[sarcasm] Good news! The first inning isn't too early after all for Turner Field to play that wonderful Chop-Chant! [/sarcasm]

Hmmm... the ump actually puts his hand on the catcher with every pitch to support himself. Wouldn't the catcher find that very annoying/distracting? Then again what do I know, I've never caught a game.

After the first inning, it looks Wright and Clemens switched talent.

Is Roy Oswalt just chopped liver, then?

This is only the second time I've seen Roger pitch this year.

The first time was the all-star game.

So...yeah, not all that impressed. :)

Is Roy Oswalt just chopped liver, then?

Certainly not, but Clemens was coaxed out of retirement specifically so that he could be a playoff anchor and force to be reckoned with in the post-season. If he gets knocked around, the Astros' already-unsteady psychological platform could get a piling or two kicked out from underneath it.

Check out the empty seats at Turner Field. "We don't go to the First Round, been there too many times. Maybe we'll show up for the World Series". It's like they're daring me to cheer for Houston.

Just to explain that psychological platform: this is Houston's fifth trip to the post-season since 1997. Their combined record in those previous appearances: 2-12, including a 1-9 mark against the Braves.

After the first inning, it looks Wright and Clemens switched talent.

There we go, that's better.

Wow, 5 BB for Clements through 3 innings, 64 pitches. I hope Houston has a deep pen.... (I have no idea, actually).

Houston a deep pen? Well, they used to. Then they let all their relievers go.

oops, my bad on the Clemens spelling....stupid fingers.... I should cut them off........

Think about trying to build a lead in the playoffs against Clemens, Oswalt, Petitte, Miller, or making a comeback against Lidge, Dotel, Wagner. Thank goodness for injuries and trades, that would be just nasty.

Houston a deep pen? Well, they used to. Then they let all their relievers go.

You ignore Russ Springer at your peril.

If Houston can get the ball to Brad Lidge they're fine. It's the pitchers in between the starter and Lidge who are big question marks.

Great to see the Astros mainstays hitting and despite a poor line Roger Clemens has himself a 6-1 lead. He doesn't look like the dominant Rocket we've seen for most of the year. Nice to see Bagwell and Biggio coming through with some hits.

With everybody and his dog streaming off the Braves tonight, they should be an excellent WS price come tomorrow if you're of a betting frame of mind...

To give you an idea of how deep the Astros bullpen is, their first guy out of the pen tonight is Chad Qualls, who had a 5.57 ERA in AAA this year.

fyi: Here in Ottawa at least, we can get the Twins/Yanks video on RDS (French channel 41 on Rogers Digital Cable) while Sportsnet shows the end of the other game.

HOW THE ODDS HAVE CHANGED
According to Tradesport Players

Cardinals: 68% chance of beating Dodgers. (NOW 82%)
Astros: 57% chance of beating Braves. (NOW 80%)
Yankees: 61% chance of beating Twins. (NOW 48%)
Red Sox: 62% chance of beating Angels. (NOW 75%)

What are the odds that Borders is this years MVP?

Can I just point out that a firing of Jimy Williams has now helped propel two different teams to the playoffs, 15 years apart?

Mariano Rivera is not invincible. I'm almost shocked he allowed those runners to score.

3 if you count when he was on the red sox

Given their stature at the beginning of the season, hands up anyone who thought the following play would be possible, in the 9th inning of a playoff game:

"Pat Borders grounds out to first baseman John Olerud."

Borders, Olerud, how is it that Rickey Henderson was ignored in this WHAMCO reunion?

Borders, Olerud, how is it that Rickey Henderson was ignored in this WHAMCO reunion?

Don't worry, I have a feeling his going to make a surprise appearence this game out of the bullpen.

Juan Rincon has some nasty stuff. I'm just guessing here but I think he was one of the arms that JP tried to get for Shannon Stewart last year before settling on Bobby Kielty.

By bringing in Sturtze are te yankees giving up on the game, isn't it a bit early. Can't say I'm disapointed though.

Can someone explain to me why the Angels went with Washburn and Colon in games 1 and 2 and not Escobar (in either?) Escobar was their best pitcher this season and was awesome in September.

Urk. I dont know which is the worse sign. Sturtze pitching in the 10th in a playoff game, or Rivas batting cleanup.

Hrm. LeCroy hitting for Rivas. I guess that means that Cuddyer shifts back over to 2nd, and LeCroy in at 1st.

That the double in the 8th hopped the fence is turning out to be a bit of a break for the Yankees.

This is a bit out of context but there is an interesting chat wrap on BA regarding their top 20 Eastern League prospects (which include Hill, League, and Rosario).

Most encouraging are Alan Mathews's comments that (1) League has "great stuff, [and] an electric arm" and should be given a shot at starting; (2) Rosario seems to be fully recovered from TJ surgery; (3) Hill "has serviceable range at shortstop, good arm strength and playable hands. He can really hit, and should be in the Jays everyday lineup by 2007 and perhaps earlier."

He says Chacin almost made the top 20. No comments on Hattig, unfortunately, despite a question about him.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/chat/041006am.html

Can someone explain to me why the Angels went with Washburn and Colon in games 1 and 2 and not Escobar

He pitched on Saturday. Colon pitched on Friday, Washburn last Wednesday. In theory, they could've started Escobar tonight on three days rest, but Colon was also pretty good down the stretch, and won a huge game in his last start.

Oh, and I suppose it's kind of nice to know that LeCroy hit a few pinch hit HRs this year that weren't off Terry Adams...

Pat Borders with a chance to win the game with a man on third.... 2 outs.... 2 strikes....

sigh.....nevermind

Differential in Wins Above Replacement (2004 vs. 2003):

-4*2: Halladay, Delgado
-3*2: VWells, [Pythagoras]
-2*8: GMyers, JPhelps, -Escobar, ALopez, FCat, Hinske, Kershner, RJohnson
-1*5: -Stewart, Woodward, HClark, (+Gomez-Bordick), +Hentgen
0*x: (several players omitted)
+1*6: +Chulk, OHudson, +Zaun, +Chacin, +Frasor, +Speier
+2*3: +Menechino, +Batista, +DBush
+3*0:
+4*1: +Lilly
----
-19 (67-86)

Breakdowns:
Offense -17, Pitching +1, Pythagoras -3

Returning Offense -18, Departed Offense -2, New Offense +3
Returning Pitching -8, Departed Pitching -2, New Pitching +11

Returning Players -26, Departures -4, New Players +14, Pythagoras -3

The returning players were 26 wins worse than their previous year. If they had equalled their previous year, and if the Pythagorean had evened out, the Jays would have won 97 games. It was possible.

(more details later, this is just a sneak preview)

Twins should have PHed with Lew Ford. LeCroy can catch.

Yeah, I was kinda screaming that at my tv.

Sox have the bases juiced again against Colon. Manny up.

Colon is doing a Roger Clemens impression out in Anaheim.

46 pitches, not even out of the 2nd. Bases loaded now for Manny.

At least no runs have scored.... :-S

Wow, 2nd "3-2, bases loaded, 2-out" situation in a row for Colon (and only in the 2nd inning)

And a walk.... crap

Oops, Colon walks in a run.

Should have used Escobar. :)

Last Play: M. Bellhorn picked off at second, catcher to shortstop

Ouch!! Did anyone see the play?

Well, if you can't get anyone out by pitching to them, do the next best thing.... pick 'em off. lol. Colon picks off Bellhorn to escape only slightly scathed.

I wish I had 2 TVs (oh, and a station showing the 2nd game)

Bases loaded, David Ortiz batting... and Bellhorn gets picked off second? by the catcher?

Only the Red Sox..

Tee-hee

Oops, my bad... Molina picked him off. They just showed it on Sportsnet, did you catch it Ryan?

Yeah, I caught it. Unbelievable.

PS: When did Tanyon Sturtze turn into Rollie Fingers?? GEEZ.

Do the Twins have any reliable relievers if the MFY's tire Nathan?

YEAHHHHHHH!!!! HUNTER!

TORIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!

Way to go Twins!

TORII!

It was only a matter of time. You just KNEW the Twins pen would outlast Tanyon Sturtze!

WHOOO-HOO!

Not that I want to change channels, but is the Sox/Angels game televised anywhere in Canada right now (before Twins/Yankees ends)?

The Twins have been missing a lot of hittable pitches this game, especially off Sturtze but Hunter finally gets on top of a high fastball and takes of advantage of one of Sturtze's many deep counts.

I'm totally going to take credit for jinxing Sturtze. :D

Call me selfish, but I would have preferred that Hunter's and LeCroy's hits were reversed :)

Joe/Jon talking about leaving Nathan in for the bottom of the 12th - doesnt strike me as the best of idea. And wasnt Crain warming up just a second ago?

I like Canadians, and I like Quantrill, but a Lew Ford Home Run here would make my week!

update from Anaheim: Dallas McPherson single scores 1. 1-1, angels still threatening with 1st and 2nd, 1 out.

Angels come storming back - RBI single by MacPherson. 1st & 2nd, no one out.

Sturtze has pitched well, but he's become a reliever, and he works like one now. He's out of gas. And Quantrill is not the guy I bring in when there are runners on.

See, while I'm typing stuff about the Yankees, Pedro is getting people out...

http://bat-girl.com
Jobu. I refer to you HQ for the Santana/Nathan04 campaign for more information on their slogan: "We would appreciate it if you would kindly take a seat on the bench after we strike you out. Thank You".

Of course, right now I'm checking Gardenhire for a pulse and taking no pleasure in pointing out that leaving Nathan in for the 12th was a bad idea.

Mark my words: The Twins just lost any chance of winning this series.

Geez, what was Gardenhire thinking? I would've been worried about Pedro f'n Martinez on that pitch count.

At least the same thing that bit the twins in the 8th bit the Yanks in the ... whatever this inning is already. (That is, this irony only works if the Twins get out of the inning)

Gardy, meet Grady. Grady, Gardy.

The Bronx is a harsh borough.

leaving Nathan in for the 12th was a bad idea.

I can cut him some slack on that, but he didn't have his relievers ready to go at the first sign of trouble (walking the 9 hitter).

And thus caught, he was Stuck with Nathan pitching to Rodriguez.

Obviously he was never a Boy Scout.

Be Prepared!

What was that?

Looked like an effortless throw by Jones....
My hate for this team is renewed

Cue massive teeth-gnashing.

I can just picture a Gleeman-sized article by Gleeman on this. Complete with at least 4 references as to how Jones has a noodle arm.

sigh.

What the hell did Jaques Jones do there?

Did Jones forget that the winning run was on 3rd?

Yankees win! Yankees win! THUUUUH YANKEES WIN!

And let me tell you what I was thinking as A-Rod came to bat ..."Due, this at-bat is the whole reason the Yankees brought you to Newm York and the whole reason you claim to want to be here." Then as Matsui came to tbe plate, I admit I found myself thinking "It's over. I can't imagine anyone on the team I would rather see at the plate in this situation, even Jeter."

Hooray!

Jones does not have a right fielder's arm. He also didn't set himself very well to make that throw and threw it flat footed.

Nathan gave every last drop until he could pitch no more. I don't so much fault Gardenhire for leaving him out there to start the inning but the fact he had no-one warming up behind him was patently insane. Starting someone warming after your pitcher is already in trouble is too late. You can't do that in a game that could give you a 2-0 series lead.

I would rather see at the plate in this situation, even Jeter

I wouldn't have minded that at all. The ensuing double play would have been perfect.

The Twins may have lost, but I think Jobu wins this battle with that comment. Nicely done.

absolutely a terrible call by ron gardenhire. the pedro martinez incident from last here all over again

nathan shouldn't get the loss - the coach should.

brutal.

Why oh why wasn't someone ready to come in after those 2 walks?!? What is it about Yankee stadium and opposing managers loving their favourite pitchers too long. I saw Gardenhire on the stop steps when A-Rod was up and thought, "God yes, get him out". I'm stunned, utterly stunned. Poor Torii Hunter, he has done everything to put carry this team and the manager blows it.

Jones has a noodle arm.

Well, if that's the best he can do, his arm isn't good enough to play 1B.

Makes Shannon Stewart look like Roberto Clemente.

And thus, the sweet schadenfreude of a Tanyon Sturtze loss has been replaced by the sad reflection upon Paul Quantrill winning.

this at-bat is the whole reason the Yankees brought you to New York

No, Mick. Mountains and mountains of cash is the reason the Yankees brought him to New York. But hey, chalk another up to mystique, aura and gritty determination!

Didn't he have Crain warming?

Jones didnt exactly make an accurate throw either - it had to be cut-off by Romero. If he didnt, Borders would have been pulled off the plate by 10-15 feet.

Didn't he have Crain warming?

The bullpen was quiet to start the inning. After the Cairo walk, he got Romero throwing. After the Jeter walk, he seemed to remember - oh my God, RH hitters - and Romero sat down and Crain started throwing.

Crain started warming in the 12th only after the two walks. Any armchair manager has someone - at least light tossing in the bp - when sending a closer in the uncharted territory of the third inning of work, especially when a win tonight would do so much to give the Twins the edge in the series. I'm furious.... stunned...

Oh well, at least we didn't have Tim McCarver on TV tonight telling us 52 degrees F in Justin Morneau's hometown - New Westminster, BC - is "a balmy summer night where you can see many moose". Can you believe he actually said that?

Even if Romero had thrown it to the other side of the plate, the Twins would have at least had a play.

Too bad.

And I could have sworn Gardenhire had Crain warming before the 12th. I guess I must be wrong though, since I'm outnumbered. Very bad decision indeed.

Did ARod's double look catchable to anyone else? I know Stewart isn't great out there but from what I saw, he should have had it.

I think Jones got fooled by Jeter. He wasn't expecting him to run. Same goes for the cut-off man. He didn't relay the ball fast enough.

Ron Gardenhire has his Grady Little moment.

Liam was asking me tonight if Pat Borders was really the MVP in the 1992 WS. And I said the real MVP was the Toronto bullpen - in six games, Gaston used 19 relievers (7 different pitchers) to work 17 IP and allow exactly one run.

You're a first place team. You can't be afraid of your own pitchers.

ISTR that Crain was warming on-and-off in the 11th inning - toss a couple of pitches, then sit down.

As Morgan kept on reminding us, Nathan's never thown 3 innings as a reliever. While letting Nathan start the 12th was defensible, not having Crain and Romero ready is not.

Me. I probably wouldnt have let Nathan come in for the 12th. Crain/Romero aint exactly Adams/Ligterfluid. Now they got the loss, and let Nathan absorb 50 innings.

When's the next game? Friday or Saturday? If Friday, will Nathan even be available for that game?

Crain was warming up the inning before. And for some inexplicable reason was NOT staying ready to start the 12th when it was even more likely that Nathan might run out of gas.

I thought the same about A-Rod's double... but maybe not. Stewart is generally really good catching defence in post-season.

However, if the bases are loaded, 1-out, tie game, bottom of 12, ALDS, and a fly ball is hit to me.... I assume the guys running and I throw home hard, because otherwise people will mock me on their blogs

didn't relay the ball fast enough.

It was LeCroy who relayed Jones' casual toss to home plate. I thought he did the best he could with a hopeless situation.

Gleeman, who doesn't think Jones should even be in the lineup, must be going ballistic.

Did ARod's double look catchable to anyone else?

If Hunter couldn't catch it, no one else was going to.

I think Jones got fooled by Jeter. He wasn't expecting him to run.

I dont think thats the case. Jones doesnt pause between catching and throwing at all - he unloaded in one motion. A crappy motion, yes. But it was continuous.

Besides. Bases loaded. Tie game. Bottom of 12th. There's no reason *not* to throw home. Jones should have been thinking 'get it home' from the time the ball left the bat.

If by "catchable," you mean "in the air," then, yeah, it was catchable.

AIR would have had Jeter out by about ten miles. :D

I think Jones got fooled by Jeter. He wasn't expecting him to run.

That's possible.

In which case, Jones is an idiot.

Perhaps you guys are right. I had the tv on mute (girlfriend trying to sleep) so I was unable to hear the call on the play. When Jones made the catch, my first reaction was "I guess it wasn't deep enough". It was just the way he reacted.

I only saw the replay once but I thought I saw Lecroy hesitate before relaying the throw. Probably wrong. I'll have to see it again.

All I know is, without the sound to aid my judgment, I said "wtf" at least twice on that play.

Heh. E-10 on Boston as Manny loafs around in the outfield.

Seeing a replay, Jones had to take a step or two back to actually catch the ball so without a strong arm he was pretty much in a hopeless situation. His only hope was reading it better off the bat and getting back quicker in order to get momentum coming home.

There was no way A-Rod's ball was catchable. Stewart came close to it but it bounced just shy of the 399 marker and would have been a homerun in most ballparks. I remember thinking A-Rod would be sitting on the slider because Nathan couldn't throw his fastball for strikes any longer and it was rocked despite being off the plate outside.

Boston having some issues in the 5th. Pedro gets lucky on an errant pick-off throw, and now he hits Erstad to load the bases with 1 out.

And oh yeah. Vlad's up :)

I hope Ican find some replays somewhere, but when I first saw the throw I though "WTF is Stewart doing in right field??"

Go Vlad! 2-run single!

Nixon was playing deep, otherwise that ball may have gone to the wall.

You know what was weird? During that game, Pat Borders was at bat, Shannon Stewart was on deck, Tanyon Sturtze was pitching and Paul Quantrill and Felix Heredia were warming in the Yankees 'pen (plus Olerud was playing first). How odd.

Where has Pedro's command gone? Is this just because I traded for him in the BBFL and he decided to blow up in Mussina tradition? Incidentally, Mussina seemed to right himself after he left my team.

The Sons of Sam Horn, as you can imagine, have inducted Gardenhire into the Grady Little Abuse Circle.

By the way, Curt Schilling is starting the Game Threads over at SoSH. Is that cool or what?

Martinez at 77 pitches, Colon at 96.

As we all know, after about 100 Pedro loses about 5 MPH on his fastball, while Colon inexplicably adds about 5 MPH to his...

You know what was weird? During that game, Pat Borders was at bat, Shannon Stewart was on deck, Tanyon Sturtze was pitching and Paul Quantrill and Felix Heredia were warming in the Yankees 'pen (plus Olerud was playing first). How odd.

Stewart and maybe Quantrill were probably the only player you would associate with a post-season club. Proof I guess that even the very rich Yankees have to fall back on scrubs in some positions. It really helps a GM when you can afford a whole host of $10 to $20 million players.

Starting to look like blowing those bases-loaded chances early is going to haunt the Sawcks big-time.

Why do we have to be subjected to Chris Berman and company when ESPN has Dan Shulman and Buck Martinez at their disposal?

Atleast the baseball is good.

Curt Schilling is starting the Game Threads over at SoSH. Is that cool or what?

I think it was Bill Simmons who was telling a story about how Schilling phoned up a sport's talk radio show in Boston, while driving home from a game, for the sole purpose of ripping the idiot host a new one.

How cool is that? :)

The Twins may have lost, but I think Jobu wins this battle with that comment. Nicely done.

That's just silly. Jeter scored the winning run AND Jobu apparently misunderstood what I wrote, as I said I'd prefer Matsui over Jeter and he said "I wouldn't mind that at all." And ultimatly, doesn't "scoreboard" always win these so-called "battles (which i was unaware I was in.)

No, Mick. Mountains and mountains of cash is the reason the Yankees brought him to New York. But hey, chalk another up to mystique, aura and gritty determination!

Also just silly. The mounstains of cash were the *method* by whcih they brought him to New York (along with an All-Star MVP second baseman and a shortstop prospect who will start for Texas by 2006); the reason they brought him to New York had nothing to do with mystique or aura or grit -- it had to do with him being, arguably, the best player in the AL, and that's the guy you pay to produce in exactly these situations.

Why do we have to be subjected to Chris Berman

What? You dont like Chris Brr-"Man its cold in New Westminster, BC!"

Crap. Varitek goes yard against Barto-"Lo and behold, theres a baseball in my" Colon.

Mick, it's called a joke. Yeesh, the Yankees won. No need to be uptight.

I think it was Bill Simmons who was telling a story about how Schilling phoned up a sport's talk radio show in Boston, while driving home from a game, for the sole purpose of ripping the idiot host a new one.

How cool is that? :)

Ed Jovanovski did the same thing in Vancouver I think. Pretty funny.

Why do we have to be subjected to Chris Berman and company

I hear you, but that call on that bloop that fell in front of Manny was pretty funny. "the PROVERBIAL CAN OF CORN ..." in just the right shocked tone.

You're right Mick, but...go away. Twenty-six championships is enough, already!!

I kid. :-)

It was, let us note, a fine play by Jeter. If they were down a run, he might have just bluffed from third to see what would happen.

But the game was already tied. So he took a smart chance, and put some pressure on the other guys to make a good play. As we all saw, they screwed the pooch. Big Time.

You're pretty uptight for a guy who cheered for the winning team. Reminds me of that really skinny wiener kid with the Jeter jersey who sat infront of the Cheer Club last week and would shake in anger over our comments about "A-ROD! You're hair colour is out of season! Run to the clubhouse!" and "OVER-RATED" for you know who. In a way it was fun just to know that he didn't enjoy the win cuse he was wound up like.....well something that's wound up tight. It's late and I'm studying sublingual absorption.

New Westminster

Could someone tell those guys that New West (as the locals say) is to Vancouver roughly what Anaheim is to Los Angeles?

Could someone tell those guys that New West (as the locals say) is to Vancouver roughly what Anaheim is to Los Angeles?

And then explain that there aren't wild moose roaming the icy suburbs of Vancouver :)

Could someone tell those guys that New West (as the locals say) is to Vancouver roughly what Anaheim is to Los Angeles?

Until FOX comes out with the hit new series "The B.C." (starring Kathleen Robertson as a spunky-yet-cute environmental lawyer fighting the good fight against heartless corporations), I'm afraid that we're stuck with McCarver making cracks about Morneau growing up in an igloo.

And then explain that there aren't wild moose roaming the icy suburbs of Vancouver :)

Is it? Or are you just in painful denial from all the recent moose related killings? Each year, on the frozen planes of Vancouver over 750 nomadic residents are killed by Moose attacks. Please donate to the Vancouver Moose Relief Fund, set up in my house. And together we can wipe out MA in our lifetime. Thank you.

Check out the goggles on K-Rod. Look familiar?

I wonder if The Brandon Wheat King Major League Flying Hawaiian Punch Out With Goggles picked up the "with goggles" part in hopes of pulling a K-Rod :)

Figgins butchers another ball. Sciocia must be reaching for an antacid

C'mon, Jobu, try to be a bigger man than that. I think I contribute quite a bit to the rational conversation of the baseball world here on Da Box, despite the fact that every time I log on, I encounter some extremely not-clever, unoriginal, often borderline profane "Yankees Suck" posts, and I am contributing in a place where the universally accepted abbreviation for my team of choice is "MFY" -- when, really, if you think just a tiny bit, "MFBJ" is really a much funnier abbreviation.

Although, if you're the type of guy who is pleased when you are personally responsible for someone you describe as a "kid" not enjoying a baseball game ...

Anyway, on a brighter note, it's the first time since 1983 I've been compared to someone using the word "skinny."

Frankly (poor choice of words, sorry), I often get quite tired of defending my favorite team and the moment I write anything remotely emotional rather than strictly fact-based, I get treated like the evil spawn of Kerry Ligtenberg and Raul Mondesi. So I understand how the skinny kid felt, daring to root for his favorite team in enemy territory and being frustrated by being so outnumbered. I trust that the good collective judgment of the Cheer Club was to focus its verbal barbs -- which are entirely appropriate on the home field -- on the Yankees rather than on their fans. Unfortunately, many Yankee fans themselves don't make this distinction at The Stadium.

You know, rationally, I'm probably just really ticked off at an e-mail a pilot sent to me a couple of hours ago and not happy with myself about how I handled it. So I'm taking that electronic communications angst out on the wrong forum.

Go Angels.

K-Rod is being squeezed on that breaking ball. Two or three times it looks like a clear strike and he didn't get the call.

Hard to blame the ump though, that pitch just has ridiculous bite.

So. I'm sitting here in my living room, when I notice this wheel with an Angels logo come bouncing up to my couch.

Anyone notice a bus thats missing something?

Y'know K-Rod. If you aint getting the close call, then people like Manny aint gonna swing at your slider, and just wait until you groove one.

I dunno what your problem is, or why you're wound up so tight, but I (along with the rest of the cheer clubbers) enjoy posting stories of upset visiting fans.

No one has a problem with you posting about the Yankees (that I know of) so go ahead, it adds flavour to Da Box. But we can post whatever we want and if you dont like people criticizing the MFY's when they feel like it, than its Tethered Swimming for you. Say what you want, we say what we want (such as moose killings) everyone's happy. Enjoy your win.

I am contributing in a place where the universally accepted abbreviation for my team of choice is "MFY" --

You should really stop contributing in SoSh, then. ;-)

And I didn't see anybody treating you like Ligtenberg. The death threats must have been deleted before I saw them. ;-)

Weak play by Molina costs them.

Hmmmmmm.....Pedro going into the 7th with 91 pitches. I hope Francona was watching the Twins game in the dugout.

Sorry, I missed that sentance Mick. To clarify that "kid" was about 25 years old, and I didn't mean to compare him directly to you. Just recalling a story of a MFY fan who was uptight when his team was winning.

I often get quite tired of defending my favorite team

No doubt, but face it. When you root for U.S. Steel... err... the Neighbourhood Bully....errr... the New York Yankees! Yes! You got to expect a little abuse.

It comes with the rings.

(And generally from people frustrated over the Yankees spending more on middle relievers than other teams spend on their starting lineups. That will change, but until it does, there will be resentment in the land. Enjoy it! You're the Neighbourhood Bully. Dig it.)

the evil spawn of Kerry Ligtenberg and Raul Mondesi.

What a concept....

the evil spawn of Kerry Ligtenberg and Raul Mondesi.

sounds like a job for conan o'brien

Figgins just does not look comfortable at all at 2nd tonite. He's letting grounders eat him up on the last hop - he's catching them more with his stomach than with his glove.

What are you talking about jsoh? He's the AL MVP! Kruk said so and he's never wrong!

Depending which team you're rooting for, that Vladdy strike out was either very good, or very bad. Looks like it set the game.

Who you rootin for Jobu?

(And don't underestimate the power a little monkey can put in ya)

Actually, I don't even know myself. I'm very conflicted. I have strong pros and cons for both teams. So if it was split 50/50, I really like Vladdy so I'll give the angles a slight edge. And with that Anderson K, it looks for sure like Boston won this thing anyways.

Wow, I don't know how people can watch these things. I have a passing intrest at best in these teams and my stomach is in knots. I think I'd have a nervous breakdown if the Jays were in this.

OH MAN! I've just seen the replays after the commercial break and that is some Cuzzi worthy umpire calls. Those were just terrible. The ump literaly just took that inning from them. Horrible....Unless you're a Sox fan ;)

For all the whining they're doing about strike 3 on Glaus, it seemed to me that Erstad was DOA at second anyways. I wonder if Erstad was going for the straight steal, hoping that Foulke throws the change.

He's the AL MVP! Kruk said so and he's never wrong!

Bah. Kruk doesnt know from what he speaks. Its perfectly obvious that the AL MVP was Aaron Boone.

I dunno about Boone. But I like Dave Berg's chances. He played like FIVE positions! So you know he's good. And Menechino can pitch!! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP!

PS. Yup, Boston has this game (aka the series). Now do they face the Yanks or the Twins?

Game Over.

Damn Red Sox.

just to add to what I said before, now this game is REALLY done. Great effort by the Sox even if the ump did give them a bit of a push last inning. It's there series to lose, which they wont.

"Theo Epstein, the sixth member of NSYNC"

LOL, nice one Jamie.

Don't you hate when you get invested in a close game looking forward to a dramatic overtime win until one team just blows it open? Ughhhh.

WOW THAT'S FAST! The always annoying Dan Taylor already has a "there's no moose in New Westminster" video segment, complete with on the street interviews. Someone knows how to crack a whip down there.

PS. Yup, Boston has this game (aka the series). Now do they face the Yanks or the Twins?

Yankees, no question about it. Okay, so long as Tanyon Sturtze is a necessary part of a Yankees win, there's a question, but I need to be hyperbolic here. The Twins had a chance to go up 2-0, with only a win by Johan needed to clinch the series. They blew it, and now they need to win Santana's start and one more. I don't think that they can recover from this sort of loss. It also must be mentioned that in Santana's first start, he was saved by double plays and terrible baserunning.

Don't you hate when you get invested in a close game looking forward to a dramatic overtime win until one team just blows it open? Ughhhh.

I was half watching the game, half studying my course reading for tommorow afternoon, and I was quietly hoping that Timlin would blow it. I'd rather have the Red Sox win this series (any affection for Vladdy is ruled out by the Monkey and Escobar, at least for me), but I at least want it to be intesting.

Well on the plus side, a Sox/MFY series should be pretty dramatic. Or the reason the earth was created according to FOX promos.

Worst national anthem performances coming up on Sportsnet. This should be great for late night laughs.

That was odd. Highlites show Clemens pitched today with a glove that had "Andy Petitte" stitched on the side. Now if he just took Petitte's glove that would be weird enough, but Petitte throws with the other hand, so where the devil did that glove come from?

So I understand how the skinny kid felt, daring to root for his favorite team in enemy territory and being frustrated by being so outnumbered. I trust that the good collective judgment of the Cheer Club was to focus its verbal barbs -- which are entirely appropriate on the home field -- on the Yankees rather than on their fans. Unfortunately, many Yankee fans themselves don't make this distinction at The Stadium.

Just a clairification: the Cheer Clubbers were radically outnumbered by Yankee fans, and are every time they come to the Dome. Sad but true.

And Yankee fans tend not to make the distinction at the Dome, either. We met some great ones, and then Mike had that bottle thrown at him.

Still, the dumbest enemy fan of the year belonged to the Red Sox: he came over to give us the gears for our 1918 chant (which we started to combat the very loud LET'S GO RED SOX chant), spotted Alex's Expos jersey and told him he should "go back to Portugal".

Mick, we love you, even though you cheer for the wrong team most of the time.

re: Twins Nightmare

Boy did Nathan ever look tired in his second inning of work. He was working very slowly, taking lots of deep breaths, and getting into very deep counts against the guys he was facing (including the guys he struck out, if I recall correctly).

In short, it looked like he was done.

It would have been one thing if Nathan had cruised through his first two innings on 20 pitches, but he had piled up something like 42(!) in two frames of work against the Yankees.

Gardenhire should have bit the bullet and brought in Crain to start the 12th inning. Had Crain ultimately blown it, nobody would have faulted him for pulling Nathan. Unless Crain had trouble getting loose out in the bullpen, I can't see why he wasn't used last night. According to the announcers, he was up throwing in the bottom of the 11th, so there's no reason why he couldn't be warm to start the bottom of the 12th.

I hope this loss doesn't completely blow their chances against the Yankees.

Horrible move to leave Nathan out there, especially after he walked 2 batters.

But where the Twins blew it, ultimately, was on the throw from Jones to the cutoff guy, or the throw that got cutoff. The ball was hit to shallow RF. Should've at least been a play on Jeter. The one instance you want Raul Mondesi on your team...

I'd dosed off for A-Rod's hit when my Yankee fan friend started running around screaming "Yankees F'ing win!". Horrible way to wake up.

But where the Twins blew it, ultimately, was on the throw from Jones to the cutoff guy, or the throw that got cutoff. The ball was hit to shallow RF. Should've at least been a play on Jeter. The one instance you want Raul Mondesi on your team..

Tell me about it.

From looking at the replays, it looks like the throw was offline, so Lecroy had to cut it and relay. And it also looked really weak. Almost like Jones didn't set himself to throw. Maybe he wasn't expecting Jeter to tag on the liner? Points to Jeter for getting back on time to tag.

From what I've read, Jones has a terrible arm, and Twins fans have complained bitterly about it in the past. While we're second guessing, maybe Gardenhire should have sent Lew Ford as a defensive replacement after the ARod double? Though I have no idea if Ford's arm is any better than Jones.

It's hard to fault anyone for the throw - Jones does not have a rightfielder's arm. It still would have taken a perfect throw to get Jeter.

If anything, it's Terry Ryan's fault for not trading Jones for a middle infielder (the Twins have a surplus of outfielders). When you have Stewart and Jones in the outfield, one of them has to play rightfield.

It would've taken a decent throw to make it close. Jones made a horrible throw. from short right field. the only thing that lets him off the hook a little is that the ball was hiit so low and ard he didn'yt have time to set himself the way he would've on a fly ball.

Jeter is a fast runner. It isn't easy to throw a ball for a strike from semi-shallow right - the strong armed rightfielders can do it with regularity. Jones simply doesn't have the arm to make the play: if you had 100 "trials" of this play, I think Jeter scores on at least 98 of them with Jones throwing.

It was doable. In addition to being fast, Jeter carried out the play flawlessly. But I'm not talking about a perfect strike- I'm talking about even a one-hop throw. Jones made a horrible throw.

In your "100 trials" what's the variable? Just the throw or Jeter as well? It wouldn't have taken an impossible play to nail Jeter, merely a good one. Jones made such a bad throw it wasn't close to close. None of this lets Gardenhire off the hook for leaving Nathan out there to give up 2 walks...

Not sure if I agree with you there Robert, I would have put it at 66:33. If you look at the throw from Jones it went to the non glove side of Cuddyer, he had to turn his body losing a fraction of a second, then the throw home was to the first base side of the catcher and he had to reach around too. Neither throw was excellent.

I do agree that Jones does not have the arm to get it there by himself but the relay was not to major league standards.

I maintain that there is absolutely no way to get Jeter if the throw is cutoff. No way. The outfielder would have to throw a one-hopper directly to the catcher (or hit him on the fly). To get a runner, the ball has to arrive while the runner is at least 5 feet from the plate (so that the catcher can catch it, turn, look for the runner and apply the tag). It's just no good if they arrive at the same time.

What I said was - Jones+Jeter combination: 98 out of 100 the runner is safe on that fly ball.