I'd just like to point out that as a punk fan, it was really, really hard for me to refrain from making a Marquee (Marquis) Moon reference. I somehow managed, despite the general awesomeness of the band Television.

What a miserable postseason - especially for a closet Sox fan like myself. Luckily, I've managed to stave off depression by getting myself hooked on Burnout 3. Awesome game.

My girlfriend decided to cheer for the Red Sox once I introduced her to baseball a few years back. She says because she finds their story "romantic". I'm worried it means she has a thing for losers and choke artists. :)

I'm worried it means she has a thing for losers and choke artists.

I'm sure there's some joke to be had about the always-number-2 Red Sox having lost their Babe to the jocks. Maybe history won't repeat itself in your case.

I hope not. I'm writing up a pretty extensive pre-nuptial agreement just in case. :)

I think the Sox will pull this one out, but get spanked in game 5.

I expect the Cards to win as well. Astros pen just isn't reliable enough to beat STL more than once in this series.

I'm worried it means she has a thing for losers and choke artists.

Only in the movies, or sporting events. Fret not, my man. Women are far too practical and sensible to extend such stuff into real life...

I agree with Mosley, what a horrible AL championship. The 200 million dollar team is just pounding the 120 million dollar team. I guess that 80 million sure makes a big difference.

Bud, where are you?

Sorry I was derelict in my duties yesterday, I just assume you all will always tune in to the Fan before a game!

Today's guest on the BJADPPG show will be none other than the hitting coach Mike Barnett, and we're starting at 3:05 Eastern time, so tear yourselves away from the football and give us a call!

Of everybody I've heard on the BJADPPG so far, Gabe Gross yesterday impressed me the most. He was very compelling now I am really pulling for him. He has leader all over him.

Any updates on Jays in the AFL?

Oh, and MinorLeagueBaseball.com favourably ranked the Jays organization in a recent report.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/articles/?id=2307

Today's guest on the BJADPPG show will be none other than the hitting coach Mike Barnett, and we're starting at 3:05 Eastern time

I'd be curious to know what he has to say about the team's ground ball tendancies and decline in power this year.

And how to turn around Hinske would be interesting to hear.

Mike Barnett was the one coach I thought would be replaced

Its interesting how everybody last year praised him for the job he did coaching this amazing hitting team and this year that has all changed.

Dan, is it interesting or really just predictable? He figured to be over-praised last year and over-criticized this year. An objective assessment, given the gap in the team's hitting between 2003 and 2004, is almost impossible.

Ya, I had a feeling he'd get canned also. I would like to hear what kind of feed back he'll get from callers.

Im not saying that letting him go was the wrong move because i support it. It was clear the team was not improving and it was time for a change. Just the contrast between the two years is ridiculous given that there were hardly any player changes.

No round up today eh? Too bad. I hoping to procrastinate a bit. O well, guess it's back to my ten page essay on Plato's "The Symposium." Lucky me.

There is no curse. I don't see a roundup thread, so thought I'd add this link to a terrific narrative in Hardball Times here.

Moffatt, mixed marriages are indeed possible; my own lovely beter half deigned to marry a New York football Giants fan here in Dallas. Though I think if it'd been the Washtington Native Americans, the family might've stepped in.

Moffatt, mixed marriages are indeed possible

I know, but she's got some pretty strange ideas. Like, get this... she's actually physically attracted to men. What a weirdo. ;)

Is anybody else listening to Wilner? Don't tell me I'm the only one stuck working on a Sunday. :(

I'm listening to him right now. Nothing that interesting right now, other than Barnett's "I thought it would end 19-18" line, and the later comment that Hinske might hit around 25 homers while driving in 100 runs.

might hit around 25 homers while driving in 100 runs.

What was he basing this on?

Actually, I suppose it is possible. If Hinske had enough runners in scoring position when he came up, the 100 RBI could happen rather by accident. And Hinske has hit around 25 homers before.

Not likely, but certainly possible.

Moffat, I'll join you. I really don't want to work on my assignment. Hopefully Barny's still taking calls.

Moffatt. I know how to spell.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/othersports/shownews.jsp?content=s101727A
A man collapsed and died at the Toronto marathon, one kilometre away from the finish line. Apparently, he suffered a heart attack. COMN.

He is.

I can work, listen, and be on here the same time. The joys of computer multitasking. :)

Barny still calls him Alexis. He says he's very impressed with Rios' knowledge of the strike zone and says that he envisions him as a 30 or 40 homer guy down the road.

Wow.. Rios is going to be a 30-40 home run guy.

That really sucks about the marathon. You couldn't pay me enough to run anything more than 10K.

Not to mention that he's going to be like Don Mattingly and Magglio Ordonez.

First seasons:

Magglio Ordonez: 4 homeruns in 69 AB
Don Mattingly: 4 homeruns in 279 AB
Alexis Rios: 1 homerun in 426 AB

I suppose it's possible.

I suppose it's possible as well.

Extra Base Hits as percentage of total hits:

Mattingly : 29%
Ordonez : 45% (27% in first full season)
Rios : 26%

If the comparison holds, Rios willslug 20 homers next year, and 30_ the year after that.

The problem I have with that XBH stat is that most of Rios' doubles were of the "slap the ball between two outfielders and run like hell" variety rather than "bounce off the warning track" variety. But then again, I don't know how much that held true for Mattingly and Ordonez either.

I had that problem too, but Barnett claimed that Ordonez's doubles were the "hit the ball over the second baseman" and run type, too.

I think that if you want to play the "compare player x to player y", you can go nuts with it.

Player A : 358 at bats, 113 hits, 15 doubles, 1 homer, .316 / .355 / .394

Player B: 457 at bats, 129 hits, 21 doubles, 2 home runs, .282 / .312 / .363

Player C: 426 at bats, 122 hits, 24 doubles, 1 homer, .286 / .338 / .383

The Jays might be happy if Rios replicates Ty Cobb's average, or George Brett's career, but I doubt they expect either.

Speaking of comparing X to Y, here are the baseball reference "Age xx Comparables" for the Jays:

C Gregg Zaun = Damon Berryhill
1B Carlos Delgado = Willie McCovey
2B Orlando Hudson = Tim Teufel
3B Eric Hinske = Joe Crede
SS Chris Gomez = Mike Bordick
OF Reed Johnson = Morrie Arnovich
OF Vernon Wells = Sam Chapman
OF Alex Rios = (no comp)
DH Frank Catalanotto = Hank Bauer

SP Roy Halladay = Pat Hentgen
SP Ted Lilly = Mike Mason
SP Miguel Batista = Max Surkent
SP David Bush = (no comp)
SP Josh Towers = Jason Dickson

Ouch, ouch, and more ouch.

MLB could easily become a sitcome entitled "Too Many Molinas!" Starring Dan Schulman as "Dad".

No round up today eh?

I was all set to do one and found zero Jays articles this morning.

Delgado comp is Mc Covey, wow. Thats a hal of famer with even a Cove named after him...

http://www.astimeexpires.com/
Hi all; with the playoffs; I figured it was time to introduce my new monniker. It will be on my business cards at work from now on! Long live the Zubaz!

If you don't remember ZUBAZ, check this out... http://www.badfads.com/pages/fashion/zubaz.html

I came across a ridiculous site about the average joes of sport. I thought everyone might like to read it... COMN

However, I did have something to ask about. Rios has been hailed as this spectacular hitter. And while I was impressed by the young man's poise.... I'm not expecting a huge increase in power production yet. I had the opportunity to watch Rios play in person during the Yankee series in October at SkyDome; and he looked like a slimmer version of Shawn Green from the stands....

A RF in this league needs to be a cornerstone player. Mr. Rios; while hitting for a good average, did not hit for power, did not produce runs, did not steal bases and struck out far more than he walked..... mind you; for a rookie season... he did well. For the Jays to contend in the coming years; I believe he'll need to improve a lot though

What does everyone expect from Alexis next year?

I see .278/.358/.451, pulling in about 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases. I expect to see stellar defence and more run production. However, I hope to see him fill out over the winter..... what does everyone else think?

2B Orlando Hudson = Tim Teufel

Notably, though, Teufel was a dreadful fielder. A statue out there at second...

I hate that Sawkiw guy. So aggravating.

Have you ever seen a guy self-implode as bad as Talvarez and still get the inning ending DP?

His pitchers were wilder than mine when I try to bring the 65mph "heat".

Lest we forget:

Under:
Me ("I love Elvis and Beach Boys. Check out my hair")
Prof. Mophatt
Mike D
Paul D
Magpie (The chill from the Schil)
Jeff "I've never met Ilkka Sinisalo" Geauvreau
Rob (The John Wasdin of MVP pitching)
Wayne "Jobu Can't See Me" H
DGriebeling (Care Bear STARE!!!)
Jason "Dont call me rebar" Robar
Keith "I have marginal" Talent
"I'll sue you if you mention me" Lucas
Jim "The Bad Guy" TBG
Thomas (I can't post on time)

Over:
Donkit R.K.
Jack Foley
Dr. Zarco
6-4-3 (Tanyon "I'm over achieving" Sturtze)
Wunderbat (via satelite phone)
Dan (Pedro "Lambada: The Forbidden Dance" Martinez)
Tassle (Fan "interference")
Flyin' Ryan Lind
Emerald "I can be purchased on the shopping channel"
Reidmar the Mediocre (Do you remember Beakmans' World?)
Dave "Harry Heck" Till
A (my name is too short to do anything fun with)
Craig "Everybody look at your hands" B
Johnny "The bad guy in 80s movies is always" German
Geoff "That is too say Jeff" North
He Grimlock

Wow!! See Tavarez after the inning? Fox just showed it.... that guy is crazy!!

Lidge with only seven pitches there...wow. Could we be watching a new Rivera-style postseason reliever?

Tavarez is going to play the crazy landlord on "Too Many Molinas!"

I hate that Sawkiw guy. So aggravating.

Me Grimlock can't stand that Sawkiw guy either! Me Grimlock can't put a finger on it, really. He's always smiling. Why's he always smiling? No one's THAT happy! Argh!

And La Russa will be the guy who sublets his place to one person for a week, then another for three days, then a third guy for a day, then another guy for five days.

I like where you're headed with that idea Rob, leaves the door open for guest stars.

Man that was an awesome play by Bagwell a minute ago. If I were him I probably would have been diving the other way...

Wow. Bill White, move over. Brad Lidge is in town.

More from "Too Many Molinas!":

Reggie Sanders is the guy who lives in ten different apartments in a year, Albert Pujols is the superintendent/plumber (think about it..), Chris Carpenter injures his arm bringing groceries up the stairs, and Carlos Beltran : St. Louis :: The Dean : Jobu. And, of course, Kelvim Escobar never pays his rent, is evicted and moves to Hollywood.

Nobody can say baseball is boring with Julian Tavarez on the mound.

If anyone missed it, Tavarez's quote on his dirty cap is a classic.

"Everyone has their own preferences. Some people like skinny women, I like fat women. Some people like young women, I like old women. Some
people like poor women, I like rich women. Some people like clean caps, I like dirty caps."

And everyweek one of the Molinas! will get into some kind of perdicament (possibly set up by Beltran) until Dad Schulman and Grampa Molina can come to the rescue and teach them an important lesson about life.

And on a very special Christmas episode of "Too Many Molinas!" the Molinas! win over the heart of their grumpy old neighbour Mr. Talvarez by giving him an a fat old rich broad in a dirty cap.

Tavarez, Talvarez...at least its not Delgato

Does Lidge really rhyme with bridge?

I'd always pronounced it "LEEJ." I think that sounds better.

Nice job, Wilner. What was that, about a 20 second bit? ;)

Jim Joyce is absolutely my favourite umpire in the MLs.

Not only is he the namesake of the sainted author of Ulysses - read it, now, and then read it again - but his strike call is prompt and can be heard in the next area code. Which I always appreciate...

I propose a bounty on Scooter's head.

El Duque's hitting 91 with his fastballs. Mabe he's back. I liked that 55 MPH eephus he just threw.

Whoa. That was some curveball from El Duque there. Jon Miller said it was almost like an ephus...I must agree.

It's disgusting how much better the ESPN radio crew is than the FOX TV crew, especially McCarver vs. Morgan. That's right, I said I liked Joe Morgan -- in-game analysis only, however. Although this July when he said the pitcher is the most important part of the HR Derby, I had to give my head a shake.

I also think people are too hard on the man. So he would build a team differently than Beane, so what? Yes, the whole "Beane wrote Moneyball" stuff was unfortunate, but he relented in a recent chat, IIRC (before they went to Insider).

He's misinformed on some things, but so are we all. I really enjoy him and Miller -- TV or radio versions.

I propose a bounty on Scooter's head.

In my world, Too Many Scooters! never got past the pilot episode.

Is it possible to hit better than Matsui has hit this post-season? I mean, YIKES...

Is it possible to hit better than Matsui has hit this post-season?

Meh. Just a 1938 OPS. Who does he think he is, 136% of Barry Bonds? ;)
Seriously though, wow...

Speaking of Matsui, I guess OPS can't help with baserunning. Although anyone would have been out at home, what with the infield in and Cabrera at SS.

I thought "Too Many Scooters!" was picked up on UPN?

In other news, Evander Holyfield's Real Deal Boxing is very addictive.

Does Matsui look like he's 6-2 and 230? I know its just 220 without the hair, but still... he looks like a smaller person than that... He's an inch shorter than Pujols and five pounds heavier....

WTF....I watched the first inning, left for about 15 minutes, came back and it's the start of the ... second inning?

What happened?

McCarver: "...an exhilirating offence last night."

I do not think that word means what you think it means.

Of course, I must admit to having committed some exhilirating offences in my time.

Good lord I'd hate to be a Bo Sox fan....

I want the Yankees to win this in four. I hate Boston. Of course, I don't like the MFYs either.

MLB Teams, Ordered By How Much I Like Them:
1. Toronto
[...]
29. New York
30. Boston

That 'throw-back' scene between Damon and the fans on Landsdowne was one of the funniest things I've ever seen watching baseball.

I wonder why fans out on the street feel compelled to throw it back. If it's a matter of tradition, then that really is commendable - I mean, the fact that a fan would rather adhere to ritual than keep a homerun ball.

I wonder why fans out on the street feel compelled to throw it back.

It's because they are jealous that they aren't the biggest losers in baseball, they need to still lame traditions from the Cubs.

steal lame traditions

But its still lame is what you're saying?

I didn't realize that the "throw back the ball" thing was a trademark of any team...I just thought it was a baseball thing.

I'm sure I've seen Blue Jays fans throw the ball back at one point.

I'm sure I've seen Blue Jays fans throw the ball back at one point.

Sure. If they have season tickets. And half a dozen baseballs at home somewhere...

Thankfully I'm not a Red Sox fan! As bad as things have been for the Jays the past decade, at least I saw my team win 2 championships. Red Sox fans season's have ended in heartache every year for generations.

Do I sound bitter? Damn right I'm bitter. Fifteen years at SkyDome, and two damn baseballs. Two! Hundreds of games, hundreds... and two damn balls.

OK, that sounded strange...

Better two balls than one. Just ask Hitler.

I have caught one ball at SkyDome...during batting practice, from Darin Erstad, over the RF bullpen. It bounced in row 15 and rolled down to me in the front row. So it's a cheap catch. ;)

Hey Moffatt;

I have the same problem... I sometimes confuse Hitler for John Kruk too. All kidding aside; I wonder what the exhiliratingly athletic Mr. Kruk is up to these days.

I have this recurring nightmare, that Warren Sawkiw is going to be sitting in the Sportsnet Jays colour commentary chair, beside Rob Faulds.

Someone please tell me I'm wrong.

Pleeeeeasssse!

First of all, Rob, that was two whole minutes! I had to cover an ESPN commercial break so that we could go from one game to the other - I'm flattered that you thought it was only 20 seconds. ;-)

Second of all, Magpie - I was there for the SkyDome opener, too, though in the football press box for us lowly overflowers, and I've only caught one ball in 15 years!

I have the same problem... I sometimes confuse Hitler for John Kruk too. All kidding aside; I wonder what the exhiliratingly athletic Mr. Kruk is up to these days.


Kruk was a columnist for ESPN.com's Page 2. He notably named the Angels Chone Figgins as MVP, and (in one article) repeatedly bashed Toronto (perhaps he's still bitter over the World Series). Interestingly enough, his archive is down, and if you search for him on ESPN, you can't find anything. Maybe he was fired.

Balls are nice, but has anyone here ever tried snagging a bat?

I used to do this when I was younger, and I must say I had some success. The trick is to position yourself at the bottom of the aisle leading down to the dugout; there's a small opening that allows you to look down over the players, conveniently situated right above where the bats are stored. You're only chance is to go for broken bats - the teams will never part with useable lumber. Once there it's just a matter of hoping the equipment manager is nice enough to part with one. Some can be dicks, but more often than not they'll let you have one if it's chipped or broken.

Through this method I accumulated about four or five bats over the span of three years. Not a bad souvenier! :)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=kruk/040910
He...repeatedly bashed Toronto (perhaps he's still bitter over the World Series)...Interestingly enough, his archive is down, and if you search for him on ESPN, you can't find anything.

Thank Google for the following (COMN). "These guys let their teams down" is the name of the article.
Well let me ask you this: Outside of the trade talk and that story about the national anthem, have you even heard of Delgado this year?

At least no one notices what he's [Vernon Wells] doing, or not doing. Remember, he's on the Blue Jays.

First of all, Delgado was protesting during GBA, not the anthem. Also, it's funny how V-Dub's counting stats suffer when he misses 25 games with an injury. We won, Kruk. You lost. It's been 11 years.

And his Chone for MVP article, also rather asinine.

There is nothing more irritating for me, then to watch a good major league hitter taking all the way on 3-0. Pisses me off to no end. Varitek should have been sitting on the fast ball down the pipe.

That's interesting about Kruk.

He used to be here, but there's a noticable blank spot now.

Favourite Kruk moment from that article:

"I love Larry [Bpwa]. He's a friend and I hope he doesn't lose his job, but look at the numbers. Not just the win-loss numbers, but the number of people (myself included) who had Philly taking the NL East. Some people had them in the World Series. No one has underachived more this season than the Phillies."

I love Larry, he's my friend, but the Phillies aren't in the World Series, and it's his fault. Ouch.

Matsui is pumped, isn't he? Man oh man.

He used to be here, but there's a noticable blank spot now

And if you click on the link to his archive (from one of his articles), you get a "page not found". At first I wondered if he was just taking the off-season off, but then I realized that as one of ESPN's celebrity columnists, he should have some work during the playoffs. That's why I wondered if he'd been fired.

LOL, did you see that fan with the "We Still Believe" sign, and the Red Sox jacket...... yet with a Yankees hat? haha... I guess no matter who wins, she'll go home happy.

As for ball catches, I've gotten a couple from coaches throwing balls into the stands, I got one ball that trickled away from the Devil Rays during BP, and my crowning achievement is a rocket foul ball that Brett Boone hit right at me, that I (in retrospect) threw up my bare-left-hand at, that hit it really really hard, went up in the air, and dropped into my friend's lap. We did a rock-paper-scissors for it, and I won. Next on my list is a Homerun ball... which is tough for someone who never sits in the outfield, eh?

has anyone here ever tried snagging a bat?

When Winfield was here, everybody behind the Jays dugout got a bat...

I've only caught one ball in 15 years!

They've moved us around a little bit. I used to be down in the front row where the newspaper guys are, just further along towards 1B. Got one there that Chili Davis fouled straight back. It rattled around and I picked it up. Which is how we make most of our catches up there...

But in the late 90s they moved us to the left of the entrance so we could be right by Jay and Mike and the rest of the Jays PR guys. And it was there that I made a brilliantly cool and casual one-hand stab of a ball, on the fly, barely looking up from my keyboard. Amazing luck - I just stuck out my hand and it stuck there.

Varitek should have been sitting on the fast ball down the pipe.

Tough one, actually. By now, Varitek knows he can't hit Hernandez and the 3-0 is his best chance. But after two walks in the inning, when you're hitting .130 against a guy, trying to work the walk is probably your best best.

But in that case, don't strike out on a pitch that almost hits your shoe...

By the way, the Sox held tonight's lead for 15 minutes, which is about twice as long they held last night's lead.

Ouch, all of the sudden tonight, this Red Sox team is looking very amateur.

Maybe Francona should have kept Lowe in. Hindsight? No, I thought of this right when he pulled him, so it's first-guessing. Because now, who pitches after Timlin? Mendoza? McCarty? Millar?

And the Yankees keep breaking Gameday when they score. Strange.

Tony Clark singles on a ground ball to second baseman Mark Bellhorn.
Bellhorn went home, right? There's no way Clark ran out a grounder.

Bellhorn made a nice stop, but then failed to pick the ball up.

Yeah Rob, it was hit towards the hole and Bellhorn tried to make a play on it, but bobbled it twice.

Joe Buck: "And the bases are loaded for Mr. Clutch, Derek Jeter." From SNL's Celebrity Jeopardy: "Suck it Buck. Suck it long, and suck it hard."

Ouch. No wonder Fozzy said "very amateur." Was it as bad as I think it was?

Joe Buck: "And the bases are loaded for Mr. Clutch, Derek Jeter."

"Derek Jeter grounds out, second baseman Mark Bellhorn to first baseman Kevin Millar."

Very nice.

If Derek Jeter gets a hit, it was a clutch situation.

If Derek Jeter does not get a hit, then it was not a clutch situation.

That's the way it works. That's the way it's always worked.

Ooh, Sturtze just came in! My hopes of taking the over in the ejection pool and having Sturtze involved may be realized!

Rob, in one inning, there were 2 wild pitches by Timlin, and he walked the bases full, Cabrera miffed a ball home for the lead, and Bellhorn made the stop-and-drop. Meanwhile the starter is gone, and your second best reliever in a hurtin' pen has been used in the 6th to get 2 outs, and a 1-run lead is a 1-run hole. I'm glad I'm not a huge Sox fan, cause that would have really hurt to watch.

Does anybody know when you can order Flex Packs? It doesn't look like I can get mine yet.

Also. Does anybody know what station carries the game in Waterloo? 590 is too fuzzy to make out on my radio, and AM 570/900 are carrying football, and stupid story telling respectivly.

You should be able to order a flex pack now, but only via phone.

http://www.jr-digital.com/cjcl.asx
Caino: COMN for online FAN feed - it's rather behind, though.

Baseball is a strange game. The Yankees payroll for their bullpen is more than three or four entire team's payrolls, and they still have to go to Rivera for more than an inning at a time. A credit to him for getting it done out there, though.

3-up, 3-down for Tanyon after a DP, and he's hitting 94-95 with his fastball. Somehow, that does not sit well with I.

Tenrun Sturtze...3 up, 3 down? Why, baseball gods, why?

Wow, 3 innings of Foulke, anyone?

Sweet, thanks guys!

Hey, if the BoSox don't come back and everything goes nicely tonight, Jobu, Moffatt, Mike D, Paul D, Magpie, Jeff Geauvreau, Wayne H, DGriebeling, Jason Robar, Keith Talent, Lucas, Jim, Thomas, and I all win...something. What was the prize for guessing the over/under for ejections this series?

Not that this comment is remotely timely, but I've always believed what Magpie wrote earlier. Jim Joyce is the flat-out best.

One ball, one BP ball (at US Cellular, of all places) and one lineup card, from a September '87 victory over the White Sox. It's still framed in my folks' place in Mississauga.

Jobu said, and I quote:

The "Winners" get a picture of my "ex-wife".

Life-size? In 3-D?

We'll just have to wait and see...

Rob, if you go back to original thread, you'll see that the prize is a picture of my "ex-wife". It's comming close, unless the Sox pull something off.

damn Magpie and his nimble fingers....where the hell is my special typing wand?

To order a special dialing wand, please mash the keypad now...

jkldfjfkdj

So...how many people here are actually watching the game?

The Sox had to score in the 7th. The NLCS is going on for a few more days, so...

Enter Sandman.

Or Fruitbat, as they call him in Boston. (Not sure why. I understand "Peanuthead" for Williams, and "Shemp" for Matsui. But I don't get Fruitbat.)

I am... but I did take a break after the A-Rod homerun to watch a friends hockey game.

damn Magpie and his nimble fingers

Never mind that... I couldn't remember what the prize was, and had to go look it up.

jkldfjfkdj

A secret code that removes the words "clutch" from every Derek Jeter at bat.

An Emmy is forthcoming.

Random thought that popped into my head: What would the call be if a pitcher threw at a batter, who then caught the ball with his hand and tossed it on the ground?

Random thought that popped into my head: What would the call be if a pitcher threw at a batter, who then caught the ball with his hand and tossed it on the ground?

Throwing down the guantlet?

Sorry...couldn't resist.

Me Grimlock am loving the pure evil that is the New York Yankees. Up 3-0 and going to have Rivera go two innings. Not taking any chances, going for the jugular!! What a great series!

Man, this game seems slow to me. I went to take a shower at about 10 after, and they're only one half-inning along?

The "Winners" get a picture of my "ex-wife".
Yes, I could have looked up the prize myself. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos isn't really that great, though...but if Jobu loses, doesn't he already have pictures of her anyway? And what does he gain by winning the contest? This is all too confusing to me.

And Jobu, I believe it would be a strike. Why? I don't know, just guessing.

Rebecca Romijn-Stamos isn't really that great, though

Well, aren't we fussy...

That stat---the one about teams never coming back when down 3-0 and being swept 80% of the time---that stat astounds me. In hockey, teams come back from 3-0 defecits pretty much every year. Hell, the Wild did it twice in 2003. I wonder what makes baseball so dramatically different?

what does he gain by winning the contest?

I'm thinking it gives him the perfect excuse to spend hours on web searching for more pictures... maybe download some videos...they're out there, I'm sure...

Prediction:

The Red Sox win this game. Mark Bellhorn with the game-winning RBI.

Never underestimate the satisfaction of a job well done.

Magpie: If there was a way to post some of the short films I've made over the years, believe me I would.

Bottom of the 9th: Millar, Mueller, and Bellhorn.

All three have had some success against Rivera in the past, and Millar and Mueller have actually homered against (Ramirez is the only other guy to ever take the Sandman deep.)

But I don't like their chances. He already blew a save this post-season. He's not due to blow another until 2007.

wow.... Fox is the hype master. In the last five minutes I've seen more extreme close ups of distraught fans and music video highlights than I have actual baseball.

That stat---the one about teams never coming back when down 3-0 and being swept 80% of the time---that stat astounds me. In hockey, teams come back from 3-0 defecits pretty much every year. Hell, the Wild did it twice in 2003. I wonder what makes baseball so dramatically different?

Not true. You're thinking of 3-1 deficits. Only two NHL teams have ever come back from 3-0, one of them being the 1942 Maple Leafs and me Grimlock think, the 1975 Isles. Oddly enough, south of the border, the Maple Leafs comeback is NOT considered the greater comeback despite it occurring the Finals. Must be the same reason Kirk Gibson's HR is always mentioned in the same breath as Carter's, when we ALL know that Carter's was the more significant!

In hockey, teams come back from 3-0 defecits pretty much every year. Hell, the Wild did it twice in 2003.

I thought the Wild came back from 3-1 deficits. (hockeydb.com is letting me down here...)

3-0 is still extremely rare in the NHL.

Ohhhhh, you're right. I am thinking of 3-1 deficits. That explains it.

God I'm retarded today, lol.

I think Carter had a clause in his contract that said he had to physicaly win each Blue Jay championship.

If the game ends the way it looks like it is, those of you with accounts should post of the more interesting messages from SOSH ;)

Wow.

I'll never doubt the power of the stolen base again.

When I predicted Bellhorn to get the Gamewinning RBI, I assumed he would actually bat. I change my prediction to JD.

...and I would be wrong. Bah!

I'll never doubt the power of the stolen base again

Dave Roberts vs. Posada/Rivera? Sure, that works.

Wow. Cabrera looked horrible there.

Rivera did a great job there to keep the game going.

What is it about Yankees/Red Sox that makes the games so freaking LOOOOONG?

This game isn't particularily high-scoring, but it's still taken 4:00 to get through the first 9.

What's more disappointing for a Red Sox fan? A 4-3 loss in regular innings, or a 5-4 loss in extra innings? Whichever it is, I'm looking for Maximum Red Sox fan pain....

(P.S. Whoever is supposed to be cleaning those Red Sox helmets is doing a terrible job... does anyone have one where you can still see the B?)

Wow. Play ON. I'm so glad I found some sage wisdom from NFH in the Game 1 thread during the seventh-inning stretch on the subject of starting rallies. If I hadn't, I never would have reached into my family's old record collection in the middle of the ninth and pulled out...



Unbelievable.

I wonder if Torre leaves Rivera in at 40 pitches in the bottom of the 10th.

Highlights from tonight's SoSH thread:

"That ball went far."

"They got Matsui out! They got Matsui out!"

"Brutal and futile."

"Well, he ran hard to first."

"A run! A run! We scored a run!"

"We really need to start walking Matsui."

"it hurts"

"Will to live is dissipating here."

"Excuse me, I'm going to take a soddering iron to my eyes."

"everything goes better with Glenlivet."

"Rivera is good."

"3 outs left."

"I still believe. Some how someway. Of course that could be the scotch talking. or the beer. or the schnapps. or the two yellow pills my wife gives me when I'm hyper."

And all of a sudden...

"we live"

So I guess this is...

To Be Continued :-)

I cannot believe this is still going on. I thought the Sox were done earlier...but that's just wishful thinking for me, as they were never down more than one run.

I don't know about Rivera...is Flash Gordon warming up? Maybe he should pitch the 10th. Of course, it is Mo, so who knows.

Tenrun Sturtze: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K. I do not like that line.

This long game is killing me. I got a presentation on sexual harassment tommorow which I haven't finished yet, but I'm still watching the game.

Somebody please end it!

Whoever is supposed to be cleaning those Red Sox helmets is doing a terrible job... does anyone have one where you can still see the B?

I think the Sox have professional helmet-breaker-inners who get their helmet exteriors dirty for them. How else do you explain the appearance of Cabrera's when he's only been there for two and a half months?

How deep is Bostons bullpen tonight....will they have enough pitches if this goes on for a bit?

That was strange.

I was more impressed by Jeter's play on the Varitek liner than McCarver was. How is this possible? Did someone have a word with him?

Jim Joyce is still screaming the called strikes. Love him.

Been along time since I posted but... The Red Sox will win tonight after Curt Schilling enters the game, strikes out two and destroys his ankle diving to catch a Jorge Posada liner. The Red Sox then go on to win the game on a huge homerun by Johnny Damon.

But, The Red Sox lose the series 4-1 tomorrow...

Glad I'm not a Red Sox Fan..

A lefty. In Fenway.

Jeter, Rodriguez, Sheffield due up.

But what else can Francona do?

That guy's got a set of pipes on him, eh? Look at the length of the game, the amount of strikes he's called, and the temperature. The guy won't be able to talk for a week if this keeps up

Forgot about Cairo, who promptly singles. Better and better.

I suggest that Terry Francona call upon Curtis Le-skank-ic.

Nomar doesn't make that play...

Walk Sheffield, Myers for Matsui? (he owns Embree 5-10 lifetime)

No! Pitch to the guy! I approve.

Enter Mike Myers.

The Sons of Sam Horn quote of the night:

(following Cabrera's diving catch)

"Somebody fellate that man."

I guess it was a logical decision to pitch around Sheff and send out Myers to face Matsui. For what it's worth, Hideki is 1-4 with a strikeout this year against Myers.

Nomar doesn't make that play...

But would Nomar have struck out in such dramatic fashion last inning when they had the chance to win the game outright? ;)

Exit Mike Myers.

Those were 4 scary pitches to Godzilla.

Enter Curtis Le-skank-ic.

For the Red Sox they better hope the game doesn't go on too long because the only guy left in the pen is Mendoza. I guess Wakefield or Pedro might get the call in a emergency situation.

Looks like Wakefield is warming.

Quite the ball game here, folks.

You're right Ron.. Wakefield is up in the pen.

I am predicting a Yankee win, with the save going to none other than Esteban Loaiza..... what else would you expect in a game where sturtze goes 2 IP with only 1 hit given up.....

Wow, great snag by Clark, guarding the line....a 6'8" frame comes in handy tonight!!

Boston is running out of options....soon pedro will get up who knows

Boston has...Arroyo, Martinez, Mendoza, Schilling, and Wakefield left. Obviously, three of those are not going to pitch tonight.

So Wakefield after Leskanic, if it goes that far?

Yankees "bullpen": Brown, Heredia, Lieber, Loaiza, Mussina, Quantrill, Vasquez.

Heredia, Quantrill, and Loaiza vs. Leskanic, Wakefield, and Mendoza. How nice.

If only Terry Adams were on the roster...

Jeter is so clutch. And dreamy. And clutch.

Gosh. I'm so glad I'm not a Red Sox fan. How much torture can mere mortal human beings endure?

Oh dear... frustrating play for the red sox... If Leskanic doesn't touch that grounder then it looked like a double play was brewin from where I sit... if the sox lose that one here then I can't think of a more devestating way for the series to be swept...

Did Al Leiter fall asleep?

Rob thx for the info. I figured it wasn't much left. Lets say the Bo Sox win....who will they have left for the rest of the series. They are already over using pitchers.

Well he just talked a second ago whilst calling the second strike leskanic threw in that cairo AB as a 'gift'.... but what're you refering to?

Well, tomorrow (if necessary) its Martinez vs Mussina. After that, who cares? Got to get there first.

David Ortiz up with Manny on.
"C is for Can you please end the game so I can get some sleep?"

Anyone willing to make predictions on:
Winner
Inning
Game-Winning RBI
Losing Pitcher
Winning Pitcher
Save Pitcher (if Yanks win)

I think Yankees, in the 14th, Matsui Solo HR off Wakefield, Heredia the win, Loaiza the Save

Is it worse to lose 19-8 or in 13 innings?

I think Yankees, in the 14th, Matsui Solo HR off Wakefield, Heredia the win, Loaiza the Save

Ewwwwwwwwwwww......

It's past 1am and it looks like most Red Sox fans are still there on a chilly night.

Goodnight...and damn

nevermind, I'm wrong

There ya go

"We'll see you... later tonight!"

AWESOME call, Joe Buck!

What a game.

My predictions: Boston, 12th, Ortiz, Leskanic....ah, never mind. ;)

But notice that I did call it earlier with my Cookie Monster joke...sort of.

There you go, Rob

Alright... I've gotta admit that last shot was joyous...

[sarcasm] Thanks sportsnet for cutting off the celebration footage from Boston [/sarcasm]

Well he just talked a second ago whilst calling the second strike leskanic threw in that cairo AB as a 'gift'.... but what're you refering to?

He said that RIGHT after I posted, the bastard. Before I posted, he had gone about 5 minutes without saying anything, and he had only said about one thing in the past 15 minutes.

PS: I think SoSH just exploded.

Two words for the Red Sox and Boston fans:
Emotionally. Spent.

And one more thought: first pitch is in 15 hours and 33 minutes.

I've got a Boston Fox Affiliate thats going to the news to give the latest on Schilling's ankle.... I don't know if that info is already available??

PS: I think SoSH just exploded.

I'm waiting for Magpie to post the highlights :)

I am glad the Red Sox won tonight otherwise their would have been people doing awful things to themselves in Beantown.

But Red Sox players.... You guys acted like you just won the World Series at home plate.

Five hours. My god. Game 3: 4:20. Averaging four hours (well, 3:59:15) is a hard feat.

And I'll ask another question. What's worse?
a) being swept
b) coming back from 3-0 to lose in seven

Less than 16 hours until Game 5!

And I believe the BJADPPGS starts at 4:00 tomor--er, this afternoon. I forget who the BJAD is, though. Anyone know?

OK, OK

Twelfth Inning

"Leskanic to the rescue. Just like Theo mapped it out."

"i have a midterm in 6 hours and 20 minutes."



"David Oriz says thank you and drive home carefully!"

"I do so love that large dominican man."

"David played a chord and it PLEASED The Lord!"

"Did I miss anything?"

------Pretty restrained, I'd say.

Well, in case Magpie isn't around, here are some of the 'highlights' from the post-Ortiz euphoria on SOSH:

"I do so love that large dominican man."

"Pack that champagne back up you mofos"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

"Here's hoping Mussina blows out an ankle."

BAh..... that update was crap.... the only thing he said that I didn't know was that Schilling threw in the bullpen today WITHOUT that rubber ankle thingy....

blhablhablah... he might still pitch in the series.... yadda yadda yadda....

......and Magpie IS around.

And the pool goes on...

and as an encore:

"That victory was in honor of my recently deceased turtle. The poor little thing died sometime between the 1st and 7th innings. He had been sick for a week.

I'm not ashamed to say that I prayed to the recently deceased turtle when Leskanic was facing Bernie with the bases loaded in the 11th. We now have dead baby turtle mojo on our side."

BTF/Primer's GameChatter has the following highlights, all copied directly from the site:

- DAVID ORTIZ IS SO FU*KING CLUTCH!!!!!
- #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### #### ####
- #### fat piece of ####.
- I’ll give Fox credit: Joe did just warn me that Jeanie Z was coming up. I gotta go.

And my favourite:
- Dude, Quantrill’s postseason ERA is 0.00. That means he has literally zero chance of giving up an earned run. So since the defense has been upgraded, ... oh, huh.

So will we all be this crazy about the Jays in 2078?

Doubt it. After all, we'll be looking back on how we beat the Red Sox in the 2076 ALCS en route to extending their chain of sorrow...

Wow...Wilner is awake and taking phone calls. I think "hosting a radio show at 2 am" is the eighth tool for everyone's favourite Five Tool Radio Host.

Folks, three announcements:
1) tomorrow's ALCS game (5:10) will not be on the FAN. Nobody can dare cut into Bob McCoward's show, after all.

2) BJADPPGS still at 7:05, not Jay confirmed as of yet. NLCS at 8.

3) I have an essay due in six and a half hours. I am going to bed.

PLEASE tell me Bob McDB's show isnt the real reason the FAN isnt getting the game. I don't think my brain could tolerate my hatred for him anymore.

Yes, it has to be, Jobu. Why else would an elimination game not be on the radio station that has carried EVERY other playoff game?

OK...NOW it is time for bed.

Thats not Wilner... thats some annoying espn guy.... did wilner finish already???

Yeah, Mr. Wilner just does quickies after the game, it is 2am after all. But I enjoy this ESPN guys "tussle" gimmick.

I'm waiting for a better excuse than not putting a HUGE game on the radio because of Bob McDB....I just.... I can't process that....I feel like Frank Grimes...

I think the crusty old dean is behind this.... no doubt...

Man, I can't beleive I missed this game. I'm an idiot.

Bob McDB, with the Crusty Old Dean!?!?!?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

I haven't seen combined evil of this magnitude since Krang and Shredder!

DAMN YOU DEAN!! YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR!!

Wow, I have to get up in 4.5 hours. That really, REALLY sucks.

Am I the only insomniac left on the site still up?

nah I'd say there's at least 5.... luckily I have nothing to do till 1... bwahahaha :P

but you go to york right??? don't profs there generally just regurgitate the textbook? They did for me... I don't know what yer major is like...

Allright. here's a mini contest that people reading this in the morning can laugh at. Who has to wake up the soonest from right now. I submit 4.5. Can anyone beat it?

I'm going in early because I have a meeting with the prof. And the way I figure it, what better way to impress a professor than going in looking like a hillbilly zombie, right?

It's just because you've been engrossed in studies :).... and definitely not staying up till 2 because of a certain baseball game...

Actually, I can't remember the last time I got more than 7 hours sleep. It's gotten to the point that when I DONT have circles around my eyes my friends say "Whoa....what's wrong with you?"

Wait a second.....Hillbilly Zombie?

I smell a new character on "Too Many Molinas!"

Sox in 7. Ya I said it.

Woo Hoo I get to have the last comment of the night/early morning.

I'm currently taking a break from prepping for a presentation I have today. A typical all-nighter for a sleepless University Student......

I blame the long Yanks/Red Sox game for keeping me up right now.

Don't count on it. Some of us are vampires.

Damm I didn't think anybody else would be up this late ... or should I say early in the morning:)

That game was so long, I swear that whenever they did a shot of the Red Sox bullpen in extra innings, I saw Pedro Martinez warming up. And somehow, to my sleep-deprived brain, that actually made sense.

Is there any reliever on either team who could actually pitch (effectively) today? We'll see, I guess.

lol. good old bob drumand. we go way back to first year poli sci...

1) Can someone tell me if the announcer was serious in the game the other night when some pitching coach (I'm a girl who knows no baseball so forgive me for not knowing what pitching coach - I think it was Houston's) said "multi-syllabic" and the announcer said "I don't know what that means". My friend thinks the announcer was joking, but I thought otherwise.
2) Did Tavarez get fined? I know he broke some fingers and LaRussa is furious (particularly since his guy just got a pitch at the head with no warning), but I can't quickly find that on the net.

I realize my life must be pretty dang boring to ask that question of total strangers, but I am curious for some reason. Plus, some of you guys are cracking me up so I figure you were probably quick enough to catch that comment.

I figured out 2) - fined $10000 what a alcohol/sugar/? addicted man he must be to show such anger when most of those guys keep it in to keep the big bucks.

What is up with the dirty looking helmets? Does anyone know?

Yeah, they're all smeared up with pine tar. That way, if someone like Orlando Cabrera wants to get more tar during the at bat, he can just rub his hands on the helmet.

Are you serious?

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/041021
Yeah, I'm serious. If you click on my name, there's a story at ESPN that talks about the phenomenon, including possible fines.

Thanks a bunch, that answers my burning question of the week. Have a good one.