact, I think the majority of people on the official posting board have done so). But we tried that with him last year and he didn't do so hot.
Honestly, I see the future of the ninth inning being Jensen Lewis. He has 33 strikeouts in 28 and a third innings. His ERA 2.20 and dropping. He's only getting better and I think we'll see him become the heir apparent next season behind Borowski.
Anyway, we only need to win one more game to secure, at least, the second best record in baseball, which means we'll get the wild card winner and, most likely, the longer division series.
So we've got that going for us.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Indians @ Seattle, 9/25/07
It's the bottom of the 6th and Jensen Lewis has just come in to relieve Aaron Laffey who just walked the tying run. There are runners at the corners with two outs.
Laffey threw 74 pitches, which is right around his apparent cut off of 75-85. It's clear they don't want to over work the rookie. He did a good job tonight, getting lots of ground ball outs. It will be interesting to see what he ends up doing next spring.
And Lewis gets a pop out to end the inning. Good stuff.
The Red Sox won and the Yankees lost, which is nice. I want that mess decided.
Texas beat the Angels, which is even better. It's not so much that we need to have the best record in baseball, we just need to have a better record than the Angels.
Why? Well, it breaks down like this:
From what I've read, the Red Sox would prefer a quick five game series, as they're going to face one of two teams who arguably have two aces each (the Tribe and the Angels). I would imagine the Yankees would feel the same way. For those two teams (with their pitching), it's not about who they can send out there so much as who they'll face. The Yankees choice, however, is irrelevant if they're the wild card.
So if we have the best record in baseball, it's our choice. If we don't have the best record in baseball, we just need to make sure the Angels don't and that we don't play the Red Sox. In other words, we HAVE to play the Yankees, which will happen if we either a) have the best record in baseball or b) have a better record than the Angels.
Follow all that?
Jensen Lewis gets a strikeout to end the 7th. I told you Lewis could be big. I wonder how long they'll leave him out there -- through eight?
Nope, Perez for the eighth. Borowski for the ninth, I would imagine. Fingers crossed that will be the case.
Laffey threw 74 pitches, which is right around his apparent cut off of 75-85. It's clear they don't want to over work the rookie. He did a good job tonight, getting lots of ground ball outs. It will be interesting to see what he ends up doing next spring.
And Lewis gets a pop out to end the inning. Good stuff.
The Red Sox won and the Yankees lost, which is nice. I want that mess decided.
Texas beat the Angels, which is even better. It's not so much that we need to have the best record in baseball, we just need to have a better record than the Angels.
Why? Well, it breaks down like this:
From what I've read, the Red Sox would prefer a quick five game series, as they're going to face one of two teams who arguably have two aces each (the Tribe and the Angels). I would imagine the Yankees would feel the same way. For those two teams (with their pitching), it's not about who they can send out there so much as who they'll face. The Yankees choice, however, is irrelevant if they're the wild card.
So if we have the best record in baseball, it's our choice. If we don't have the best record in baseball, we just need to make sure the Angels don't and that we don't play the Red Sox. In other words, we HAVE to play the Yankees, which will happen if we either a) have the best record in baseball or b) have a better record than the Angels.
Follow all that?
Jensen Lewis gets a strikeout to end the 7th. I told you Lewis could be big. I wonder how long they'll leave him out there -- through eight?
Nope, Perez for the eighth. Borowski for the ninth, I would imagine. Fingers crossed that will be the case.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Playing It Out
So they've set the rotation for the remainder of the season and our two aces both get one more start.
Tues: Laffey
Wed: Sowers
Wed 2: Carmona
Thurs: Byrd
Fri: Sabathia
Sat: Westbrook
Sun: TBD
ESPN.com actually has Westbrook going Friday and Sabathia Saturday and Sowers pitching on Sunday, but what I wrote above is from the Plain Dealer. For that matter, it makes little sense for Sowers to pitch on Sunday, as it would be short rest.
Basically, Sabathia gets extra time off now, but regular time between his last start and his first post-season start (if it's Oct. 3rd) and Carmona's last start comes on regular rest, but he gets extra time before the post-season (as does Byrd).
It will be interesting to see who backs them up in those doubleheaders.
The mailbag over on the Tribe's official site raised an interesting point about the #3 starter debate. While I figured the debate existed because Jake, when on, can be far more dominate than Byrd, I didn't consider the other aspect: the offense.
Byrd's catcher is Shoppach, so any time Byrd pitches Victor goes to first and Garko sits. Pulling a bat like that out of the line-up is not exactly something you want to do.
For that matter, if the Tribe ends with the best record (or plays the team with the best record), they can opt for the longer series which starts on Oct. 3rd. The series is so long, in fact (day off between first two games, travel days, etc.), that Sabathia and Carmona could start games 1, 2, 4, and 5 on regular rest. If Westbrook starts the third game, then the Tribe has their normal offense going in every game.
At this point, I think it might make more sense to move Jake to the #3 spot. Sorry, Byrdie, you've been great this year, but all things considered (they should call a show that) using Jake at #3 makes more sense.
Honestly, at this point I hope we get that longer series and I hope we get the Yankees because I like our odds with C.C. and Fausto going twice each.
Tues: Laffey
Wed: Sowers
Wed 2: Carmona
Thurs: Byrd
Fri: Sabathia
Sat: Westbrook
Sun: TBD
ESPN.com actually has Westbrook going Friday and Sabathia Saturday and Sowers pitching on Sunday, but what I wrote above is from the Plain Dealer. For that matter, it makes little sense for Sowers to pitch on Sunday, as it would be short rest.
Basically, Sabathia gets extra time off now, but regular time between his last start and his first post-season start (if it's Oct. 3rd) and Carmona's last start comes on regular rest, but he gets extra time before the post-season (as does Byrd).
It will be interesting to see who backs them up in those doubleheaders.
The mailbag over on the Tribe's official site raised an interesting point about the #3 starter debate. While I figured the debate existed because Jake, when on, can be far more dominate than Byrd, I didn't consider the other aspect: the offense.
Byrd's catcher is Shoppach, so any time Byrd pitches Victor goes to first and Garko sits. Pulling a bat like that out of the line-up is not exactly something you want to do.
For that matter, if the Tribe ends with the best record (or plays the team with the best record), they can opt for the longer series which starts on Oct. 3rd. The series is so long, in fact (day off between first two games, travel days, etc.), that Sabathia and Carmona could start games 1, 2, 4, and 5 on regular rest. If Westbrook starts the third game, then the Tribe has their normal offense going in every game.
At this point, I think it might make more sense to move Jake to the #3 spot. Sorry, Byrdie, you've been great this year, but all things considered (they should call a show that) using Jake at #3 makes more sense.
Honestly, at this point I hope we get that longer series and I hope we get the Yankees because I like our odds with C.C. and Fausto going twice each.
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