MLB Baseball Playoffs

[Jedi Master Carr]

Okay it starts tomorrow. I think there is no clear favorite. If I had to pick three teams I say the best three are St. Louis, NY, and Boston. But really some upstart team like Minnesota, Anaheim, Houston, or LA could do it. It should be an interesting month, have to say that.

[Cyrel Annat]

I'll toss my hat into the ring with a few predictions certain to go wrong. Here goes:

Houston over Atlanta in 4 games.
St. Louis over LA in 5 games.
Boston over Anaheim in 4 games.
The Yankees over the Twinkies in 4 games.

Houston over St. Louis in 6 games to win the NL.
Boston over NY in 7 games to win the AL.

And I'm calling Houston to win it all in 6 games.

Personally, I think that Houston is on too much of a roll right now to lose a series, though they still have never won a post-season series. This will be the year and when breaking tradition, might as well go all-out.

I also think that this will finally be the year that the Red Sox get past the Yankees. I would like to see the Twins beat the Yankees, but that would be too gracious of a gift from the baseball gods.

And while I will likely not be avidly watching the games, I will be satisfied so long as the Yankees do not win it all.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well if the Red Sox lose it will be in 7 :p Every World Series they have lost in the last 50 years they have lost in Seven games. I am not sure about Houston. Atlanta has had their number in the past of course different teams. Plus Atlanta has choked so much in recent years it is pathetic.

[Figrin D'an]

Considering I dislike the Astros, hate the Cardinals, and am one of many that see the Yankees as everything that is wrong with baseball, I might as well root for Boston.

Although, my interest will overall be rather minimal.

[Nathanial K'cansce]

Twins all the way!!

[CMJ]

First round predictions...

Atlanta over Houston in 5 games.
St. Louis over Los Angeles in 4 games.
Boston over Anaheim in 4 games.
New York over Minnesota in 5 games.

[Pierce Tondry]

Originally posted by Figrin D'an
Considering I dislike the Astros, hate the Cardinals, and am one of many that see the Yankees as everything that is wrong with baseball, I might as well root for Boston.

I can't help but hearken back to an SNL bit with Seth Meyers from a couple of years ago.

"Everyone and everything that Boston roots for loses. If Boston rooted for gravity we'd all be three feet off the ground."

I'm rooting for Atlanta, but have no clue as to whether they have a chance.

[jjwr]

Astro's have done most of their magic at home, being a WC team they are going to have to win on the road, that will be the key for them.

Unless something drastic happens St. Louis will be coming out of the NL.

AL is a whole other story, this could go 4 different ways.

Angel's could stay hot and hammer any of the 3 other teams into submission. Vlad has been awesome down the stretch.

Or their pitching could still cause them problems and their bats may not be able to compensate.

Yankee's like the Angels could mash their way through any of the other 3 teams if their bats get hot.

Also like the Angels this teams pitching could implode and put them down huge in a few games too many.

Sox - Could easily have the best 1 - 2 punch in the playoffs and can ride it.

Also....well these are the Sox so anything that could go wrong very well may :)

Twins.....solid pitching, solid hitting, solid defense. Stay average and ride it out.

Or.....if they slip in any of the above they could get smoked.

That being said...

Twins in 5
Sox in 4

Sox over twins in 6 to get to the WS.

[JMK]

Houston over Atlanta in 5
St. Louis over Los Angeles in 4
Boston over Anaheim in 5
New York over Minnesota in 5 g

[Jedi Master Carr]

Houston over Atlanta in 5
St Louis over Dodgers in 4
Red Sox over Angels in 4
Yankees over Twins in 5

[darth_mcbain]

Houston over Atlanta in 6
St. Louis over Los Angeles in 5
Boston over Anahiem in 7
New York over Minnesota in 6 g

While those are my predictions - I sure hope the Yankees don't make it. Houston - Boston with Boston on top would be my hope for the final.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Mcbain its best out of five heh. It's no big deal though :)

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well St. Louis is beating up the Dodgers winning 6-0 right now. Perez gave up 5 runs in 3rd, by two home runs.

[Cyrel Annat]

Red Sox are up by a ton in the 6th. I can't recall the exact score I heard on the way home, but it was 8-0 or 8-1 or some sort of whooping of that nature.

[jjwr]

Sox won the game pretty handily, Schilling pitched a great game.

Tomorrow they send Pedro to the mound, if the Sox can get him about 5-6 runs they should win the game and take the 2-0 lead back to Boston.

In the meantime.......

Santana, Santana, Santana, Santana, Santana!!!!!!!!!

Its time for you to play Luke Skywalker and take down the evil empire!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Heh and that he did they won 2-0. If the Yankees lose tomorrow they will be in big trouble. This is why I didn't want the Sox to face the Twins they are dangerous in a five game series. The Sox's bats really knock Anaheim around. If Pedro wins tomorrow night they might be getting the brooms out in Fenway.

[jjwr]

Its too early to cheer about that torpedo going down the venting shaft though....

Sadly we can't forget last year the Yankee's lost the first game to the Twins in round 1 and won the next 3 then lost the first game to the Sox and won it there as well.

The key is to get them to elimination outside of the final game of the series, the Twins need to get 1 of the next two games and push a game 4 Elimination game to have a reasonable chance.

[darth_mcbain]

Originally posted by Jedi Master Carr
Mcbain its best out of five heh. It's no big deal though :)

Whoops - forgot this round's out of five :). Then I think all of the series are gonna go the distance of 5 games...

Go Twins - beat those Yanks...

[Jedi Master Carr]

You are right jjwr, but there is one difference from last season the Yankees had Petitte, Clemens, and Wells going in games 2-4 that helps. This year Jon Leiber, Kevin Brown (who might not be fully healthy) and Hernadez (who has a tired arm) that spells trouble. Like you said if the Twins can win one of the next two games it will be huge. Heck if they go to five they face Santana again that could be lights out.

[Jedieb]

Santana pitched a great game yesterday. The Yankees had several opportunities but they kept hitting into one DP after another. So, it's a repeat of last year. In fact, losing game 1 of a series has become something of a habit for the Yankees, something they've done in around 7 of their last 10 playoff series. Unless they lose tonight, there's nothing to worry about though.

Both the Sox and Cards looked great yesterday. St. Louis is just stacked. I really think they're the team to beat. I stil remember watching them dismantle the Cubs earlier this season, and I saw (heard actually) that same team yesterday. I'm pretty sure Clemens is pitching today. That should be a treat.

[JMK]

I thought it was a delight to watch the Twins play ball the way it should be played last night, and beating the homer-loving Yanks. Though I don't think the Yankees are out of this series until the Twins win their 3rd game. The Yankees can steal the momentum at any time and run away with it, even if they're down by a few in the 9th facing elimination. If the Twins don't eliminate the Yankees the first chance they get, they won't do it at all IMO.

[Morgan Evanar]

I really like the Twins, and I hope they do well in the series. Especially if they beat the Yankess :)

[Jedieb]

Ah, you're all so naive. NOTHING WILL STOP THE EVIL EMPIRE FROM REACHING THE WORLD SERIES! :evil

[darth_mcbain]

Originally posted by Jedieb
Ah, you're all so naive. NOTHING WILL STOP THE EVIL EMPIRE FROM REACHING THE WORLD SERIES! :evil

LOL Why do I have an image of a hologram of George Steinbrenner talking with Joe Torre...

Torre: What is thy bidding, my master?
Steinbrenner: There is a great disturbance in the series
Torre: I have felt it
Steinbrenner: We have a new enemy. The Twins. They could destroy us.
Torre: They're just a pathetic team - Kirby Puckett can no longer help them.
Steinbrenner: The team of Gardenhire must not win the series
Torre: If we could stop hitting into double-plays, we might be able to pull it off
Steinbrenner: Yes... Yes... And we could continue our domination. Can it be done?
Torre: They will lose - or die...
Steinbrenner: Good - cause if they win, you're fired...

Sorry - just a random thought... :)

[Pierce Tondry]

I laughed, till I cried, DMB. :)

[Jedieb]

Torre: What is thy bidding, my master?
Steinbrenner: There is a great disturbance in the series
Torre: I have felt it
Steinbrenner: We have a new enemy. The Twins. They could destroy us.
Torre: They're just a pathetic team - Kirby Puckett can no longer help them.
Steinbrenner: The team of Gardenhire must not win the series
Torre: If we could stop hitting into double-plays, we might be able to pull it off
Steinbrenner: Yes... Yes... And we could continue our domination. Can it be done?
Torre: They will lose - or die...
Steinbrenner: Good - cause if they win, you're fired...
:lol
:duel

[jjwr]

That was great!

I love the last line by Steinbrenner :)

Though I must say, yes the Yankees are still super dangerous and can still win this series this is not last Years Yankee's, they had a killer rotation last year but not this year, should be interesting.

Again though the Twins need to seal the deal the first chance they get, if it comes down to a get 5, even with Santana pitching at Yankee stadium I would be nervous.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah the Yankees can be beat this year their rotation is horrible. Oh the Astros are knocking around the Braves 8-3 last I saw. Man the road team is dominating so far 3-1 at the moment.

[Jedieb]

Jeter responded to the Twins first shot with a HR to CF, but once again a Yankee starter gives away a couple of runs. Our starters BLOW! El Duque isn't going to be able to make his next start so Brown gets the nod. I'll never give up, but I think Emperor Steinbrenner may be losing his mind right now.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Twinkies giving the Yankees fits, 5-5 bottom of the 8th. Riveria just got a blown save gave up a hit to left field which tied the game up. Heck of a game.

[Jedieb]

On the bright side, petty, vengefull, evil Sox fans now get to harass innocent law abiding Yankees fans with IM's. :shootin

[CMJ]

:lol :lol :lol Who would you be refering to Eb?

:smokin

[Jedi Master Carr]

LOL at least that isn't me. But I can guess who it is :p

[Jedieb]

Bastards, if the Net had been around in 86 I WOULD HAVE HAUNTED YOU IN YOUR DREAMS!!!!!!!!!!! :evil

[CMJ]

I woulda been a poor 8 year old bro. Not even you're that cruel. ;)

[Jedieb]

You would have gotten message after message with nuthin' but....
Mooooookie...........
Mooooookie..........
Mooooookie...........

[CMJ]

:lol

Now I can see why you had to move up in ages taught. You musta had parents running you out of town with pitchforks. :evil

[Jedieb]

Oh, I'm suppose to take it easy on 8 year olds? Screw those lil' bastards, they're fair game. Especially if they're Sox fans. I'd have told them in the future Clemens would abandon them and win a WS with the Yankees. Then I'd put up Buckner posters up all over the classroom. And when their parents came to complain my only response to their pathetic rants would be
Buh, buh, buh, Bucky Dent!!!!! :evil

[CMJ]

Bucky Dent doesn't mean anything to me - I don't even have a ghost of a memory of that. ;)

[Jedieb]

I'll bet you know his nephew, Aaron F. Boone. :evil

[CMJ]

I know Aaron Boone. o_O

[Jedieb]

The Sox have already jumped to an early lead on Colon. Good luck tonight boys, there's nothing I'd like more than a rematch!

And Sturtze gets them to the bottom of the 10th. Jeter, A-Rod, and Shef........ :)

[Jedieb]

Sorry about that Sox fans, Manny didn't get Damon in. I'm off to bed. If the Yanks lose... I hate you all. If they win.... insert your own evil Yankee rant, I'm tired. Goodnight!

[Jedi Master Carr]

Heh I won't tease you much. Pedro did look nasty in the first inning. He is due for a big game. The Yankee game is going to the bullpen who knows how that will go.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Hmm Jedieb you might be glad you went to bed :p Not sure what CMJ would say :) 6-5 Minnesota. Now can the Yankees answer? Also 1-1 Boston Anaheim. Only bad news for Boston has been they had the base loaded twice and a base running gaffe hurt them last inning. Still they are getting to Colon he is getting behind not sure what might happen with this game.

[Jedi Master Carr]

And CMJ I guess it's a good thing Jedieb went to bed for the both of us :p Seriously, what was that manager thinking leaving Nathan in their three innings. I was shocked when he did it. He had nothing I could see that when he was working that inning. Still this game shows the Yankees are very vulnerable. Against a better team like Boston or Anaheim they would have lost that game.

[CMJ]

Anaheim/Boston seems headed towards extra innings as well.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I sure hope not. Not sure If I can stay up.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well big sacrifice fly 4-3 now. Pedro coming back out for the bottom of the seventh. I'd say this is it for him. If he gets into any trouble I pull him. Even a quick 1-2-3 inning I pull him. He isn't pitching no 8th inning.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Great inning by Pedro, he pitched a really good game. He had that one bad inning where he got into some trouble but otherwise he has been brilliant. Now it is up to the pen. One more inning and Foulke comes in.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Red Sox win 8-3. They had a big Top of the ninth with 4 runs scored. Man they have scored 17 runs so far in this series. I think they can sweep them on Friday. They are just so good at Fenway.

[jjwr]

That win should pretty much clinch the series for the Sox, I'd guess 4 games though, I don't think they'll sweep.

As for the Yankee's, the problem is the Twins need to win the games in 9 innings, once you start going extra innings your pitching gets thin and the Yankee's still have their great line-up. Yeah the guy was left out there too long but there are only so many options.

Either way though they've got hold field now, just gotta take 1 of the next 2 to set up Johan for the win!

[JMK]

I think the Sox are going to sweep. The Angels have nothing left to answer the Sox with. If they win a game it will be because they knock around a Sox starter not in the same class as Pedro or Schilling.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah, they are probably going to face Arroyo next. He has been good this year but he is very young. The Boston can sweep mainly because of their offense and how well it plays at Fenway. NY I hope just go 5 games that way the Red Sox will have their rotation set while the Yankees won't.

[jjwr]

Sox should sweep or at the very least go 3-1 in the series. Arroyo has been great in September, the way the Sox are hitting they only need 6ish runs and Arroyo should be able to do the rest.

Not to look ahead but figure in a 7 game series your looking at Game 1 - Schilling
Game 2 - Pedro
Game 3 - Arroyo
Game 4 - Wakefield
Game 5 - Schilling
Game 6 - Pedro

Scary.........the only problem is Pedro would get 2 starts at Yankee stadium that way. I don't think that will be a problem though, the guy is due and he pitched great last night against a hot Angels lineup.

[Jedieb]

Do you know that if you start yelling and screaming, in agony or defeat, and wake your wife from a sound sleep, she's bound to be a bit cranky? :spank

Jeter
is
GAWD!!!!!

Cranks a 400+ft homer to the black seats in center in the 1st inning. So later in the game, what does he do when the Yankees have a man on first and need him moved into scoring position? He BUNTS. And he's happy to do it because he's a winner and he knows how to be a leader. Next comes A-Rod and drives in the runner Jeter moved over. Then, who makes the heads up base running play at the end of the game to score the winning run and save the season? Who else but Jeter. I wonder if they'll let him pick out his own spot in Monument Park? :)

[JMK]

As much as I can't stand the ways of the Yankees, I love Jeter. What a clutch player, what a leader. He deserves all the accolades he ever receives.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah but honestly the reason the Twins lost that game was because they left Nathan in there when he had nothing left. The guy couldn't even get the ball over the plate. That was a stupid decision almost as bad as Little letting Pedro stay in there last year. About Boston. I think I would save either Pedro or Schilling for a game seven. No way would I want Arroyo going in a game seven if it went that far. So Pedro might need to pitch in Game three to set up.

[CMJ]

Man...terrific game between Atlanta and Houston. Dramatic walk off HR in the 11th. Good stuff.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah it was a well played game. The last three games have been very close (not counting the last inning between Boston and Anaheim.) Wonder if tonights game will be any good.

[Jedieb]

Houston had a chance to bury the Braves. Now as a Yankee fan, I should be pulling for Atlanta to make it to the WS. I think they're the weakest of the NL teams and one the Yankees could beat in 5 games. If not for Gagne, I'd say the Dodgers would be easy pickings as well. Houston's got 2 solid starters to give the Yankees problems. But it's the Cards I fear the most. I don't think we'd stand much of a chance against them. :(

[Jedi Master Carr]

Got to get past Boston first Jedieb ;)

[Jedi Master Carr]

Dodgers giving Cardinals some trouble 3-3 in the fourth. Looks like this could be a great game as well.

[JMK]

I thought last night's game was a total bore. It was drawn out beyond belief for a 9 inning game. No flow, shoddy pictching, not much intensity. I was disappointed.


Dramatic walk off HR in the 11th. Good stuff. Yeah, that drunk Furcal really turned on the pitch. But I've always hated the term 'walk off home run'. What the hell do you walk off of? Stupid baseball slang. :p

[Jedi Master Carr]

LOL true. Yeah that game last night wasn't very good the Dodgers are done. Right now the Cardinals and Red Sox have looked the best in the first round, not sure if that means anything.

[JMK]

I'd say Boston clearly looks the best right now. They've been mashing the Angels to death, and their starters have come as advertised so far. The Cardinals' starters haven't been as good, especially Marquis last night.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah that is true. St. Louis's offense has been there too. I guess I don't want to get too optimistic about Boston there heh.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Boston up 2-1 right now in the 4th. Escobar has gotten his pitch out up to 78, I don't think he is going to make it out of this inning the way he has been pitching.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Boston up 5-1 now.

[jjwr]

2 on 1 out again, Damon on base yet again!

Arroyo is on too, unless something drastic happens this should be a sweep for the Sox.

[Jedieb]

The Sox are cruising. Cruising towards another Bronx induced heart break. :evil

The Cards and Sox have had the most dominant post season performances so far. I'll be glad to see the Angels gone, I just don't trust that lineup. They could all catch fire at the same time and give anyone problems.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Darn it now it's tied at 6. I still think they will win. Anaheim's bullpen has pitched awful in this series. And they have used up two of their best relief pitchers.

[Jedi Master Carr]

That was worrisome but Folke struck out Andersen and Glaus with the baseloaded now lets see Boston win in the 9th. Here is hoping Varitek hits a game winning HR.

[jjwr]

Foulke was huge in that inning, Lowe had a solid inning as well. Offense isn't clicking, man on with Ortiz coming up.....

Can't believe Manny didn't take a swing at that, right down the middle.....

Go Sox!

[jjwr]

ORTIZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy Huge HR!!!!!!!!

Wow......what a hit, first pitch....Gone!

Think Washburn is gonna have a long winter? Toasted in game 1 and then that pitch.

Wow......Manny is great but Ortiz seems more Clutch.

[CMJ]

I'd take a bullet for David Ortiz. :crack

[Jedi Master Carr]

I was so happy first pitch. WOW. A different red sox team might have blown that game. Hopefully that is a good sign :)

[Jedieb]

Up 8-1 in the 8th, and closing in on a rematch Sox fans. We’re coming for ya! And you know you want us there. You don’t want the Twins. The Twins would be an empty challenge. You want the Pinstripes that have haunted your dreams for decades.

Sox Fans, we live in a world that has World Series Rings. And those Rings have to be won by men without curses. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Pedro? The Yankees have a greater responsibility than the Sox can possibly fathom. You weep for your Curse and you curse the Yankees. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That your Curse, while tragic, probably saved championships for the American League! And the Yankees existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves American League Championships.

You don't want a championship. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want us in the World Series. You need us there. We use words like World Series Champions, Pennant Winners, Monument Park...we use these words as the backbone to a season spent defending something. You use 'em as a punch line!
:evil :crack :evil

[CMJ]

That's it...Eb has officially lost his damn mind.

[darth_mcbain]

Originally posted by Jedieb
Up 8-1 in the 8th, and closing in on a rematch Sox fans. We’re coming for ya! And you know you want us there. You don’t want the Twins. The Twins would be an empty challenge. You want the Pinstripes that have haunted your dreams for decades.

Sox Fans, we live in a world that has World Series Rings. And those Rings have to be won by men without curses. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Pedro? The Yankees have a greater responsibility than the Sox can possibly fathom. You weep for your Curse and you curse the Yankees. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That your Curse, while tragic, probably saved championships for the American League! And the Yankees existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves American League Championships.

You don't want a championship. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want us in the World Series. You need us there. We use words like World Series Champions, Pennant Winners, Monument Park...we use these words as the backbone to a season spent defending something. You use 'em as a punch line!
:evil :crack :evil

"You're overconfidence is your weakness" :)

I'm still holding out some hope for the Twins, but they have their work cut out for them... Oh well, if the Yanks do make it, it will be all the more sweet when the Sox take them out... :smokin

[Jedieb]

:lol
C'mon, everyone needs a good Nicholson styled rant every once in awhile!!! :crack

[Jedieb]

I'm still holding out some hope for the Twins, but they have their work cut out for them... Oh well, if the Yanks do make it, it will be all the more sweet when the Sox take them out...
That's exactly my point! You WANT US THERE!!! You want to take it from the Yankees' cold dead gloves. Of course ending the Curse would be sweet under ANY circumstances, but destiny demands that you do it against THE EVIL EMPIRE! :evil

[Jedi Master Carr]

I think most baseball fans hate the Yankees. People in general root for the underdog David vs Goliath. Although I don't think that works with Red Sox vs Yankees. But it did for the Marlins, Diamonbacks and Angels everybody loved when those teams beat NY that is a fact. I don't think we will get that this time when they lose it will be one of two teams that might be better than New York (Boston or St Louis).

[Jedi Master Carr]

Could Schilling pitch 3 games next round? Just curious Can he pitch 1, 4, and 7. If he could that make things easier send Pedro 2 and 6 and put Arroyo in game 3, wakefield in game 5, it would work out perfectly that way.

[Cyrel Annat]

Personally, I could see Schilling pitching that much if it was necessary, but that would put a crimp on his pitching in the WS if they made it. Then again, it may be worth it to get to the WS and if it comes down to it, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see him out there again.

[Figrin D'an]

Being able to set the rotation will be a huge advantage for Boston, no matter whom they face in the ALCS. The best thing the Sox can hope for now is for the Twins to win tomorrow to force a Game 5.

St. Louis looks unstoppable. They likely polish off LA tomorrow, and I can't see either Atlanta or Houston taking them down (Atlanta doesn't have the hitting to match the Cardinals offensive output, and Houston is just about ready to hit a brick wall after playing all-out for the last 2 months of the season).

A Cardinals/Red Sox series would interesting, despite that I generally hate the Cards.

[jjwr]

You don't want a championship. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want us in the World Series. You need us there. We use words like World Series Champions, Pennant Winners, Monument Park...we use these words as the backbone to a season spent defending something. You use 'em as a punch line!

Yeah cause everyone loves seeing a overpaid team losing in the World Series.....nothing like watching George flush 250 Million a year!

I can't believe a Yankee's fan is hoping they'll meet the Sox, do they really want to lose that badly? 11-9 in the regular season and right now on a tear, their #3 pitcher is playing as well as the Yankee's #1. This isn't your grand-fathers Red-Sox, these guys don't even know the C word.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I don't think they care about that. Damon says it best he calls the team a bunch of idiots. This team don't even think about crap like that.

[CMJ]

Would I like to beat the Yankees? Of course. I'm still scared of them though, and always will be.

[Jedi Master Carr]

I guess I am not scared as them as much. First when I grew up as a kid the Yankees stunk from 1984-1993 they had some horrible teams. They usually finished behind the Red Sox. Not sure if that is my reason or I think they are very vulnerable this year or I think the Sox have a very special team. I guess we will have to wait and see.

[Jedieb]

I can't believe a Yankee's fan is hoping they'll meet the Sox, do they really want to lose that badly? 11-9 in the regular season and right now on a tear, their #3 pitcher is playing as well as the Yankee's #1. This isn't your grand-fathers Red-Sox, these guys don't even know the C word.
Of course we want to meet the Sox. There's just no fear on our side. You're talking about the most one sided rivalry in the history of baseball! Why would we be afraid? How many times has Boston found a way to grab defeat out of the clutches of victory? The Boston Massacre, Bucky Dent, the managerial brilliance of Grady Little, we're just wondering how you're going to do it again. Your Daddy's are waiting for you........ :evil

[jjwr]

LOL....now if only this was a typical Yankee's team, this is a group of hired mercenaries with a incredibly weak pitching rotation.

Lineups are probably about even, both have their big bats. But the Yankee's lineup in 7 games? Are they hoping to have 5 days between each pair of games so they can start Mussina and LIeber 3 times each?

[Jedieb]

Top of the 8th, down 5-1, NO PROBLEM!!!! :evil

It's all set up, this is how it should be. Man do I love playoff baseball. :)

Winning in 4 lets the Yankees start with Mussina in Game 1. I'm hoping El Duque improves and gets a start in the series. Brown looked good the other day so we've got enough arms, none of them equal to Schilling, but more than enough to match Lowe, Arroyo, and Wakefield. Schilling has to win both his starts or you guys have no shot. And Pedro is finally going to have to face his Daddy and get a win in Yankee Stadium. Man, both parks are going to be rocking!!! :crack

[CMJ]

I don't think Schilling has to win both of his starts for us to have a chance. In fact if he wins both, I don't think the Yankees have a chance.

[Jedieb]

In a 5 game series I'd agree with you, but in a 7 game series the Yankees could easily lose two games to Schilling and still pull it out in 6 or 7. The Yankees have the edge with middle and late inning relief. That's where the games will be won and lost. But the Sox have more pop than last year and it could easily be enough to get them past the Yankees this time. This should go 6 or 7. I think the Red Sox at some point are going to suffer from not winning the East and grabbing home field. Having those last 2 games at Fenway would have been a big advantage.

[CMJ]

Throwing Wakefield out there with Schilling and Martinez(not to mention Arroyo) is a strong staff. The Yankees have never figured out Wake with regularity. I'd be tempted to move him to the #3 starter. That way he'd go Game 3 & 7.

Having homefield woulda been huge. *sigh*

[Jedieb]

Wake hasn't been the same kind of pitcher this year. He's been struggling which is why I'm not nearly as afraid of him. Even when he was on his game last year, it didn't stop Arron F. Boone from taking him deep to win it all.

Lima pitched a great game tonight. He's a trip to watch on and off the mound. Could this give LA enough momentum to take the series back to St. Louis. It's a long shot, but tomorrow's starter does pitch much better at home then on the road so L.A. has a shot. I don't see how they could win with Weaver in St. Louis though.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Wakefield pitches great against the Yankees especially in the postseason he beat you guys twice last year. And Arroyo has been brilliant heck I say he is a better pitcher than Vaquez or Leiber. The kid has some great stuff. I think our four man rotation is better than New York's. Boston has better defense and a very patient offense. I like our chances.

[CMJ]

Lima was awesome....only Boston sweeps this year.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Wakefield has looked the same as he did last season. Actually he won more games this year. He hasn't truly been dominant years but for some reason in the cold weather his knuckleball really moves.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well the Cardinals are in beating the Dodgers today 6-2. It is looking like they will get Atlanta if they take care of Houston tomorrow at home.

[CMJ]

The Braves beating the Houston bullpen today when they were down by 3 runs was clutch as hell. I'll take Atlanta in Game 5.

[Jedieb]

"Barves, " that's what I feel like doing whenever I see them in the playoffs. ;)

The Braves represent the last best hope the AL has of winning the WS. Go Atlanta! :evil

Oswalt is on 3 days rest. We'll see how far he can go. In typical Atlanta fashion, they didn't even sell out. But hey, they're "loud.":rolleyes

[Jedieb]

It's 12-3, bottom of the 8th, and barring a miracle comeback, you're seeing exactly why the Braves can't sell out a Game 5 at home. In their last 16 home playoff games the Braves are 4-12. They've been eliminated at home now for ......... oh crap, I'm too tired to do the research but it's happened somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 of the last 4 years. The numbers might be even worse. I'm sure stat boy could clear it up for us. You get the feeling that many of these Atlanta fans just can't bear to see it any more.

Here come the big boys.............. this is going to be SWEEEEEEEEEET! :)

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Braves are embarassing. How can they not win at home! Well Houston is going to get killed by St. Louis (I think Atlanta would have too however). St Louis has too much for them to handle and the Astros pitching besides Clemens is a mess. I mean who is going in game one?

[CMJ]

I think embarrassing is a bit strong. I don't think Atlanta would've taken St. Louis beyond 5 games. If Houston does I'll be shocked.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Well it is just they should have won honestly. I guess embarrasing is strong but it is very disapointing for them. Of course what is embarrasing is seeing their park not sold out for a playoff game now that is embarrassing.

[Master Yoghurt]

When is the game between Red Sox and Yankees? I think it may be shown on Viasat Sport. I want to see the curse in action :p

[JMK]

I think embarassing fits the bill pretty well for the Braves. As they were saying on the broadcast last night, they've watched an opposing team celebrate a series win in the post season every year except for one since 1997. That's not good. Another failure for the Braves in the post season.

[Jedi Master Carr]

The Red-Sox- Yankees game is on at 8:15 EST.

[darth_mcbain]

I'm looking forward to the Sox-Yanks series. I totally want the Red Sox to stick it to the Yankees and put the curse to rest...

[Jedi Master Carr]

I hope so too. Personally, I feel there is no curse. That is superstitious nonesense just like the number 13 is unlucky it is just in people's heads. These Sox players won't think about that garbage thank god. I am also glad it is Schilling going in Game 1, although I think Pedro has something to prove in game 2.

[JMK]

Sox fans should rejoice that it's Schilling tonight. He's unfazed by anything, and he's beaten the Yankees before. The Red Sox MUST win game 1 tonight. If they fall behind in this series, I think they're toast.

[Jedieb]

http://theforce.net//holonet/newspics/soxyankees.jpg

[jjwr]

Eh....I love stuff like that but that one's just bland.

Agreed, Sox gotta take game 1. Then again with the Yankee's recent history the Sox may rather lose game 1 :)

[Jedieb]

That intro was for all of us. :)
:duel

[darth_mcbain]

Man this isn't good - Schilling isn't looking his usual self tonight... And Matsui is killing him... :mad Oh well - its still early yet...

[Jedieb]

Schilling obviously isn't right. I think Leiter's got the call right. Either that ankle is bothering him, or his control is just off. It's not just his control, half his breaking balls are staying up, and he's not using his fastball nearly as much as he usually does. I wouldn't expect Schilling to pitch like this in his next start, but it certainly robs him of some of the mystique he brought into the series.

5-0 NY.

[Jedieb]

Matsui has ben awesome against the Sox all year long. Posada just drove in run #6 with a sacrifice. On the other side of the mound, Mussina looks great. He's consistently getting that first pitch across for a strike which is letting him contol the at bats.

[CMJ]

I'm about ready to concede this game. o_O

[jjwr]

Schilling just wasn't right, a total turn from his last game.

I'd be very carefull of Schilling in his next start in this series, he's not gonna be happy about how he did tonight :)

We had a fun discussion at work earlier today, no doubt the Yankee's lineup is good but the guy was talking about how great they were, winning the Twins series, etc.....

A few #'s thrown his way later and he got awefull quiet. What bothers me most about the Yankee's is that huge ###,###,###

He was saying they won 101 games, only the 2nd team this year to do it, beat the Sox again, blah, blah....they've got a 185M freaking payroll.....why should this be in question? For a team with that big of a Payroll they should have won the division before the last 3 games right? They shouldn't have taken 2 extra inning games and some really bad manager decisions to win a 1st round series against a team with 1/4 their Payroll.

I'd love to see what these guys would have done in that series if they had to match the Twins Payroll.

Anywho, just a little vent. I'd love to see the Yankee's try and win with only a 130,000,000 Payroll....

[jjwr]

At least the Sox are getting a few runs on the board. No doubt they have the offense to score 5 more runs but its not likely with Rivera coming up.

Good momentum going into tomorrow's game though.

[jjwr]

Varitek HR....8-5......

[CMJ]

TEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're back in it. :crack

[jjwr]

At the very least I won't have to listen to the guy at work tomorrow about the Yankee's romp :)

[jjwr]

Ortiz.....this is huge, this could be the game......

[jjwr]

8-7!!!!!!!!!!!

[jjwr]

That was like 3feet from a HR!!!

Come on Millar!!!!!!

[Figrin D'an]

That was about a foot from a being a tie game off of Ortiz bat. Talk about clutch hitting.

[CMJ]

I'd take a bullet for Ortiz. :rollin :crack :smokin

[jjwr]

Ortiz is clutch!

Bottom of the 8th....come on Sox, hold them off and tie it up in the 9th!

[Jedieb]

Great comeback by the Sox that's forced Torre to bring in Mo. This is proof enough that this series is going to be a battle.

And jjwr, enough with the payroll! You guys are no better, you're just cheaper. You've got the same payroll the Yankees had just a couple of years ago. It's not our fault that you guys were too cheap to pull the trigger for A-Rod. If the Sox had done that and Boone hadn't of gotten hurt, then the Sox and Yankees payrolls wouldn't be that far off. A Twins fan has a legit gripe about payroll, but not a Sox fans. To Twins fan, the Sox are not that different than the Yankees. All small market fans see are the richest teams in baseball duking it out tonight. I doubt they feel any pity for the Sox.

[jjwr]

Oh I"m sure they don't feel any pity for the Sox, but how can you not look at the Yankee's payroll and laugh?

Add the Twins & Sox together and you have the Yankee's.

By saying the Sox have spent the 2nd most is kinda sad, when the difference between the Sox and Yankee's is 55 Million. Like I said though I'd love to try and see the Yankee's compete at even 130 Million....think they'd be where they are now?

[jjwr]

Huge hit by Williams

[jjwr]

Whoopsie, hit submit by mistake.

Manny almost had that one, definetly a great game.

[Jedieb]

I don't laugh because that's the system. Look, it's not our fault that the Sox are playing catch up. The Sox payroll is over $133M this season. You could add the payrolls of the Brewers, Devil Rays, and Pirates and it still wouldn't top that of the Sox. I've said for years that the system is a joke and it should be reformed. But the Sox are just as guilty of spending money as the Yankees. Right now, the Sox have the same payroll the Yankees had just a few years ago. Their payroll increased over $30M in just a year. Gee, where would they be without that Brewere sized payroll increase? They'd be without Schilling and sitting at home right now. Big bucks is the only reason the Sox are even in the playoffs right now. Basically, they're no different that the Yanks.

Williams sealed the deal in that last inning and Mo is cleaning up. Boston's great run is a perfect example of why this series should be great. It's going to be an offensive show. Maybe, one of the best we've seen in years.

[jjwr]

2 on....I'm suprised they even got 2 on the bases with Mo pitching, figured it was over when they needed 3 runs......

[CMJ]

The Sox showed alot in this game. In some ways this impressed me more than a 2-1 Schilling domination would've.

[jjwr]

Awesome game, Mussina was awesome, great Sox rally though made it fun.

Sox should win tomorrow night, no way they go down 2-0 and Mussina has been the Yank with the best stuff against them all year.

[Jedieb]

DP, game over. The Sox should feel good about tonight. Their ace got rocked, they were down 8-0, but still made a game of it. That was a strong message. These are the big boys of the AL and I hope they keep blasting away at each other for 6 or 7.

But I'd be concerned about Schililng. He gave up 3 runs in his last start against the Angels. He tweaked his ankle at the end of that start. That could be an injury that could continue to effect his fastball and control for the rest of the playoffs. The Sox can't win if they lose both of Schilling's starts. He has to bounce back.

[jjwr]

Agreed on Schilling, their fate rides on him. They have a good lineup but not as good as the Yankee's and they need his starts to keep them going.

[JMK]

I said yesterday that the Sox had to win game one, but after coming on the way they did, I don't believe that any more. They showed a lot of determination in coming back like that, the Yankees are the ones who should be scared because they had to have their best be PERFECT into the 7th in order to build up enough of a cushion. I doubt Lieber will do that tonight, and I'm sure Pedro will be better than Schilling was. The battle of the bullpens should resume tonight.

[jjwr]

Its gonna be interesting thats for sure.

I was saying the same thing, Sox had to take game 1....but they won game 1 last year and look what happened.

They showed they can score, they made the Yankee's go into their bull-pen which is a good thing and they almost got to Mariano again.

Sox gotta win game 2....well they don't have to but it would make things easier going into Fenway, if they can get away with game 2 I believe they can take 2 of 3 at Fenway.

[JMK]

As unpredictable as these games can be (if not the end result), I think game 2 is pivotal. If the Yankees beat Schilling and Pedro, the Sox are in deep, deep trouble.

[jjwr]

Agreed, but you also need to consider after Mussina & Lieber the Yankee's really don't have anyone pitching, so the Sox could still go into Fenway and rock them.

So hard to say, you pretty much gotta throw it all up in the air with these teams.

[Figrin D'an]

Schilling is now doubtful for the rest of the ALCS. Apparently his ankle tendonitis is a bigger problem than inititally reported.

Hate to say it, but without him, the Red Sox are in trouble. They'll need Pedro to be spectacular, and they need to find someone else to come up big.

[CMJ]

Yep, things appear kinda grim. Of course, none of the Yankees starters scare me too much either. With the Monster in Fenway to bang doubles off of expect alot of runs in Boston.

You gotta believe.

[Jedieb]

If the Sox lose today it makes that first game in Boston a must win. I'm going to watch the first couple of innings and then I'll be locked into the debate. Man, the chants of "Who's your Daddy?" will be reigning down on Pedro. Thanks for the soundbite, Pedro, you may never live it down! :evil

[jjwr]

Great game so far, Pedro had a rough start but he's on a roll now. Very quiet crowd both ways, Lieber is very sharp as well.

This is looking like another game decided in the late innings as both starters aren't giving up much.

If the Sox lose tonight they gotta take the first 2 in Boston at least, they can't afford to go down 3-1, thats too much for them.

[jjwr]

Come on....Pedro is whooping butt.....he's the Yankee's Daddy right now!

Sadly Lieber is the Sox's Daddy.....gotta change that boys!

[CMJ]

Now THIS is a great game. I love a good pitcher's duel.

[jjwr]

Olerud gets a HR and the Sox can't buy a hit?

I mean really.....what is it about Lieber? These guys look horrible up there against him.

[CMJ]

That HR really hurt the cause. Let's see if we can get any kind of a rally in the 7th.

[jjwr]

I know they hit better at home but this is just sad, Millar went for a pitch about 2 feet off the base....patience......

[CMJ]

Double play.....

Man, things look rather grim.

[jjwr]

Whats sad is the Yankee's aren't this good. The Sox should have put some Blue Jays uniforms on, they had no problem beating on the Yankees.

[Jedieb]

But if the Yankees wore Blue Jays unis, how would he recognize his Daddy? Same ol' same ol'. Although the Red Sox have apparently realized bringing Pedro out for the 7th to get another late inning beat down is a mistake. I guess an old dog can learn new tricks.

From looking at the stats and game summary, amazing game by Leiber. I didn't think he had it in him to handle this line up like this. I've missed it, but has Damon snapped out of his funk? He HAS to get on base, or the Sox are losing a vital part of their offense. The Sox are down to 6 outs and may actually be relieved to see Gordon in the game. Embry is facing Matsui, who's just nailed the Sox again. An insurance run here would be huge. Too much Boston power over there to feel comfortable with just a 3 run lead.

[jjwr]

Damon hasn't done squat which is a problem, he had a great at-bat vs Lieber, made him go like 14 pitches but still lined out.

The whole offense seems to be reaching, trying too hard maybe?

As they were saying during the Damon at bat mentioned above most of the Sox batters were jumping on early pitches and giving him easy outs rather than fight through it and pump up his pitch count.

As for Pedro, he basically shut down the Yankee's big hitters, Olerud got a HR but the big guns of A-Rod, Sheff, Matsui didn't do squat against him.

[Jedieb]

Shef and A-Rod both went 1-3 against Pedro. That's pretty decent. Pedro pitched well, but he got outclassed by Lieber. Getting a shutout out and 2-hitter into the 8th is huge. I wouldn't be stunned to see the Sox get a run or 2 here off of Gordon. Any outs that Gordon can get that Mo doesn't are vital. I don't think Torre wants to have to bring in Rivera until the 9th. 2 strikes on Veritek.......... damn, full count.

[Jedieb]

Told ya the Sox were lucky to get Lieber out of there. Here comes the rally. 1st base being open is a bonus for Boston now.

[jjwr]

Oh Lieber was lights out, no doubt about it, but 3 runs isn't something I'd be calling Daddy about ;)

At least the sox are making it interesting :)

[CMJ]

I think I'm going to be ill.

[jjwr]

Sox aren't themselves, half the roster are looking horrible at the plate.

Even if they lose this one the series is far from over, their offense is always better at home.

[Jedieb]

Mo is DA MAN! Take him away and the Yankees would be lucky to have won 1 WS these last few years. The pressure is really on Boston. That first game at Fenway is a must win now.

[CMJ]

I wanna throw up. I think I'm going to take a minute and remember all that's great in my life - because it's so easy to feel like it's all for nothing right about now. :cry

[jjwr]

He's always been impressive, as they were saying he's been their MVP these last 8 years. The guy is lights out, no doubt about that.

Whats up with the Sox batters?

Are they just trying too hard or what? They've chased so many bad pitches its not even funny.

[Doc Milo]

Interesting picture in the Daily News today. I cut it out and taped it to a cabinet at work. It's a guy in a Vader mask and cape, the cape is pulled slightly to the left side, revealing the Yankees jersey underneath, white, pinstripe, interlocking NY on the chest. He is holding a sign that reads, "Pedro . . . I am your father."

[JMK]

The Sox hitters are trying WAY too hard up there. You can't tell me that they're shaking in their cleats every time they get up there. Each hitter is trying to be an instant hero, and someone should tell Millar that he can't hit every pitch out of the park. He's swinging with all his might every time. I don't know what's happened to Damon, but he looks absolutely lost at the plate. I'm pretty much turning out the lights on this series because the Sox HAVE to tie it up before losing a 3rd game.

And just to remind everyone that there is a series in the NL, the Cards just outlasted the Astros. Look at the offense of the 4 teams left. It's pretty much a who's who of offensive talent in all of MLB.

[JMK]

ESPN radio is reporting that Curt Schilling will not start game 5 for the Sox, but will be available from the bully. Derek Lowe will get the start instead. That's not good Sox fans.

[JMK]

Anyone catch last night's game?

The whole time I kept thinking back to the movie Independence Day. The end where the ship is settling over Area 51, their shields are down, but Bull Pullman's missles weren't causing enough damage? That's how I saw this game. The Astros were tacking on 1 run here, another there, but just weren't causing enough damage to the Cardinals. Eventually, I thought, the Cards would explode and fly past the Astros, which inevitably happened.

The Astros rotation sets up well for the next 3 games, but it may be too late for them. Phil Garner should be second guessing himself right about now, his bullpen stinks to high heaven, except for Brad Lidge, he should have come in to start the 8th IMO, and I thought that before the 8th inning started. He went with those other arsonists Miceli and Wheeler and they burnt down the Astros lead right quick.


Going back to Ken Caminiti, it's being reported now that he did not die of a heart attack, but of a drug overdose. Is anyone to hear that nugget of truth come out? Poor guy.

[CMJ]

The Cardinals are just too strong this year. Oh well...at least they'll beat NY.

[JMK]

I wouldn't be too sure of that. It's very possible, but don't forget, despite being the best team in the majors this year, and undeniably so, because of Selig's idiocy, the Yankees will have home field advantage in the WS. That WILL matter. The Cardinals were great on the road this year, but the WS is entirely different, especially in Yankee stadium. The Cards starting rotation will pale in comparison to the Yanks, as will their bullpen. The Cards will have to outscore the Yankees in order to win the WS. Let's just see if they both get there first. ;)

[CMJ]

The Sports Guy on ESPN.com has been posting his stream of conscious thoughts on the series so far. His Game 1 analysis was hysterical, but this one almost made me cry I laughed so hard. And I felt every bit of his pain. :lol :lol

*********************
By Bill Simmons
Page 2

I keep thinking back to Anaheim last Tuesday: Schilling cruising in Game 1; a Red Sox team running on every cylinder; a showdown with the Yankees looming; nobody on, two outs, seventh inning, 8-2 lead. Garret Anderson chops one down the first-base line. Schilling rumbles over to get it, hauls it in and chucks it into right field. As I'm watching the ball roll down the line, I hear my friend Hench screaming:


"He's grabbing his ankle! He's grabbing his ankle!"


Schilling pitched to one more batter, gave up a double to Troy Glaus, and then left the game. And now he's probably done, and so are the Red Sox -- barring a mini-miracle -- and that's that. You can drive yourself crazy wondering how Schilling's ankle could survive 26 weeks of the regular season, then implode just one week before the only 10-day stretch that mattered. You can wonder why these things always seem to happen to the Red Sox, never the Yankees. You can question curses and fate and even God.

Or you can do what I did before Game 2: Start drinking. Heavily.


Of course, I managed to keep a running diary along the way. Here's what transpired.


8:13 p.m. -- Some highlights from the pregame show: Fox showed a montage of "Who's Your Daddy?" T-shirts outside the stadium ... Jeanne Zelasko was honored for breaking the record for "most hairdos during a sports broadcasting career," previously held by Hannah Storm ... lots of talk about Schilling's torn tendon, although we're all waiting on the WebMD Injury Update for the final word ... and the Red Sox announced that Dr. Gregory House will be examining Schilling's ankle on Thursday.


8:15 -- Our announcers for tonight: Joe Buck, Al Leiter and Tim McCarver, who celebrates his 63rd birthday on Saturday, making him exactly 10 years younger than Luis Sojo. After some small talk, they show a highlight montage of Game 1, accompanied by Billy Squire's "Rock Me Tonight." Hey, Fox knows that there's been music released since 1983, right?


8:21 -- Three up, three down for Jon Lieber in the first. Lemme ask you something ... why does MLB ban HGH and steroids, yet they allow a surgery for blown-out elbow tendons that gives the pitcher a stronger, faster, more durable arm? What's the difference? Please explain.


8:24 -- I have another question: Can you imagine ever going up to a guy behind a Taco Bell counter and saying, "Is it true your zesty chicken border bowl isn't made until I order it?" Would you even get a response? They'd just stare back at you doing the "Bill Murray in the Cheeseburger Cheeseburger skit" routine, right?


8:27 -- Pedro's first four pitches to Jeter: 94 and 95, 94, 93. Sure, they were all balls. But this is a good sign.


8:30 -- Pedro makes Fox's radar gun reading flame (96) against A-Rod. Sure, he hit him with the next pitch. But I like the velocity. By the way, even the people at Friendly's haven't grasped for this many straws.


8:32 -- Sheffield singles home Jeter, with help from Damon's throw that was apparently gunned down by Bernard Goetz in mid-air. 1-0, Yankees.


8:39 -- With two guys on and the crowd chanting about his Daddy, Pedro hits 97 against Matsui, then strikes him out. He hits 96 against Williams, then strikes him out. Then he gets Posada to ground out. Well done. Of course, McCarver can't stop talking about the fact that Varitek and Pedro have huddled four times to discuss signs. Certainly a riveting subplot to the game. I'm about 20 more seconds away from hitting the SAP button.


8:46 -- The Sports Gal brightens up noticably during a highlight of Albert Pujols's two-run homer in St. Louis, and only because his name is pronounced "Poo Holes." I didn't realize I was married to Beavis.


8:48 -- Lots of talk about Schilling's ankle as Lieber mows down the Sox in the second. Allow me to weigh in: If they were that worried about his ankle, why not pitch Pedro in Game 1 and Arroyo in Game 2? Wouldn't that have made sense? Give him an extra three days? Was this even explored? And why would they throw him out to the wolves after he threw terribly in the bullpen before the game? Why sacrifice Game 1? I bet this becomes a bigger story over the next few days.


8:51 -- You know, I wasn't going to buy the Schick Quatro, but now that I know Colby from Survivor is using it ... well ...


8:54 -- Every time they show Terry Francona in the dugout, his arms are crossed and he's rocking back and forth. I think Charlie Babbitt just screamed at him for leaving the toaster oven on again. That's OK, Terry. Three minutes to Wapner. Just hold tight.


9:04 -- In the second inning, after Cairo walks and Cool Papa Lofton singles, Pedro eventually gets out of the jam by whiffing A-Rod. Unfortunately, he's thrown 46 pitches after two innings -- which means he'll be gone by the sixth. I swear, these Pedro starts at the Stadium are like putting the iPod on "shuffle" and ending up with the same song 20 straight times.


9:07 -- Buck can't even get out the sentence "Lieber hasn't given up a hit" before Cabrera singles with no outs in the third. Nicely done. He's the cooler.


9:11 -- Mired in a sudden mini-slump, Damon takes a feeble swing on strike one, then hits a broken-bat grounder on the second pitch. "That was a weird at-bat by Johnny Damon," says McCarver, almost derisively. Sounds like Johnny could use some hitting advice from Brandon Arroyo. Meanwhile, Bellhorn lines out to end the inning.


9:12 -- Boy, you hate to see That Guy from Total Recall and NYPD Blue making a Prestone commercial. I like that guy.


9:13 -- Just looked him up on the internet: Robert Costanzo. You have to love anyone with guest appearances on "The White Shadow," "Beverly Hills: 90210," "Charlie's Angels," "Family Ties," "We Got It Made," "Party of Five," "Growing Pains," "St. Elsewhere," "Falcone," "Charles in Charge" and "Dream a Little Dream 2" on his résumé. Now that's a career, my friends.


9:15 -- Cabrera and Manny almost collide on a popup, followed by Scooter the Cartoon explaining how a changeup works. I've lost the will to live. I'm not kidding. I feel like putting on a wifebeater, eating Hamburger Helper and buying scratch cards for the rest of my life. I've had it. Find me a trailer.


9:18 -- Three up, three down for Pedro in the third. He's thrown 370 pitches.


9:20 -- Turned to the debate just in time to hear this beauty from John Kerry: "Being lectured by the President on fiscal responsibility is a little bit like Tony Soprano talking to me about law and order in this country." And that's quickly followed by the George W. Bush Face -- the one where he half-smiles and half looks like someone just asked him for the square root of 564,092.


(Good God. Can we have more options? I feel like Dave Wannstedt trying to decide between Feeley and Fiedler. I might just have to vote for Larry Bird again.)


9:22 -- Lieber gets the Sox on six pitches in the fourth. Way to work the count, guys.


9:26 -- Wait ...


9:26 -- Hold on a second ...


9:26 -- Here it comes ...


9:26 -- "YOU'RE RISKING A PATIENT'S LIFE!"


9:29 -- Reason No. 5,437 to hate the Yankees: What about the Yankees organist repeatedly playing the "Let's Go Yankees" song, knowing that everyone will just chant "Who's Your Daddy?" to the same song? God, I hate the Yankees.


9:33 -- Pedro cruises through the fourth. "You rarely hear a raucous crowd in a well-pitched game," McCarver says knowingly.


9:37 -- I don't think I've ever NOT enjoyed "Sounds of the Game." We can all agree on this, right? More "Sounds of the Game," more Al Leiter? Any dissenters? Any?

9:40 -- Kenny Albert interviews Jon Lieber's dad, wearing a Yankees jersey, in the stands, with the obligatory idiot two seats away smiling and doing the "You watching the game? I'm on TV!" routine on his cell phone. I'm telling you, we need to pass laws. We need to throw these people in jail. We need to make them spend a month in the hole. We need to pull a Shawshank and cast them down with the Sodomites. I feel very strongly about this. It has to end.


9:42 -- My dad and I just had this exchange on the phone:


-- Me: "If I were a major-league pitcher, would you show up at my home games wearing my jersey?


-- Dad: "Absolutely."


-- Me: "Really?"


-- Dad: "Yeah. Unless you were Derek Lowe."


9:44 -- Celebrities on hand tonight: Jack Nicholson, Lorne Michaels, Conan O'Brien, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. That's it? Fox should CGI other celebs and make believe they're at the game, just to get the Us Weekly crowd excited (people like my stepmom and the Sports Gal). "Look, there's Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt ... Tim and Al, does it look like she's expecting or am I crazy?


9:47 -- Speaking of the Sports Gal, we just had this exchange:


-- Her: "Why is A-Rod wearing purple lipstick?"


-- Me: "That's not lipstick ... his lips are blue from kissing Jeter's butt."


(I'm so bitter right now ... I'm just lashing out at everybody.)


9:56 -- Pedro strikes out Matsui to get out of the fifth. He's throwing a three-hitter. On 430 pitches, but still ... it's a three-hitter.


(Note: It just dawned on me that this could be Pedro's last start in a Boston uniform. Sad moment. Other than Bird, I never enjoyed an athlete more than Pedro. Just brilliant in his prime. Otherworldly. He should retire in Boston, but he won't because some dopey team like Anaheim is going to overpay him by $20 million, and that will be that. Too bad.)


10:06 -- Just an unbelievable Johnny Damon at-bat -- a whopping seven minutes and 15 pitches in all -- capped off by Fox inexplicably showing a pitch-by-pitch sequence and somehow missing the final pitch (Damon lining out to center). Well done. I think I speak for everyone here: We would always rather see live action over any replay or produced piece, even if it's a 45-second highlight montage of Joe Torre picking his nose.


10:08 -- Bellhorn strikes out to end the sixth. This Sox-Yankees thing has reached the point where I'm not even remotely shocked that Jon Lieber is throwing a one-hitter right now. He could levitate in mid-air like Neo to catch a high chopper and I wouldn't be surprised.


10:12 -- Well, we're in the bottom of the sixth. According to Fox, in his career against the Yankees, Pedro has a 2.12 ERA through the first five innings, 6.33 from the sixth on.


(In other words, "REDRUM! REDRUM! REDRUM!")


10:17 -- Uh-oh ... we're past the 100-pitch count ... and there's a guy on first with one out ... oh, boy ... here we go ...


10:18 -- Olerud homers into the right-field bleachers on a 1-2 fastball by Pedro (who missed his spot -- Varitek was setting up outside). 3-0, Yankees. I swear on the Dooze's life that I typed the previous paragraph, verbatim, about 30 seconds ago.


(By the way, Olerud was released by a 58-win team this summer. Classic Yankees. They could pick up a hooker in Times Square, plug her in at second base and she'd hit .280. It's uncanny.)


10:19 -- "Who's your Daddy?!? Who's your Daddy?!? Who's your Daddy?!? Who's your Daddy?!? Who's your Daddy?!? Who's your Daddy?!? Who's your Daddy?!?"


(Thank God this isn't an NBA game.)


10:23 -- All right, I'll say it: "Saw" looks awesome. Notice how I used the underline there. Usually I go with caps.


10:25 -- After Pedro gets out of the sixth without further damage, we see him shaking hands with everyone in the dugout, apparently done for the night. Just to make sure Francona doesn't pull a Grady, Ortiz and Manny remove Pedro's clothes, stick a red ball in his mouth and duct tape him to the dugout water fountain.


10:31 -- Seven shutout innings, two hits allowed, just 79 pitches allowed for Lieber, who looks like Private Pyle without his Yankee hat on. Somehow this will all make sense on my death bed. Meanwhile, Eeyore is singing "God Bless America" right now.


10:43 -- Timlin and Embree combine to get through the seventh. I have to admit, I just spent the last 15 minutes surfing the internet and checking the latest e-mails in my Sports Guy account, which has like 45,000 e-mails right now. Here's a good one from Stephen F. in Boston:


"Let me get this straight, Jack Nicholson is a Laker fan AND a Yankee fan? Can we just paint a mustache on him and call him Hitler?"


10:47 -- Heading into the eighth, the Sports Gal says, "This is our inning, I can feel it." Nixon immediately singles to right, prompting a pitching change by the Yanks, as well as a standing O for Lieber from the Yankee fans. "These fans know how to salute," Buck says. You're right, Joe. Nobody else would have known to stand up and cheer a guy who just pitched a three-hitter in a playoff game. Man, I hate everybody right now. I feel like Barry Bonds.


10:50 -- All right, I'll ask: If you were a billionaire, would you waste your time filming a crappy reality show for Fox? Wouldn't you buy a sports team, open your own bar and plow through a neverending assembly line of dumb supermodels? Umm ... me neither.


10:51 -- As Gordon finishes warming up, it's important to note that the Sox went 6-for-12 against Gordon and Rivera last night. Probably not happening again. But you never know. By the way, Gordon and Sheffield look like they should be wearing fedora hats and big suits and hanging out together in jazz clubs in the 1940s, don't they? Or am I just hammered right now?


10:54 -- Double by Varitek! Still no outs in the eighth, as Dale Sveum correctly holds Nixon at third. "That's the difference between scoring a run and not scoring a run," McCarver tells us.


11:01 -- Ugh. Two grounders (one by Cabrera, one by Mueller). Now it's 3-1 with two outs and Varitek on third ... and Rivera entering the game to "Enter Sandman." Leave it to the Yankees to steal Sandman's entrance music from ECW. By the way, the odds of the Sox winning this game just dropped from 3-to-1 to 10,000-to-1.


11:05 -- Coolest moment of the night: The DiamondCam's replay of Damon's bat splitting into 80 places. Too bad they can't re-enact that with A-Rod's head. Sadly, Damon strikes out to end the inning. We're running out of time. Again.


11:13 -- A commercial for the upcoming season of the "OC" causes the Sports Gal to scream "Oh Boy!" and start singing along to the theme song. I'm questioning my manhood just from being in the same room for that.


11:20 -- Fox fact: The last 13 teams that have fallen behind 2-0 in the LCS have lost the LCS. Fantastic news. What about the last 13 teams who fell behind and also lost the only indispensable guy on their team? Can we see those stats?


Meanwhile, Foulke loads the bases by walking Jeter, leading to a shot of Derek Lowe warming up in the bullpen and wearing Harrison Ford's beard from "The Fugitive." Much more fun than the Derek Lowe Face. You find that man!


11:28 -- Foulke gets out of the bases-loaded jam. We'll forget about the fact that he should have started the inning and that Francona has now made the same mistake in consecutive games. I'm amazed how unterrified I feel when A-Rod's up there. He's just not that scary. There's no other way to say it. Maybe it's the purple lips.


(By the way, I don't want to say that the whole season is riding on these next three outs, but ... well ...)


11:35 -- After Manny cranks a one-out double -- shifting everyone at Yankee Stadium into "Uh-oh" mode -- Ortiz and Millar strike out swinging to end the game. Rivera does it again. He's the difference. He's always the difference. And you don't have to worry about him snapping an ankle tendon days before the biggest week of the season, because these things just don't seem to happen to the New York Yankees. That's why people root for them. It's the smart move. Like buying a stock that can't lose.


And since I can't come up with an ending, tonight's last word goes to Phil Horning from South Dakota: "As someone who dislikes both teams, I can't believe you compared the Red Sox-Yankees to Ali-Frazier. A more accurate sports rivalry would have been Martina Hingis-Anna Kournikova in the late-'90s. Both rivalries were overhyped by the media and the same side always wins."


Actually, that was too depressing. I want to hang myself. Let's give the last word to Tom Loughran from Marshfield:


"It's the end of Game 2 and the Sox are down two games. I feel like there should still be hope but I just don't know if I have any left. It's like watching 'American Choppers.' It might be a different show every time, but you always know how it's gonna end. If you'll excuse me I'm gonna go boil some water and then dump it down my throat."


Save some for me.


Bill Simmons is a columnist for Page 2 and ESPN The Magazine. His Sports Guy's World site is updated every day Monday through Friday.

[JMK]

Awesome! :lol

[Jedieb]

Ah, long suffering Sox fans, how I delight in your misery. Here's more for you:
http://espn-att.starwave.com/media/mlb/2004/1015/photo/smh_babedro_ft.jpg

Is anyone REALLY surprised? Deep down, you knew it was coming. You knew SOMETHING bad was going to happen. Tonight we'll learn if your end will be quick and swift, or slow and painful. I'm predicting one of Arroyo's corn rows will come undone in the bottom of the ninth causing him to balk and walk in the winning run for the Yanks. Implausible, yes, but we're talking about the Sox. Anything can happen.

[CMJ]

Tell me again why we're friends....:duel



;)

[jjwr]

Oh your just jealous cause Arroyo is a good young pitcher, something the Yankee's don't have :)

My question is assuming the Yankee's beat the Sox this year and then lose to the Cardinals how much is George going to pay next year for a 2nd place team?

Last nights rain-out doesn't really hurt either team, it gives Pedro another nights rest, ditto for Schilling, but same for the Yankee's pitchers.

[Jedieb]

My question is assuming the Yankee's beat the Sox this year and then lose to the Cardinals how much is George going to pay next year for a 2nd place team?
How much will the Sox pay for a team that can't get past the Yanks? $150M? $160M? ;)

[jjwr]

Nah, find the luxury tax limit and theres your #

Whats funny though is how close the teams are and how far apart the payrolls are :)

In all seriousness, today's game should be good, the Sox have to win this game if they don't then its obviously over.

They key is to obviously win but they need to get their bats going again and get on a roll or even if they win today the others won't matter much.

[Jedieb]

Nah, find the luxury tax limit and theres your #
You do know the Sox DID pay the luxury tax this season, right? The Yankees and the Sox were the only 2 teams to go over the limit and pay the tax.

As for close, you guys are looking like you might be close to getting swept. That's what's funny. ;)

Arroyo is the last best hope the Sox have. He's been solid against the Yankees this year. Who knows which Brown will show up tonight. But Damon has to wake up. If he continues to lay an egg the Sox have no chance. Maybe he should get a shave and a haircut? Nah, that would probably take the better part of a day. The Sox don't have that much time left. :evil

[Jedieb]

Same as it ever was, same as it ever was .......... :evil

[Jedieb]

There we go, Boston's bats have woken up and Damon has finally gotten on. Tie game and Brown still hasn't gotten out of the 2nd. Manny's got a chance now to make up for his bad base running in the first inning. I don't think either of these starters will make it to the 6th inning.

[Jedieb]

Wow, I can't remember a game where both teams have had to tear through their bullpens this much in just 4 innings. And right as I'm typing this Shef just launched one over the Green Monster. Which gives the Yanks a 3 run lead. That should last at least an inning or two! Wakefield is probably going to make an appearance soon. This is probably some of the crappiest pitching we're ever likely to see in a LCS game. Oh, there's goes Matsui again. Don't fret Sox fans, the Yanks have plenty of crappy middle relievers to throw out there themselves.

[jjwr]

Wow....crazy!

The way they're going the Sox are probably going to bring Lowe out, I think Wakefield is gonna be out in the next game.

Crazy bats so far, if the Sox win this game this game could be telling for the next few as there is no rest between them, this could really stress both teams staff's.

[jjwr]

Ok Wakefield was in, wonder how that will affect the rotation from here on out.

[Jedieb]

17-6 at the 7th inning stretch. This is actually painful to watch. This series is effectively over. I guess it was too much to hope for to get another great series after last year's classic. This beating is so brutal I don't have the heart to start unleashing Sox jokes right now. The Curse lives on for yet another year.

[jjwr]

What amazes me is the Yankee's looked downright average at best vs the Twins and the Sox looked amazing against the Angels and then they've both turned it around totally in this series.

[Master Yoghurt]

I watched the 19-8 game. Shame I dont understand baseball rules (it got to be some of the most confusing rules of all sports). But it was not hard to see Red Sox got run over. So I guess the curse lives on :)

[CMJ]

Part of me says the Sox will win tonight, because not even the Yankees of '99 swept us. But, then again....I have been beaten into submission. No way we win a game.

[Jedieb]

It's been a domination. 27 innings, and the Red Sox have only managed to lead in 1 of them. Whether or not the sweep takes place, the Yankees are going to head into the WS with a full head of steam. They're not going to be as emotionally drained as they were last year. This Yankees team doesn't have the pitching of the past years, but they do have more power. That may be enough against the Cards. It would certainly be more than enough for the Astros. I don't think last year's Yankees team would have stood a chance against this year's Cards. But this current team can stand toe to toe with St. Louis' lineup. Plus, thanks to the idiocy of the All-Star game ("Now, it counts!") the Yanks will have 4 games in da Bronx. St. Louis should have HF and force the Yankees pitchers to hit for 4 of the games. Why MLB can't get something this obvious right is beyond me.

[jjwr]

Agree 100% on the Home Field issue, god forbid something as simple as the team with the best record getting home field actually be enforced.

Baseball is stuck in the past in a lot of ways, this is one of them. Its unfair and flat out silly.

[CMJ]

This was good stuff..and made me feel a bit better.

****************************

Since my bosses wanted something quick after Game 3, here are the top-16 things I jotted in my notebook at Fenway -- in bold, in order of when I wrote them down -- along with my after-the fact notes:


1. Flag flying straight out.
Wrote that before the game, when my father noticed that the flag above the 600 Club was stiffer than Joel Pryzbilla and pointing straight towards the center field bleachers. I remember saying to my Dad, "This could be one of those 12-10 slugfests." It was a slugfest all right ... just like Spinks-Tyson.


2. Weird energy in crowd -- nervous, drinking, not quite right.
This wasn't your typically raucous Saturday night playoff crowd. Everyone was terrified of getting swept by the Yanks, so it was one of those "on the fence" crowds, with everyone thinking the same thing: "We'll keep drinking, we'll keep cheering, we'll even stand up during every big pitch in the first two innings... just get us some runs so we can relax."


3. "We have two hits off Brown, maybe we can get to him."
That was my Dad before the bottom of the second, with the Yanks leading 3-0. I liked this quote because it was optimistic, pathetic and strangely prophetic -- in other words, the perfect quote for a Sox fan. As it turned out, Brown gave up a two-run bomb to Nixon, then two more runs in the second as the crowd chanted "Ke-vinnnnnnn! Ke-vinnnnnnn! Ke-vinnnnnnn! Ke-vinnnnnnn!"


4. "His fastball is 85 and his changeup is 81 -- I don't think he'll be fooling many people with the changeup."
Another Dad quote: This time about Ramiro Mendoza, who relieved a shellshocked Brandon Arroyo in the 3rd inning. When you're headed into a must-win game, most managers come up with some sort of emergency plan ahead of time, just in case their starter doesn't have it. Like any rational Sox fan, we assumed that Terry Francona's plan was, "I'll start Arroyo, but if he's struggling early, I'll go right to Derek Lowe or Tim Wakefield. I can't take any chances tonight."


Nope.


Here was Francona's plan: "If Arroyo doesn't have it, but the game is still close, I'm going to bring in the worst reliever in my bullpen. If that guy doesn't have it, I'm bringing in the second-worst reliever in my bullpen. And if that guy doesn't have it, and we're way behind, that's when I'll bring in Lowe or Wakefield. By the way, I'm doing this because I'm really hoping to get fired next week."


5. Torre's so good - he's the anti-Francona
Wrote that one in the bottom of the third, when Torre pulled the plug on Brown once they went up 6-4, bringing in Javy Vazquez. And that's the difference between Torre and Francona - he acts instead of reacts. He knew Brown was struggling. He didn't want to send him back out there for a few more hits, then bring Vazquez in the middle of an inning (which is what Francona would have done - although he would have chosen Felix Heredia instead). So Torre said, "Screw it, I've seen enough, let's see what Vazquez can do starting off the third."


And it wasn't like Vazquez was fantastic or anything - the Sox nearly knocked him out in the third before he settled down in the middle innings. He also didn't pitch worse than Brown would have pitched. Regardless, that's why Torre has four rings. He doesn't react. He acts. That's what a manager is supposed to do.


6. CABRERA TRIPLE -- Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
That was for Cabrera's bases-loaded double into the gap that somehow only scored two guys -- thanks to Millar tagging at second, then tripping as he realized the ball wouldn't be caught, then Dale Sweum sending Bill Mueller from first even though he A.) had to slow down because of Millar, and B) Millar (maybe 15 feet ahead of Millar) nearly got tagged out at home himself. Instead of 6-6 with guys on 2nd and 3rd and 1 out, it was 6-6 with a guy on 3rd and 2 outs. What a back-breaker. Then again, that's the 2004 Sox for you - bad managing, bad third base coach, bad baserunning. We knew this going in.


7. Why not pitch Wakefield in 3rd????
See, there was the point that we realized Wakefield WAS available to pitch Game 3 ... it was just that Francona chose to bring in his two worst pitchers instead. By the time Wakefield entered the game, it was 9-6 and Gary Sheffield had nearly murdered someone in the second row of the Monster with a three-run laser beam of Leskanic.


(I can't tell you how angry I am about this. Not quite Grady-Pedro level, but nearly as aggravating because of the sheer indefensibility of the whole thing. Your two worst pitchers should not pitch in the biggest game of the season unless you have absolutely no other recourse. They were options here. Either Lowe or Wakefield starts Game 4, the other guy is available for long relief in Game 3, Pedro starts Game 5, and you play it by ear after that. How hard is that?)


7. INT WALK POSADA -- WHAT???????? WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?
Now I'm writing in capital letters - this was when Francona elected to intentionally walk Posada with a guy on second, in a game where the other team had already scored 10 runs, to pitch to Sierra with two outs. Maybe he was setting up the double play ball and forgot the outs. I don't know. One of the strangest moves I've ever seen in a baseball game. This was officially the point where I vowed to devote my winter to getting this man fired.


8. "You think we can come back?" 10:30!
I asked Dad that one before the bottom of the fourth: 11-6, one out, guys on first and second, Varitek up. Even wrote down the time, partly to commemorate the moment, partly because I couldn't believe it was 10:30 and we were only in the fourth inning.


Dad nodded yes.


A few seconds later, Varitek lined into a broken bat line drive/double play. End of the inning. This was officially the point where I started to give up on the 2004 Red Sox season.


9. A-Rod -- $15 million
That was after A-Rod hit his second double, giving him two doubles and a homer on the night. And we were still in the fifth. I just wanted to remind myself how the Sox were $15 million away from getting A-Rod last winter, but chose to wait until spring training to try and close the deal, allowing the Yanks to sneak through the back door. Whether he would have fit in with the team of self-proclaimed idiots, we will never know. It just seemed interesting that he was the guy hammering the nail in the coffin last night.


10. OC makes phenomenal play -- no standing O
That was when the crowd gave up - Cabrera made a web gem against Cairo, going into the hole and uncorking an Ozzie Smith leap-and-chuck one-hopper to get him. The crowd barely budged. We were done. Stick a fork in us.


11. We need rain -- torrential downpour.
Wrote that after the top of the fifth, when the Yanks scored two more times to make the score 13-6. Staring at their inning-by-inning run totals on the Monster, it almost looked like a lottery number: 3 0 5 0 2. These are the times when teams should hire someone to perform an African rain dance.


12. Schilling's ankle = cost us 2 games?
I realized that in the sixth. Let's say Schilling is healthy. Maybe the Sox win Game 1, maybe not. More importantly, he pitches Game 4 on Sunday night, which means that Lowe would have been available for long relief duty in Game 3 - and odds are, he would have done better than the two crappiest relievers on the team. Um, right?


(By the way, I was grasping for straws at this point - it seemed much easier to rationalize that a potential sweep was Francona's fault or Schilling's ankle's fault when the reality was that the Yankees were laying the SMACK down. And not just in Game 3. For the whole series. You have to hand it to them.)


13. "It's like batting practice out there!"
Another quote from my Dad - after Posada and Sierra struck back to back 400-ft outs to dead center to start the sixth. It was like a softball game. Poor Johnny Damon looked like he was ready to keel over.


14. Nov. 2 - don't think so.
That's the return date on my airplane ticket. Something tells me I'll be catching an earlier flight back to Los Angeles.


15. We aren't just leaving the game early -- we're fleeing a crime scene.
Wrote that on my way out, right after Bernie Williams' two-run double to make it 16-6. One of those rare moments when an entire crowd gets up and leaves - not even a "Hey, should we go?" shrug to be seen. I never thought I'd leave a Red Sox-Yankees playoff game in the 7th inning. But I did. Everyone did. We had to get out of there. It was practically a stampede.v

16. T-shirt stop = silver lining
Heading to the subway after the game, I bought two t-shirts from sidewalk vendors to make myself feel better. The first one says "YANKS SUCK" on the front and questions A-Rod's sexual preference on the back. That was $10. The second one simply says, "POSADA IS A LITTLE B***H." That was $5. I'm going to break them both out this winter in California. Frequently.


While I'm recovering from another Red Sox season that fell short.



Bill Simmons is a columnist for Page 2 and ESPN The Magazine. His Sports Guy's World site is updated every day Monday through Friday.
*****************

:lol :lol

[Jedieb]

Okay, I'm posting this now because I'm heading straight to bed as soon as this marathon is over. Good game Sox fans. You put up a fight. No matter what happens, at least you didn't go down like punks. Manny's just got a hit to open the 12th so we could be right back here tomorrow............. goodnight!

[jjwr]

I had ti hit the hay at the end of the 9th inning, almost 12:30 at the start of the 10th was a bit too much for me :)

Great game though, both Lowe & El Duque pitched very well.

Next game should be interesting, Pedro vs Mussina, Sox offense has gotta do something against Mussina. I can see them winning htis one before going back to NY.

Its incredibly unlikely the Sox will take 3 in a row(though not unheard of, just highly unlikely) but I don't think they will let the Yankee's win the series in Boston.

[CMJ]

Eb and I were chatting on IM during the last 4-5 innings or so. I gotta say he was classy all the way.

Wow, what a damn game. Pedro on the mound in Game 5 today . I really like our chances. I almost don't care of we win the series, because I wrote it off. Don't let the Pinstripes celebrate in Fenway.

We must protect this house! ;)

[JMK]

The Red Sox need a lead before the Yanks do. It's the ONLY chance the Sox have in getting back in to this series. Even last night's win didn't salvage much pride IMO. If the Sox die in 6, I'll say they didn't bend over for the Yanks. ;)

This is exactly like big brother vs little brother. I was the big brother and playing one on one with my younger brother, sometimes I would either feel sorry for him because he was trying so hard, or because I didn't care, I'd let him in the game. But if he started pissing me off, I'd turn it on and crush him. That's what this series is like, and no, I don't want to hear "One day the younger brother will grow up" and smack big brother in the face. That's the type of disillusionment the Sox fans have been drinking since the 1900's. ;)

[jjwr]

Sox have a good chance with Pedro on the mound, the big question is if they can hit Mussina, thats key for them.

Then of course theres Schilling in game 6, in theory if the Sox bats wake up and get good games out of Schilling & Pedro they can at least force a game 7. A series win is still highly unlikely but at this point I would take them wearing down the Yankee's pitchers as much as possible before the WS ;)

[CMJ]

Pedro and Schilling....okay...who goes in Game 7? The Red Sox will win the next two games and maintain a small lead all through game seven. Then, the Yankees will win on a bottom of the ninth, two out, full count home run of some sort.

Why?

Because God hates the Red Sox and loves to torture us.o_O

[JMK]

I wonder why he loves Patriots fans and hates Red Sox fans?

jjwr, would you trade the 2 super bowl wins and the current greatness of the Pats for just one series win over the Yanks? Or would it take a WS title to make that trade?

[jjwr]

Game 7 is definetly a problem, don't forget though the Yankee's would have that same problem. They don't have anyone great they could throw out there.

As for the Pats....nope! I'm primarliy a Football fan, I've been a Pats fan for 11 years now, 1993 is when I started following football, mainly due to a friend of mine who was a huge Packers fan, I went with the local team though, new coach, new uni's and this young new QB by the name of Bledsoe. He was my favorite for the longest time.

Anywho, I really do want to see the Sox win the WS but the Pats are in a league on their own. In a time when the Sox choke away a good chance at the WS the Pats just keep on winning, close game, game they should have lost, it doesn't matter, they win.

I wish I could say the same for the Sox but its just not happening. Now if Belechick retires from the NFL and takes over the Sox then maybe they'll have a chance too.....

So in closing I'll take the Pats, I haven't been a Pats fan as long as some but I've been there almost half my life and seen some bad years, I know their current run of greatness won't last but I"m gonna enjoy it while it does and hope at some point the Red Sox & Celtics come along for the ride.

[CMJ]

I love all my teams like children...but other than my alma mater no team would give me greater joy in winning it all than the Sox.

[jjwr]

Why did Damon try and steal....bunt with Cabrera and you have a runner on 2nd with Manny & Ortiz coming up....I mean really......

[jjwr]

Stupid stupid Red Sox, thats the kind of mistake I can see haunting them as the Yankee's will probably score like 4 in the 10th.

[jjwr]

Geez where is everyone....

Clutch by Arroyo!

Still have Sheffield and Matsui though, man these guys have a killer top of the lineup.

[jjwr]

WOW.....wicked pitch by Arroyo!

This kid is gonna be a rock solid 18 game starter pretty soon....impressive!

Another Walk off HR by Ortiz?

[jjwr]

Whoo.....cheap call on Ortiz, no way did he go around on that one.

[jjwr]

Double!! I'd say his name but I can't spell it!

[Master Yoghurt]

My TV channel is chosing to show the MLB game instead of the NFL game. Think I rather go to sleep :p

[CMJ]

Eb and I have been going pitch by pitch in IM for about 3 hours now...:lol

[jjwr]

LOL

[jjwr]

I need to get his IM name....mine is warlorddruss

[jjwr]

Come on Veritek....

[jjwr]

Stupid!

Great game though, this is what everyone expected the series to be, its really too bad the Sox didn't start playing till the 4th game.

[CMJ]

Game 2 was excellent as well. Do you have MSN IM - that's the one we're using.

[jjwr]

Ah, nope I'm on AIM.

True Game 2 was very good as well.

[jjwr]

Is it just me or have there been some really bad calls here.

2 on, no outs and Damon bunts....when everyone is expecting it.....on a force wouldn't they just go to third anyways?

Why not swing away....

So Cabrera up and then Manny....any chance they can just skip Cabrera? :)

[jjwr]

I was sitting here thinking......double play by Cabrera....double play by Cabrera....he should just strike out on purpose so at least Manny has a real shot to win it.

And lo and behold Cabrera hits into a DP and the Yankee's big bats come up....uh oh!

[jjwr]

What a game, no matter who wins. Both teams are leaving it all on the field.

[jjwr]

Trying to steal with Ortiz.....only 1 out, solid hitters.....the Sox don't deserve to win this game, so many stupid manegerial decisions on their part, this game should have been over in the 9th.

[CMJ]

Ortiz was in. >D Actually...nice move...almost paid off. Posada nearly airmailed that one.

[jjwr]

Almost...stupid risk to take though, after the batter they had Nixon & Millar coming up if I'm not mistaken. Sigh.....

[jjwr]

Wow HUGE inning by Wakefield...now if only the Sox batters can actually do something.....

[Master Yoghurt]

I joined up to chat with Jedieb and CMJ. You should create an account (takes 2 minutes) and join in as well jjwr. Its fun :)

[jjwr]

Joining up now, warlorddruss as name or is warlorddruss@hotmail.com

Not quite sure how MSN works.

[CMJ]

What a great game. I will worship Ortiz till the day I die. :crack :crack :crack :crack

[Jedi Master Carr]

I swore to myself I wouldn't not post in this thread but well I am going to. Have to say at least the Sox aren't going down without a fight. Even if they lose they sure showed they have heart. Now I guess Schilling pitches Game 6. I wouldn't worry about 7 have to get to that game first.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

OMG awesome game. :D:rollin I started watching at the bottom of the 8th. Go Sox!!

[CMJ]

Jeff Kent gives Astro's 3-2 lead. Wow....

[Jedi Master Carr]

win you mean, yeah that was a wild game too. That series has been dominated by the home team I think St Louis will win 4-3.

[Figrin D'an]

It would the ulimate in both underdog comebacks and hilarity if both the Red Sox and Astros were to come back from early series deficits, being left for dead, to get the World Series.

That would actually get me interested in this post season.

[Charley]

Wakefield and Ortiz are damn near godlike tonight. What a great game.

[Jedi Master Carr]

With the Red Sox it would be unbelievable. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 defict. I am actually not going to think about it. I just hope they win game 6 and will go from there.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah Wakefield pitched great. They really needed those 3 innings out of him.

[CMJ]

It's a running gag now...but I'd take a bullet for David Ortiz.

Yanks...who's your Pappi? ;)

[Jedi Master Carr]

Heh yeah I saw those posters.

[Master Yoghurt]

I think this is what I need :p

<img src=http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0764550853.01._PE_PIdp-schmooS,TopRight,7,-26_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg>

[CMJ]

Great column today by the Sports Guy...

*********************************
By Bill Simmons
Page 2

Wait a second ... I'm supposed to write about this???


I don't have a central nervous system left. My head weighs more than Verne Troyer. My heart feels like somebody tried to make meatballs out of it. I can't think straight. I'm a corpse. I'm a walking corpse.


For two straight days, I watched my beloved Red Sox stave off elimination against the Yanks, needing 26 innings over 27 hours to stay alive for Game 6 in New York. These weren't just baseball games. They were life experiences. They broke you down in sections. They made you question God, the meaning of life, whether sports should possibly mean this much. On Sunday night, I stewed in my seat vowing never to raise my kids as Sox fans. On Monday night, I skipped out of Fenway wondering if any other team could possibly mean this much to a particular group of people.


The Sox should have lost about 25 different times. The Sox should have won about 25 different times. They rallied to tie consecutive games against a seemingly invincible Yankees bullpen. They held leads in extra-innings with a never-ending stream of fringe starters and worn-out relievers. Their closer recorded 12 outs on 70-plus pitches in the span of 24 hours. They stranded the winning run on second or third base nearly 200 times. Including Saturday night's game, their three starters recorded 40 total outs, leaving another 65 for the bullpen guys. Somehow none of this was a problem.


Game 4 ended a little after 1:30 a.m. Fifteen hours later, I was sitting in my same seats in section 116 with my father, glancing around and wondering if we ever actually left. Apparently we did. There was only one major difference between the two nights: In Game 4, the fans were waiting for the Yankees to win the game. In Game 5, the fans were waiting for the Red Sox to come through. Now everyone in New England is pinning their hopes to the greatest comeback in baseball history. It happens that fast.


I arrived at Game 4 fresh from the Patriots game, where the defending champs captured their 20th straight win against Seattle. For most of the game, the fans in Foxboro sat around like spoiled rich kids at a cocktail party, waiting for the shrimp and the free booze to arrive. We were like 70,000 Spaulding Smails's. It's not enough for this Patriots team to win anymore -- we want them to do it with style. We want to wreck teams. We want to rip their hearts out. When it doesn't happen, we watch the rest of the game secretly hoping the other team tests us (just so we can lay the smack down on them again). The collective arrogance is almost comical.


Sitting in Fenway just four hours later, you couldn't help but notice the difference. The fans were supportive ... the fans were terrified. We didn't want to get swept. We fully expected to get swept. We sat there for four hours, waiting for the other shoe to drop. And everything unfolded like a classic Sox-Yanks game -- we took the lead, then they battled back thanks to a shaky managing move (Francona taking Lowe out at least three batters too early in the sixth). We were done. You could feel it. When the ninth inning rolled around, we summoned one last ounce of energy for Millar's at-bat against Rivera ... and he bled out a walk.


Dave Roberts quickly entered the game as a pinch-runner, leading to one of the more underrated moments in baseball game -- the speedy guy inching off first base, rocking back and forth, absorbing the closer's every move, with everyone in the building knowing that he's taking off for second base. Somehow he made it. It was the most exciting stolen base in my lifetime as a Sox fan. Then Mueller singled up the middle and that was that -- absolute bedlam, great baseball, everything you ever wanted from a game. The Yanks had us 3-0 in the series, 4-3 in the ninth, with Rivera on the mound ... and we staved them off. At least for a little while.


Now you could hear the lightbulb flickering over everyone's heads. Wait a second. If we can hold them off here, we have Pedro and Schilling going in the next two games. It was like seeing a pair of dirty jeans from the previous weekend, then remembering that you may have left $100 in them. So we cheered like crazy. We kept the faith. We didn't care that the clock was inching past 1:00 a.m. on a Sunday night, or that the game was more excruciating to watch than prostate surgery on the Discovery Channel. Even when we were at the point of the game where Curtis Leskanic needed to pull a Shag Crawford and save the day, somehow it seemed logical that he would. And he did.


Everything was leading to Ortiz's game-winning homer in the 12th, which answered a 29-year question for me, "I wonder what it would have been like to see the Fisk home run in person?"


Well, I'll tell you what happens. You scream in disbelief. You jump up and down. You slap hands with complete strangers. You smile on like a proud Dad as the team skips onto the field, some of them racing to home plate, some of them taking time to turn and point at the fans. You want the guy to take 20 minutes rounding the bases, just so you can milk the moment and remember everything about it. And when the hero jumps into the happy pile at home plate, you feel like you're smack dab in the middle. Ortiz may as well have been jumping into 35,000 people.


The game ended a little before 1:30. Everyone in Boston stayed up until the end. Just about everyone showed up for work late the following morning. This was bigger than all of us. It wasn't just about avoiding the sweep; it was about an entertaining, likable, charismatic team that could have rolled over and didn't. Those are the teams you end up remembering.


So we showed up at Fenway on Monday in a different mood -- worn out, giddy, appreciative, even a little nostalgic. We knew this was probably Pedro's last start at Fenway in a Boston uniform. If this were a Hollywood movie, he would have gone out guns blazing, the old Pedro one last time -- cracking 97 on the gun, mixing four unhittable pitches and throwing at people's heads just for the sport of it. But that Pedro has been gone for awhile. The older version creaks along and dances in and out of trouble, a constant tightrope walk, as nothing ever seems to come easy anymore. Watching him at Fenway, I always find myself glancing at his pitch count on the scoreboard, the same way you would keep glancing at an escalating taxicab meter.


Still, it's Pedro. You never know. The Red Sox brought out all the stops for Game 5 -- a four year-old Jimmy Fund patient singing the national anthem, Jim Rice throwing out the first pitch, even Mike Eruizone bringing out the game ball while they showed clips of "USA 4, USSR 3" on the scoreboard. The crowd was practically crazed, standing on every two-strike pitch, cheering when foul balls ricocheted into the Yankee dugout, cheering when Posada took a foul ball off his right hand, even chanting "Who's your dealer?" at Sheffield. We weren't letting them lose this game. It was like the scene in "Midnight Run" when DeNiro is glancing at the hovering helicopters and searching for an escape, when he mutters to himself, "I've come too far, I've come too (bleeping) far ... "


Fast-forward to the eighth inning: The Sox are trailing by two, thanks to Jeter's three-run triple in the sixth off Pedro (set up by a dink hit, a walk and an HBP), followed by Francona leaving Pedro in as the crowd howled in disgust (get the Other Shoe ready) ... followed by a Matsui rocket to Nixon to end the inning (exhale). Ortiz comes up and launches a Gordon pitch off the Volvo sign in left. Chaos. Complete chaos. Senor Octobre did it again -- he's like a cross between Dave Henderson, Roy Hobbs and Ghandi at this point. Then Millar weaseled out a walk, followed by another Dave Roberts appearance, with Gordon throwing to first at least 600 times. Maybe Roberts didn't steal second again, but Gordon was sufficiently rattled that he gave up a single to Nixon, followed by Rivera coming on ... and giving up the sac fly to Varitek.


Tie game.


Incredibly, unbelievably ... we were just getting started. Over the next six innings, the Sox tried to give away Game 5 over and over again -- popped-up bunts, botched hit-and-runs, 300-pound DH's trying to steal bases, knuckleballers throwing knuckleballs to guys who can't catch knuckleballs, guys swinging for the fences when they only needed to hit a fly ball to win a game ... it was like they broke every rule in the "How to Play Winning Baseball" handbook. I'd tell you more, but I was a carcass by the eleventh. Everybody was. I remember telling my Dad, "Regardless of how this thing ends, we're going to be oozing out of here after the game."


(Of course, after two straight nights of this, Dad was practically catatonic. As Mike Myers was warming up in one of the games, I saw him taking what looked to be Altoids out of a metal case, so I asked him for one. "These are headache pills," he said simply. Oh.)


And yeah ... usually we lose this game. Especially to the Yankees. This one seemed destined to show up on ESPN Classic some day, one of those Red Sox losses were you stumble across it and scream "Oh no!" and quickly turn channels before your eyeballs start gushing blood. In either the 13 or the 14th -- God, I can't even remember, it's all a blur -- Wakefield struck out Sheffield on a passed ball, followed by another walk, then another passed ball ... suddenly they had runners on third and second with two outs, with only a 50% chance that Varitek could stop these knuckleballs. Apparently we got out of this mess. I'm pretty sure I blacked out. I'm not even kidding.


(My last three notes of the game: "13th inning oh my God Varitek and Wakefield" ... "Stand up sit down bad back" ... "Central nervous system shutting down." I swear to God. If they found me dead outside Fenway after the game, they would have looked at this thing and assumed I had died of natural causes.)


By the time we were rallying again in the 14th, Francona needed to go to the bullpen for 35,000 new fans. We were spent. We were cooked. We were finished. Even with Johnny D on second and Manny on first, with two outs and Hendu-Hobbs-Ghandi at the plate, we couldn't rise to the moment -- not even when Papi kept fouling off those nasty pitches from Loiaza. Somewhere along the line, you could see him getting locked in again. He was right there.


"Something's gonna happen here," I remember telling my Dad, who couldn't speak at this point.


Something happened.


A bloop hit over the second base bag. The kind of hit the Yankees always get. Johnny D rounded third with the winning run. Half the guys greeted them at home plate, half of them sprinted towards Ortiz. Then Johnny's group sprinted over to Ortiz for one giant jumpfest. Meanwhile, you could see the Green Monster practically swaying. We were delirious -- literally and figuratively -- one of the happiest moments in the history of Fenway Park, right up there with Fisk's home run and everything else. The players pointed to us and skipped back into the dugout. Some fans remained at Fenway just to keep cheering. Others streamed out and headed towards the nearest bars. Some even stood on Yawkey Way just to cheer the team bus.


My father limped off to find a cab. I ended up at the Baseball Tavern, just hoping I would run into somebody I knew. Wouldn't you know -- I wasn't there for 10 seconds before seeing my old college buddy Strollin' Jim Nolan walking towards the entrance. It was that kind of night. We ended up sucking down four Miller Lites in about 10 minutes, shaking our heads and using the same words over and over again ("incredible," "unbelievable," "incredible," "unbelievable," "incredible," "unbelievable"). Basically, that game turned us into the Hilton Sisters. Then Pedro's favorite little person showed up -- Nelson De La Rosa, the 30-inch Dominican -- wearing a mini-Red Sox jersey and a cap. People cheered and lined up to take Polaroids with him. Somehow this all made sense.


"Maybe he IS a good luck charm," I said to Nolan.


"I'd believe anything at this point," he said.


Me, too. There have been 25 other baseball teams that fell behind 3-0 in a series. None of the 25 ever came back. Only 2 of those teams even forced a Game 6. So there's no real precedent for what's happened here, and I can't imagine there have ever been two straight playoff games like that, not with these stakes, not with that much emotion, not after everything that happened last season and the 80-plus seasons before it. For a miracle to happen, you need a shift in momentum that bordelines on the surreal. Games 4 and 5 were surreal. There's no other way to say it. Now we have Schilling going in Game 6 against a reeling Yankees team that only has four guys remaining from the 1996-2000 title run.


"Do we win this series?" Nolan asked me.


"If the New England Patriots can win a Super Bowl," I told him, "anything's possible."


We turned and looked out the window, where fans were lined up on Brookline Avenue to watch the team buses heading towards the airport. The Yankees entourage went first, greeted by a barrage of jeers and middle fingers. Then the Red Sox buses followed suit, accompanied by screams of encouragement and raised fists.


We were headed back to New York.


Bill Simmons is a columnist for Page 2 and ESPN The Magazine. His Sports Guy's World site is updated every day Monday through Friday.

[Jedi Master Carr]

Yeah great article I guess we will see what happens tonight. I have no idea what kind of shape Schilling is in. I am nervous about him.

[CMJ]

I almost don't care if we lose Game 6. The Sox have shown me so much heart the last couple of days. I'm not sure ever been this proud of one of my teams before.

[Jedieb]

Sorry I haven't been around, but following the game on IM is just easier. Great comeback for the Sox. They should be commended for turning what looked like a laugher into a memorable show. But you know it was just a tease. The end is coming now. Like last year, it will take place in Da Bronx. Get that Sinatra LP warmed up! Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take a nap to rest up for tonight. Man, I hope we don't have a rain delay.......

[CMJ]

I don't know whether I want a rainout or not. On the one hand..I want to go because it seems like we have everything going for us now. On the other...we need to rest SOMEBODY to pitch a Game 7.

Wake has gone relief...Arroyo has...Lowe just pitched the other night...

Who we going to start...Leskanic?

[Lilaena De'Ville]

That article says it all. :thumbup I thought *I* wasn't going to survive the game, and I don't even watch baseball all that much. Plus, I managed to fall asleep before the win, although we rewound to watch it again. :D

[JMK]

Great win by the Sox last night. History is still against the Sox in an impossible way, but they've redeemed a measure of pride when it looked like they were going to go away without a sound.
Props to them. Schilling goes tonight. He's going to have to be the Schilling we're used to in order to force a game 7.

Did anyone else SCREAM at their tv when they heard Buck say "And Ortiz is running!"?? As soon as I saw Papi bolting to second, I had this long Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! up until the second he was thrown out. It doesn't matter that he was safe, he was called out and never should have tried it at all, especially given that the team's fastest runner was thrown out just before that by Posada. They won the game, and that's all that matters now.


And major props to Brandon Backe and the Astros. To do what he did to the Cards lineup last night was the stuff playoff legends are made of.

[Lilaena De'Ville]

Did anyone else SCREAM at their tv when they heard Buck say "And Ortiz is running!"?? As soon as I saw Papi bolting to second, I had this long Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! up until the second he was thrown out. It doesn't matter that he was safe, he was called out and never should have tried it at all, especially given that the team's fastest runner was thrown out just before that by Posada. I thought my husband was going to have a coronary when that happened.

[CMJ]

Huge Top of the 4th inning for us. We have 4 up so far...after they got the HR call corrected.

[jjwr]

Great game so far, Sox are definetly getting to Lieber!

Schilling is looking great as well, they need a few more runs though, I don't feel remotely safe with "only" 4 runs on the board.

I logged into MSN again in case anyone wants to chata bout the game :)

[CMJ]

I tried inviting you to the convo Josh...

[Charley]

A Rod should be shot in the face with a bazooka. That was absolutely ridiculous.

[darth_mcbain]

Man - that was so blatantly cheating by A-Rod - I'm glad the umps got it right...

[CMJ]

At least they corrected it. Though Jeter shoulda been awarded 2nd base.