Baseball Toaster Bronx Banter
Help
Elimination Day II
2008-10-05 09:50
by Cliff Corcoran

All three Division Series could wrap up today, but I think the White Sox will survive the weekend, and am hoping the Brewers will as well so that we can see CC and Cole Hamels face off in Game 5. My preview of today's action is up over at SI.com.

Comments (127)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2008-10-05 10:10:06
1.   JL25and3
Unless Sabathia comes in in relief today. I'm kind of hoping to see that.
2008-10-05 11:11:02
2.   thelarmis
hey JL - how 'bout CC for some relief hitting?! ; ) you figured he'd get some kind of "K" if he came in the game...
2008-10-05 13:24:22
3.   Alex Belth
Boo Hoo for the Brew Crew.

Phillies v Dodgers. I don't know why but I really like that. They've got some playoff history, it's east/west coast. I'm kind of digging this match up. Hopefully, it's a decent series. This whole ALCS hasn't been exactly riveting yet.

Any chance the Angels can pull one out of their arse and win tonight? Me no think so but I sure hope I'm wrong.

2008-10-05 15:44:30
4.   Cliff Corcoran
3 It's gotta be because of those late-70s matchups of Dodgers-Phillies and Yankees-Royals. Dodgers-Phillies just feels right.

Best game of the first round so far was Bosox-Angels Game 2.

2008-10-05 16:13:03
5.   Raf
3 This whole ALCS hasn't been exactly riveting yet.

Mainly because it hasn't happened yet :)

2008-10-05 16:30:49
6.   rbj
Nice Gints win today, Plaxico who?

Dodger - Phillies should get better rating than Brewer vs. someone. Brewers - Devil Rays would be a real low rated series. Pity the Cubbies choked harder than, well, just about anything.

2008-10-05 17:33:24
7.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
4 yeah, i thought that too. But pity no Veterans Stadium.. i miss the cookie-cutter, high-bounce, wreck-the-knees artificial turf era..the post-Camden parks are nice but all seem similarly "quirky"..
2008-10-05 17:34:27
8.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
WTF? Gameday says a "soft fly ball single to center" scored Boston 3 runs...what happend??
2008-10-05 17:39:47
9.   Just fair
8 Runners were gong on the 3-2 pitch that was promptly popped up to medium center. Kendrick could have caught it, Hunter could have caught it, but they wound up looking at each other and saying, "At least we kill the Yankees." All 3 runs score. Everything happened with 2 outs.
Bollocks!!
2008-10-05 17:40:57
10.   OldYanksFan
Easy to catch flyball. SS, 2nd and CF all chase it. 2nd base looks to make the play then gives way at the last second and the ball drops. Terrible play. CF should have had it, but 2nd was so aggressive, CF gave way.
2008-10-05 17:41:56
11.   OldYanksFan
What a way to blow a game.
2008-10-05 17:45:17
12.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
with that lineup they can not afford defensive miscues..hope Tampa takes Game 4 and the LCS gets going right away..
2008-10-05 17:48:04
13.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
Dinger! Tater!! O Golden hills of Napoli!!! (and after Vlad steals third!!!)
2008-10-05 17:56:15
14.   thelarmis
i've been following over at the griddle. but if we've got some banterites over here, i'd feel more at home! : )

GO HALOS!!!

2008-10-05 18:01:21
15.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
14 not too busy but a few dropping by..
got Gameday on here at the office, Beckett not looking too sharp so far..Kendrick whiffed of course though
2008-10-05 18:03:42
16.   thelarmis
ch-own playing like he does against the pinstripes. i hope he steals 2nd, 3rd and scores on a balk or wild pitch!
2008-10-05 18:05:53
17.   thelarmis
that was really well hit. man, i hate the Fens. always have. i really don't get all the hype about that stadium and all the love it gets. nostalgia, be damned.

i've played right across the street and that it was pretty dumpy. the monster made me all claustrophobic...

2008-10-05 18:09:24
18.   thelarmis
c'mon vlad. time for an xbh!
2008-10-05 18:09:26
19.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
let's hope Vlad hits one 600ft..has he ever hit a playoff homer?? (too lazy to check)
2008-10-05 18:12:23
20.   thelarmis
well, instead of hitting it 600 ft., he slowly trotted about 60, but i'll take it! that's 4 walks for 'plays the game right'. how bout a bases clearing double, torii?!
2008-10-05 18:13:05
21.   thelarmis
that little fucking scumbag is pretty damn good in the field. bastid!
2008-10-05 18:16:13
22.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
10 left on base through 4 innings..Angels playing suspiciously like the Yankees right now, very "unclutch"...

"plays the game the right way" is one of the more annoying phrases in baseball..got any others??

2008-10-05 18:20:26
23.   thelarmis
captain vagitek!

or is fuckett, "respects the game." i think that was it...

i know, 7 hits, 4 walks, only 3 runs. feh!

2008-10-05 18:22:02
24.   OldYanksFan
HE'S SCRAPPY!
HE'S GRITTY!
HE PLAYS THE GAME HARD!
2008-10-05 18:26:23
25.   thelarmis
Cafe Napoli!!!
2008-10-05 18:27:18
26.   OldYanksFan
The Griddle has a thread up, posted this morning, for all 3 playoff games. So far, 85 comments. Seems to me, when the Yankees are not playing, NOBODY is interested.
2008-10-05 18:28:02
27.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
Lo ha fatto, Napoli!!
2008-10-05 18:28:15
28.   Bronxer
17 I've always liked Fenway - right on top of the action. Sure, it's old and a little run down, but sure better than a lot of the newer stadiums.
2008-10-05 18:28:42
29.   thelarmis
19 yeah, Vlad hit a homer in the 2004 postseason. he has a double in this series thus far. those are his only XBH in postseason play -- 19 games, including today.
2008-10-05 18:31:51
30.   thelarmis
28 i've just never liked it. honestly. has nothing to do with the 'rivalry' either. i haven't been to a ton of the new parks, but i really like pac bell and The Ted.

26 i've been at the griddle most of the day, not much doing. i'm glad there's some action here at home - bronx banter!

2008-10-05 18:32:26
31.   OldYanksFan
29 It's OK, Vlad is still a great player. ARod however, sucks!
2008-10-05 18:34:18
32.   OldYanksFan
Man, if the Sox and LA meets in the WS, will Manny be psyched or what? The idiot savant could really be dangerous.
2008-10-05 18:35:22
33.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
32 I think he'll hit .750 with 8 hrs..

31 Vlad in his prime was just awesome to watch..

2008-10-05 18:35:47
34.   thelarmis
31 but, of course! in just about twice as many postseason games, alex has 7 HR & 9 Doubles...
2008-10-05 18:37:01
35.   thelarmis
ugh. that was just ugly. i thought the angels were supposed to be fundamentally sound?! feh.
2008-10-05 18:39:16
36.   thelarmis
33 yeah, vlad used to glide in the outfield. stole some bases, too. he's an awesome talent.

i agree, manny would turn into sauron with a bat...

2008-10-05 18:42:13
37.   thelarmis
manny has 100 postseason hits (98 games), 40 of which are for extra bases (26 HR). his OPS is .910
2008-10-05 18:43:21
38.   thelarmis
siddown, papi! youk is such an eyesore and so difficult to watch bat. i don't know whose stance i hate more - pukilis or counsell...
2008-10-05 18:43:24
39.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
37 Jayzuz...
2008-10-05 18:45:23
40.   thelarmis
now that just sucks. : /
2008-10-05 18:47:23
41.   thelarmis
39 in those 98 games, he also has 60 runs, 63 walks and 67 rbi...
2008-10-05 18:49:22
42.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
41 ok, i think i can get on board the "sign Manny for 3 years" bandwagon...
2008-10-05 18:49:29
43.   OldYanksFan
Hate to say it but Youk is just getting better, He has very good power now it seems. Frankly, I wish the Yanks had more guys like him (Jewish, I mean).
2008-10-05 18:52:36
44.   thelarmis
43 it is hard to root against a MOT, but he's soooo easy to hate! he is blossoming into an all around great player though. his fielding his excellent at both corners... : /
2008-10-05 19:01:31
45.   thelarmis
damn, another nice fielding play by the gross greek god... : /
2008-10-05 19:05:26
46.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
43 Hahah, am still waiting for the first Muslim Yankee so my Granny will come to a game..told her it will be a long wait!
2008-10-05 19:08:55
47.   thelarmis
46 hey, i bought a cool hank mobley blue note japan compilation today! it's a cd, but it's in an lp-like cardboard sleeve and has an unreleased photo from the BN vaults... : )
2008-10-05 19:14:22
48.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
47 nice! if you come to Japan I will send you a guide map for the record shops here, they'll blow you away. hope to have my jazz site back up soon too, it's being re-designed now..stay tuned..
2008-10-05 19:18:04
49.   thelarmis
48 nice! i love jazz & metal and my biggest vice is collecting cd's, so i know i'd fall in love w/ the record stores in japan! haven't heard anything more about a possible spring tour over there.

let me know when your site is back up. i have the url written down here, as well as your email addy. i'll have to get in touch w/ you off the banter sometime...

2008-10-05 19:21:38
50.   thelarmis
bollocks. i LOATHE the shit sox. c'mon halos, please beat them!!!
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2008-10-05 19:25:50
51.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
49 great, will do. the jazz and metal shops here will bankrupt you, man..

Gameday just posted: "Hideki Okajima replaces Hideki Okajima"...i sense an existential crisis at hand..

2008-10-05 19:32:12
52.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
OMG, anyone have Gameday open now? Is that Cal Ripken in the Holiday Inn advertisemtn, lower right corner??? what happened to him???
2008-10-05 19:33:19
53.   thelarmis
christ, i hate leadoff walks!!! esp to speedy leadoff batters w/ 50 SB's!!! : /
2008-10-05 19:34:25
54.   thelarmis
51 i know, man, i know! at least i get to write cd's off on my taxes! : ) perks of being a professional musician...
2008-10-05 19:34:56
55.   Chyll Will
51 Nah, I can think of plenty of things Sox can do to/with themselves. G'nite!
2008-10-05 19:40:35
56.   thelarmis
hell yeah!!!
2008-10-05 19:55:13
57.   thelarmis
it seems like it's rather prudent to have a productive 1st baseman on both sides of the ball. hopefully Tex can don pinstripes at donnie's old position. he's a boras guy though, looking for too much money and too many years...
2008-10-05 19:56:31
58.   thelarmis
now's the time to once again become the Impaler!!!
2008-10-05 19:57:07
59.   thelarmis
shit, i can talk to myself w/out having to type! : ~
2008-10-05 20:00:48
60.   OldYanksFan
Fear not... we're listening...
3-2 on Vlad.................>?
2008-10-05 20:02:36
61.   OldYanksFan
That pitch looked VERY hittable**
2008-10-05 20:03:07
62.   thelarmis
vladi & sori both are worse than A-rod in the PS. alex would be getting grilled over the coals by now...
2008-10-05 20:03:11
63.   OldYanksFan
shit, i can talk to myself w/out having to type! : ~
2008-10-05 20:07:51
64.   thelarmis
63 get outta my brain! ; )
2008-10-05 20:09:45
65.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
[64, etc] had to run out for some falafel, back in time for the inevitable 9th inning wal-off by Ortiz or Bay..
2008-10-05 20:14:34
66.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
isn't Torii Hunter supposed to be a smart baseball player??
2008-10-05 20:26:54
67.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
Kendrick..automatic K against Papelbon??
2008-10-05 20:31:36
68.   thelarmis
65 the inevitable will have to wait til the 10th... : ~
2008-10-05 20:32:47
69.   Just fair
If the Red Sox have to hit a walk off homer to go to the ALCS I hope it is off K-Rod. Screw him. Screw the Red Sox. Ugh. If Choad was up against Mo right now he'd hit a ringing double somewhere. TIme to go puke somewhere.
2008-10-05 20:44:39
70.   Just fair
If Youklis homers off Rodriguez my world may implode.
2008-10-05 20:45:37
71.   thelarmis
christ, here we go...
2008-10-05 20:45:47
72.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
70 agreed, as comfort food i just brought back enough falafel and hummus to feed Youkilis and Ortiz..but all for me..
2008-10-05 20:46:30
73.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
no pinch-runner?? Youkilis hits a lot of 2Bs...
2008-10-05 20:47:17
74.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
that's the difference between these teams. Angels out against Paps in 10pitches, Sox wait for something juicey from K=Rod...sigh...
2008-10-05 20:47:26
75.   Just fair
Isn't there someone to pinch-run for Ortiz?
2008-10-05 20:47:27
76.   thelarmis
frankie doesn't leave himself in very good fielding position with that horrific follow through. can't be good mechanics...
2008-10-05 20:48:14
77.   thelarmis
Jason being Alex?! j/k
2008-10-05 20:49:18
78.   thelarmis
that was a strike!
2008-10-05 20:50:49
79.   thelarmis
get back in there! fucker.
2008-10-05 20:50:55
80.   tommyl
K-Rod showing what a useless statistic that save is.
2008-10-05 20:52:49
81.   thelarmis
where in the fuck was that pitch?! christ.
2008-10-05 20:53:33
82.   thelarmis
and the angels showing just how useless they are... : /
2008-10-05 20:53:44
83.   Just fair
I hope K-Rod walks in the winning run, then signs a huge conctract with the Royals and I only have to see him a couple time a year.
2008-10-05 20:54:28
84.   tommyl
Man, missed popups, running into outs on the basepaths. Why can't the Angels play like this against us?
2008-10-05 20:54:36
85.   thelarmis
he will walk in the winning run. but then omar will sign him and he'll blow it for the Muts next Sept...
2008-10-05 20:54:55
86.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
K-Rod stinks, not even close to being the best closer...
2008-10-05 20:54:57
87.   tommyl
85 Hahahahahaha
2008-10-05 20:55:54
88.   thelarmis
k-rod is veeeeeehhhhhhrrrrryyyy lucky. he'll be luckier this offseason with all that ca$$$h
2008-10-05 20:55:56
89.   tommyl
"Somehow, someway, K-Rod pitches out of it!"

Um, yes it was bases loaded, but it was also two outs. See, any way he gets an out would get him out of it. Effing retarded announcers.

2008-10-05 20:56:08
90.   3rd gen yankee fan
This is an extremely difficult game to watch. Hate the Angels, hate the Sux, Angels falling all over themselves to give the game away...

I thought Youkilis was Greek not Jewish?

2008-10-05 20:56:31
91.   Just fair
Time to go fall asleep listening to this crap on the radio. Let's go Phils. Let's go Phils. : )
2008-10-05 20:58:14
92.   Andre
90 he's both
2008-10-05 20:59:48
93.   3rd gen yankee fan
92 Oh well there ya go. Thanks.
2008-10-05 20:59:59
94.   thelarmis
90 he's jewish. they just called him "the greek god of walks" in Moneyball...
2008-10-05 21:00:55
95.   thelarmis
92 are you sure? i don't believe he's greek in the slightest. i read something recently; i'm pretty sure he's just jewish...
2008-10-05 21:02:56
96.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
95 Romanian descent?
89 who's announcing?
2008-10-05 21:04:22
97.   thelarmis
it's chip caray & buck martinez. that's why i have it on MUTE!!!

c'mon Tex!!!

2008-10-05 21:05:29
98.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
97 Bleccchhh!!
2008-10-05 21:06:02
99.   thelarmis
Vladi Being Jeter
2008-10-05 21:06:44
100.   thelarmis
torii has a lot of making up to do here...
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2008-10-05 21:08:58
101.   3rd gen yankee fan
I find the TBS announcers a lot easier to ignore than the Fox announcers. Yeah, Chip is a moron but he's easier to ignore than Joe Morgan...
2008-10-05 21:09:04
102.   thelarmis
crap. carp. shit. piss. fuck.
2008-10-05 21:09:33
103.   OldYanksFan
90 His mother is Jewish, with eclectic sexual tastes.
2008-10-05 21:09:55
104.   3rd gen yankee fan
I coulda sworn that Torii was on the Sux payroll tonight...
2008-10-05 21:10:20
105.   thelarmis
101 i'm in atlanta, so i've had to deal w/ chip waaaay too much for waaaay too long. i'm glad he's not doing most of the braves games any longer! jon sciambi & joe simpson, are actually pretty damn good!
2008-10-05 21:10:22
106.   3rd gen yankee fan
103 Cute.
2008-10-05 21:11:32
107.   thelarmis
please, oh please, let paplebitch become john rocker very soon!!!
2008-10-05 21:12:09
108.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
3-pitch K to Gary Mathews..didn't see that coming at all!

Vlad and Tex must be ready to kill their teammates, Napoli excepted..

2008-10-05 21:13:52
109.   thelarmis
oh god, a quick glance at the muted tv, and i just had a terrible flashback to Oct. '03. : /
2008-10-05 21:15:45
110.   OldYanksFan
From Wiki:
Although his family name is derived from the Greek culture, Youkilis is Jewish.

On August 8, 2005, while playing for the Red Sox, Youkilis took the field in the 9th inning along with Adam Stern and Gabe Kapler, setting a "record" for the most Jewish players on the field at one time in American League history, and the most in Major League Baseball history since four Jewish players took the field for the New York Giants in a game in 1941.

Stern, Kapler and Youkilis.
Law firm or baseball team?

2008-10-05 21:19:59
111.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
local pick-up team here has "Yamamoto, Stein, Dellavita & Woo" around the diamond..
2008-10-05 21:21:06
112.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
ok, does the bastard son of Michael Ironside hit a gapper here to win it??
2008-10-05 21:22:08
113.   thelarmis
crisp being dave roberts? i hope not!
2008-10-05 21:32:18
114.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
any　thoughts on the sac bunt there?
2008-10-05 21:32:20
115.   thelarmis
oh, hell yeah!!! more. score more!
2008-10-05 21:33:20
116.   thelarmis
114 at first, i thought it was dumb. but since kendrick has been slumping, not that horrible. now, w/ hindsight being what it is -- brilliant! : )
2008-10-05 21:33:26
117.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
V vor Victory!! http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=V9zA-YoMYkQ
2008-10-05 21:40:07
118.   thelarmis
this matchup does not look promising
2008-10-05 21:43:59
119.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
will be very disspaointed if i spent 4 hours at work following this game only for Angels to blow it...
2008-10-05 21:48:15
120.   thelarmis
chown! j weaver! halos!

thank goodness : )

2008-10-05 21:49:28
121.   thelarmis
ozzie oughtta start gavin floyd instead of javy vazquez tomorrow...
2008-10-05 21:49:46
122.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
nice! tense, exciting game..
still sad to be watching from sidelines, but good baseball can't be beat! thanks for sticking around thelarmis, Banter no fun when riding solo
2008-10-05 21:50:53
123.   thelarmis
ozzie, in fact, is indeed starting floyd. smart move. javy should be the swingman, if needed...
2008-10-05 21:51:54
124.   thelarmis
right back atchya, Tokyo! thanks for the company.

i might be around tomorrow during the daytime, but my jazz trio will be playing at night...

2008-10-05 21:53:22
125.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
124 great! bust out some Art Blakely licks if possible, or maybe a little Tony Wiliiams? (may they both Rest in Peace)
2008-10-05 21:58:07
126.   thelarmis
oh, don't you worry - i always bust out both! blakey happens 'coz we play a good amount of hard bop. tony happens 'coz he's a HUGE influence on me!!! : )

when i'm setting up my drums at this place, they usually play Roll Call by Hank Mobley. it's sooo good! blakey plays a monster solo on that tune!!!

2008-10-05 22:01:10
127.   Mr OK Jazz TOKYO
man, I'm not a musician, just an "otaku" as they say here (maniac collector). Hard Bop seems like it would be so muuch fun to play..have a great gig. GO Rays!

Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.