I don't think there's any way Burkett will go five. He'll be gone as soon as he gets in trouble, which might be very early; he's 0-6 with an ERA of 8.49 in 10 career starts against the Yankees. Suppan is available, and -- even though he's had just one day of rest -- so is Wakefield. It will be a committee of starters if necessary.

The Yanks are sure to get a few runs today. Either the Boston hitters will come through, or it's over. To me, that means they need to do something in the early innings. It's not all Nomar's fault; Millar and Mueller have been quiet too. Someone has to Cowboy Up.

I hope it goes seven just so there's baseball tomorrow; regardless of the outcome, a Clemens-Martinez rematch would be another highlight of this unforgettable tournament.

In keeping with my pledge not to watch the game, I will merely note that Rob Neyer in his column today suggested that the Red Sox squeeze three out of Burkett, three out of Suppan, and hope the bullpen can keep them in the game.

Of course, many runs can be scored in three-inning increments. Or one single inning. (See: Game Six, Marlins vs. Cubs, circa last night.)

Giambi seems to have figured out Burkett's belt-high straight ball.

1-0 Yanks.

In keeping with my pledge not to watch the game

Me, too Gitz. It's called "employment."

Actually, my brand new VP boss is a Yankee fan and is not here. We suspect, seriously, that he is at The Stadium.

Giambi seems to have figured out Burkett's belt-high straight ball
That belt-high straight ball is also known as Sunday afternoon senior slo-pitch.

All these bloops and flares are gonna look like line drives in the box score. 4-1 Sox.

You know, Ramirez is not that smart a runner. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that he was running hard because he thought there were 2 outs, or simply because he wasn't paying attention.

I hope that the Boston 3rd has shown everyone how stupid it was for a team like the Sox to try 3 hit and runs in the early innings, creating a double play each time.

A team that has as many good hitters as this could have been expected to get at least 1 big inning out of those 3. If they had, they might be up 3 to 2 in games instead of being down.

Apart from Varitek's upper-deck bomb to tie the game, they weren't hitting Pettitte hard, but the two walks killed him. Burkett has a cushion and a longer leash now, so Wakefield might be able to enjoy another day off. Bring on a seventh game!

Nice catch by Damon.

Pedro followed by Wakefield in game 7 would be a nasty combination.

Burkett is finally getting hit. Any reason that Little is continuing to attempt to milk innings out of him?

With runners at first and third and one out, Burkett fell behind Nick Johnson 3-0 and eventually grooved a fastball. It's 4-2 but would have been 4-3 on a triple if it didn't bounce into the stands. Boone cashed him anyway with a groundout, and Burkett is back on a very short leash.

Nomar boots the third out. Curses.

Any other premature predictions? This post-season is just crazy. Here comes the bullpen.

You just knew that would happen. Garcia, who reached on the E-5, comes around to score on a long double by Soriano and the Yankees lead 5-4.

That was some piece of managing. Instead of being proactive and either pulling Burkett after 3 or after the first sign of trouble in the 4th, Little now waits until as much damage as possible can be done.

Well done Grady.

At what point this season did Bronson Arroyo become a reliable pitcher? He must be a key member of their bullpen, or he wouldn't be in the most important game of the season... would he?

Yeah, that's a lot of faith in Arroyo. Heart of the order with two on, and the rookie comes through big time. Grady, according to the TV guys, didn't want to bring in Suppan in the middle of an inning.

I don't know what Arroyo was before but now he's my best friend if I'm a Boston fan. Which I'm not.

Burkett 3-2/3 7 5 3 0 1 1 60-38 7.00

Yeah ... that's about right.

That was a bit of a wasted opportunity. The pressure's on now. Only a few more ABs til that BoSox get to Rivera. Tick, tock, tick, tock...

Brutal strike three call on Ortiz. The umpire has been doing a good job not giving away the "neighbourhood" strike a few inches off the plate... until that pitch, a good half foot off the plate.

I don't think they'll love Arroyo so much anymore.

The biggest difference between the Cubs and and Yankees are that the Yanks didn't decide to pack it in and let game seven decide who goes to the Series. Boston's gotta be kicking themselves for winding up in the AL ;-)

I assume Pedro wasn't good to go today. But if I were a Sox fan, I wouldn't be too thrilled to see that in the win-or-die Game 6, the pitchers were John Burkett, Bronson Arroyo and Todd Jones.

I wouldn't be too thrilled to see that in the win-or-die Game 6, the pitchers were John Burkett, Bronson Arroyo and Todd Jones.

Maybe Grade-E thinks it's best of nine.

Giving the Yankees second and third there was idiotic. What's the point of denying Giambi the single through the hole when you guarantee that all it takes is a grounder to score a run?

Well, it worked, but it was still idiotic. I don't think I've ever seen a manager make so many "fire that man RIGHT NOW" moves in a playoff series.

Wow, that was quite the throw. I'll assume that it was the wind. Again. Matsui must be hating the east coast thing.

This is a MUST see.

6-5, and Fox appears to be showing the video from my last softball game. Matsui missed his target on the relay throw by thirty feet.

Manny looks like he's running with a purpose tonight. It really is just a small thing but normally he'd trot into 3rd on a wild pitch and not think about the possibility for taking home. This time he took a serious turn.

I let Ortiz hit away, if he doesn't get Manny home, you have to sacrifice the 2nd out for a run.

Two strikes Trotman. You gotta swing the bat or let Kapler do it for you.

Why, exactly, are the Yankees depending on Felix Heredia in a crucial situation?

And why is Heredia on the post-season roster and not Hammond?

Wow. That's the second time tonight Angel Hernandez has burned Ortiz. Called out on a foul tip when his bat was a foot away from the ball.

Wow. You couldn't make this stuff up. Nixon blasts one into the upper Deck for two huge runs. Roger and Pedro tomorrow.

Gabe White is making Heredia look good. There's now only one guy in the bullpen Torre trusts. That's why Hammond wasn't active -- Joe and Mel has lost confidence in him.

Have.

Williamson sets the Yankees down in order and it's going seven. All right!