Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Mr. Charles...
Emily and I listened to the last couple of innings of Game Six on Saturday night driving home from a black tie function upstate. By the time we returned to the Bronx Em made me promise that we were not going to watch Game 7. So I had movies on Sunday afternoon--first The Pope of Greenwich Village and then Charlie Wilson's War. I watched Rourke and Roberts ham their way through the old Village and then made it through the first hour of Charlie Wilson's War with Phillip Seymour Hoffman and his mustache chewing up the scenery before Em asked how to check the score on-line.
We turned on the TV. The Rays were up 2-1 in the sixth, so it was safe to watch. And we didn't turn the tube off until past midnight, until the dopey post-game celebration and interviews were finished. We sat there, our hearts beating, especially during the top of the eighth, into it. Em complained that her stomach was hurting. Welcome to Baseball, lady, you asked for it. Of course, when it was all over, we went to bed heppy kets. Matt Garza was terrific, just that much better than Jon Lester, who was solid once again.
So much for momentum. So much for experience. The Future is Now and David Price saved the Rays' bacon and helped them advance to the World Serious. The Red Sox defended their championship admirably--the Rays had to beat them. And that's just what they did. Now, all the Red Sox fans littered throughout Manhattan can go home, go back to where they belong---they can go back to Brooklyn.
First Torre and the Dodgers were bounced, and now the Red Sox have followed them out. What was shaping up as a Yankees fan worst nightmare has now turned into a very pleasant World Series match-up. I think I am going to root for the Phillies because I like so many of their players, but wouldn't mind if the Rays won. Regardless of the outcome, I think I'll just enjoy what remains of the baseball season. Even though it seems as if the Yankees season ended months ago, the reality is the long off season still awaits.
this world series should be enjoyable - i would be okay with either team winning and there are some interesting players/matchups to watch.
hopefully the yanks offseason will be fruitful and will have no more major negatives, cause william's right - it's already been a long time since moose's 20th win game and a long way to go til the yanks start playing again.
I didn't want the Red Sox, Angels, White Sox, or Dodgers to win so I am happy with the matchup.
I think I would prefer the Phils to win, but expect the Ray to.
David Price .... what can you say about the kid. Great job in a very tough spot.
And congrats to the Red Sox for a valiant comeback in the series.
But .... GO RAYS!
I think this will be an interesting case study - the Rays could actually use a lock down closer and have lots of starting pitching, so a Price to the BP move might be good for the team. Whereas the Yanks weakness has been starting pitching since '04, and have Mo in the BP, so Joba the starter is critical - so lets see what the heads say...
My Vermonter wife also rues the day she allowed me to get her to start caring about Yankees-Red Sox. "Being a sports fan HURTS", she says, wondering how she ended up here. But she was almost as excited and relieved as I was after Iwamura recorded the 27th out last night.
Game 1 at the bar, sox win. Game 2 at a buddy's place sox losing, go to a bar and the sox come back, leave the bar sox lose in extras. games 3-4 i was not at a bar, the sox lose. game 5, i'm not at the bar sox go down 7-0 i get to the bar and within 15-20 minutes they're coming back. game 6, i'm at a bar sox win. game 7 i stay home, sox lose.
Although the DRays (silent D) haven't won a championship yet, this series did suggest that pitching isn't the only thing that wins in the postseason. Despite game 7, Tampa Bay won this series with offense. And it wasn't by manufacturing runs, either - it was by hitting lots of home runs.
Carl Craword is the only guy that's been on the team since day 1. He has gotta be outta his mind. : )
Have they made David Price baseball cards yet?
Amen!
I am rooting for a seven game series, no matter to me who wins
More than a couple "Brooklynites" flaunting their Red Sox gear at the game, too. Couple times I almost felt bad for them, the nastier-than-fun-loving shiz they were taking from the loud drunk Jints fans - but of course the bums asked for it.
Why wear a bloody Boston pullover into this raging sea of blue?
Still, as a Yankees fan I couldn't root for the Dodgers over anyone but Boston. (Heck, I'd rather the Orioles or Blue Jays win.)
The Rays are that team. They were not picked by anybody to finish higher than 3rd in the AL East.
They don't have a high power offensive, they don't manufacture runs, they don't have a 15 game winner, they're very young, have no high priced free agents and they finished in last place in 2007.
The Rays are very similar to the Marlins who won the WS against the Yanks and the Tigers who went to the WS a few years ago.
So, will these Rays have similar success in 2009 and what is the main reason for their success this year?
They way I see it, is their overall pitching is excellent and luck. Baseball is just so unpredictable, it's enjoyable as it is frustrating.
...come on, now William - only 4 months till pitchers & catchers report!
;-)
Watching the AL East is going to be fun the next few years. It will be so nice for it to be more than just Yanks-Sox.
SEN'DEM TO BAYONNE!!! >;)
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