Seven outs in the fourth? I only count six. The three in the scorebook. The back ends of two double plays make five. The muffed fly ball makes six. Am I missing one?

Remember when Bernie hit that walk off job last year to clinch the division? I can just see that happening again. Except with David Ortiz.

This sucks.

"Buell Mueller"... oh man, I can't believe I've never thought of that before. I almost spat up my orange juice. Sorry, easily amused.

Forgot to mention, good Princess Bride reference yesterday, Cliff.
At least we're only one back in the AFILC to Cleveland. And given recent history, maybe the Yankees would do better in the postseason if they're the wildcard.

Cleveland has 7 games left with Kansas City.

I am nervous about many things today.

First off, I wonder if we'll see the RJ we saw against the Mariners or if we'll see the sometimes good-sometimes flat RJ we've seen much of the year. The Sox offense presents a significant challenge.

Then of course, that man Wakefield. It's not to say that the Yanks can't get to him, but my stomach sinks everytime I just think about it, remembering how well he's done against New York in the past. Wonder if Sheff will be back. Sure would be tough to return and have to face that slop.

Ginormous game for the Yanks today...my nerves are getting the best of me so far.

If RJ implodes today, there's no Small or Leiter in the bullpen to put in. This could suck.

But I think RJ will rise to the challenge, and be lights-out. The Yanks will take two of three from the Sox.

And then lose two of three to the @#$% Devil Rays. :-P

Hmmm. Bubba Crosby is in, which I guess means no Sheff. Ortiz is out with a bad back.

All right, that's something.

That dude is LOCKED.

a .996 OPS from a guy who almost got sent down to Columbus earlier this season. What a story.

So far, so good.

Just realized the game was on. No Sheff again?

Randy, staring guys down. Got some fire, I'm sure he's trying to pick up the other guys. Let's see if the take the hint, or come on morphene like they did yesterday.

No Sheff. Still injured. We got Bubba instead.

And did I just see Jason Giambi caress Johnny Damon's face?

Everytime Bubba Crosby gets a start God kills a kitten

or maybe not.

Was that Bubba's first extra base hit all year?

They call him BUBBA!

It's not so bad. Bubba can at least field. Unlike Lawton.

Wow, and he can hit, too!

I was just about to say that against a knuckleballer, Crosby probably has as good a chance as anyone.

"Wakefield strikes out the side"

You are kidding me right. Thank god for the NFL, bye bye Yankees.

Triple aside, I'd say its pretty damn bad. He's a better fielder than what we have (My God, who isnt?) but thats not sying much. And he can be soul-crushingly bad with the bat.

I'm pretty psyched that while the Yankees and Red Sox are playing ESPN is showing Cheerleading and Billiards. Well done fellas.

and it begins

what begins? gamescast is sooooo slow.

It does indeed!

Manny GIaDP? Nice, let's hope that now that it's begun, it will continue.

Thats what I meant, you see, the double play.

;)

Runner on, no out, here comes Manny. I wonder if the Yankees carry pictures of manny and Ortiz, to remind them of how hitters are supposed to perform down the stretch.

Can we at least see a fight today, give me something to remember.

Red Sox lineup really is about 70% less frightening without I Hate It When They Call Him Big Papi.

It still appears Randy is the only guy who wants to win this game. I mean seriously, Wakefield strikes out the 1-2-3 hitters, seriously, they look like Rodeney Dangerfield.

I go into a panic any time Manny Ortez comes up with runners on. Luckily, The Unit handled that.

BTW, how does he look today? Dominant or getting by on luck?

Stormer, Does Giambi look like he doesn't want to win?

Hey cut Anglo-centric Boston some slack, those fans have to have at least one Latino in their lives.

RJ? He looks pretty good. Mean, the way he used to be. A bit high-strung, maybe, but doing pretty well, considering how good the Sox hitters are.

No, I give Giambino his props! But seriously, Wakefield, striking out the side, is that the first time he's done that this year?

I watched good Will Hunting last night and Matt Damon's character made me feel a lot better about detesting the Red Sox.

The Yankees would do well to sign a knuckeballer ourselves. I miss Neikro. Sandpaper, what sandpaper, oh this you mean, that's for my nails.

Note to Jeter and A-Rod, Sheff isn't in the lineup today, you guys are gonna need to do a little better than that.

Schteeve,

Just have a conversation with any Sox fan, that should do it.

Mirabelli and Graffanino have to go down in order. No runners on base for Babe Mueller.

Stormer,

I've tried but the accent sorta makes my ears bleed.

Randy is doing his part.

Can't beat Tampa, can't score when Randy pitches, Jesus!

The Bizarro-Yankees.

If they blow this start by Randy, so help me.

6 Ks over five innings. If only he had that K power of Tim Wakefield...

Stormer, dont put it past Randy to blow this start by Randy. He's done it before.

Seriously, if Mirabelli reaches I'm gonna set myself on fire.

Wakefield throws a shuttlecock, it makes sense it would be easy to swing and miss.

Uh, Schteeve, Mirabelli Ked a while ago

Schteeve,

Not after facing him 50 times!

Matt....that's good, I'm out of lighter fluid.

And i'm forced to watch this on the internet.

Wakefield's been pitching pretty well lately. His last start, he pitched a complete game (a 3-2 victory over the Angels).

He's a knuckleballer, of course, so a complete game isn't as hard for him. Still...two runs in nine innings doesn't suck.

It just may be the Bubbas and the Flahertys who make the big hits. When Wakefield is on his game, it just seems like you have to wait until he throws the right pitch. Which he does from time to time. I don't think even he knows where that ball's going to go, and sometimes it just hangs over the plate.

Either that, or take your walks and hope the ball gets away from Mirabelli, which also happens a lot.

Thanks exactly right NESN, we didn't have an MVP, they played together, unlike these clowns! All for one and one for one.

Wakefield has said over and over that he throws the ball at Mirabellis's mask and after that he has no clue where it's going.

Come on Flash!

If Bernie doesn't retire after this season, he's going to end up playing for the league minimus somehwhere, he has almost nothing left.

I know, that since I said that, he'll probably win the game with a walk off grand slam, but still.

Damn I'm all doom and gloom. Maybe if I hadn't watched so many games, and just read the box score, I wouldn't be so frustated, I just feel like I'm trapped in a weird Yankees Ground Hog Day. Save us Bill Murray. hey, he's a scratch golfer, maybe he could make contact today.

9 K's. Justify that somehow!

This reminds me of the game I was at in 98' where Pedo struck out 17. Game lasted like 90 minutes.

See 49. I know he kills me on Playstation with that flutter ball.

or was that 99'?

Once again we are amking a mediocre pitcher look like Walter Johnson...We used to kill Wakefield, lately, nada

Off topic a bit, anyone have an opinion on how many games better we'd be if we had gotten Beltran instead of Randy? That's probably a Cliff question.

Just out of curiosity, I would love to face a knuckleballer. From a fan's perspective, even with the super slow-mo, you really can't figure what's so difficult about it. It makes power hitters look like idiots, it must be really frustrating.

Schteeve,

Ask the Mets. I'm sure we'd be out of it completely.

Beltran has been a total bust.

Randy giving us a chance to put this game away, come on guys, for the love of God!

Stomer, I'm not so sure on that. Johnson hasn't been so great this year, and the defense Beltran would have brought would make us much much better, plus the added offense...

Stormer, I don't know about that. I know he's been nothing special with the bat, but you have to figure our "Center Fielders" have cost us a few more games than he would have.

The question is, who would have occupied Randy's spot in the rotation? Lieber? Someone else?

Zack,

I'll give you the defense, but have you checked his offensive stats? Cano has been alomost as good. Randy has given us a chance to win, sure not era of 2.5, but he's kept us in most games, however dissapointing it may be.

Cano has been as good, but look at our centerfielders, even if its a wash its an upgrade...BEsides, Beltran solves our centerfield problem for a long time, Randy is only getting higher above 40...I was fine with the Johnson trade, but if it doesn't come with beltran, we are just too old

C'mon, Jase! Give us another one of those upper deckers.

Lieber still mystifies me, we pay him for a full year while he's out, knowing full well he wont pictch, even before we sign him, then we pay him for a year while he pitches well, and then we let him go for a lousy 7 mil., I still have no clue about what Cash was thinking there. I would gladly trade Lieber at 7 mil, for Brown, and yes I said that prior to the trade.

Cashman has admitted he spit the bit on the Lieber thing. He misjudged the market.

Jesus, Wakefield has 11 ks this is pathetic

12 now. :-P

Zach, I stll say Beltran will never be worth the HUGE, absolutely HUGE, contract we would have had to give him. I would rather try Melky and that kid from Trenton who's out in Arizona right now. How bout we find another Bernie from within, instead of some guy who got a huge contract based on a few games at the end of the season last year.

Beltran junk at the plate, he hasn't stolen bases, he's no better than Kenny Lofton, by the numbers. You really want to give him 180 mil.?

I still say Beltran is this year's Shawn Green.

I too am happy we didn't overpay for Beltran. I'm just saying we may have been a couple of games better with him this year.

This is agonizingly tense this game. Man, Wake with 12 K's, a career high. Anyone surprised? I think I've bitten off all of my finger nails and it's only the top of the seventh.

Stormer, believe me, I would rather try them too, but lets be honest, there's no way they are going to let us go into next year with them as our starters...They will overpay for an over the hill center, or sign/trade for someone liek Byrns (wrong spelling), who trys hard, but it doesn't make up for a lack of instinct and hes not a great hitter...

Plus, think about how much we are paying Johnson the next two years after this

How can you be surprised by what these Columbus Clippers do?

Alex, I'm not really surprised. Wakefield is a really good pitcher. He killed us in the 2003 ALCS other than Boone's homer he was practically untouchable.

I'm surprised about something else that I'm not going to mention.

Bob Watson, Come Back, Come Back! Hey, and bring Gene to the stadium with you!

Cashman, Jesus, I hope he goes if we don't make it, he gave us the players to win, but we have to change something.

Here come the song of our bad luck!

RJ coming up ONIONS. Huge K on Millar there--which so far, as been the match-up of the day.

So, if you're the manager, do you bring in Mo to pitch the 8th and the 9th?

Alex, after last week v. the Rays I bought a new batck of Mylanta (extra strengh) as somebody in this forum suggested. Please don't ask me how fast I've been going through them.

Of course I need to save a few bottles for the Tampa series.

I have no nails left. But it has been a great pitcher's duel.

What do you do with RJ at 100 pitches? I say let him pitch the 8th. and them bring Mo for the 9th.

Schteeve, c'mon don't be coy, mention it, mention it.

I mean it sounds like a cat being strangled!

Man. I missed the beginning of the game and just turned it on an inning ago. When did Wakefield become Nolan Ryan?

If Torre pulls Randy, someone should bum rush him out at the press entrance after the game, it would be worth a few days at Rikers.

Alex, no way. Not til this things in the books, or No. 42 is on the hill.

I really think you have to bring in Mo for the 8th and the 9th. You can't afford to stick with Randy for "one too many batters."

Schteeve,

Randy is on fire today. I don't want to blow out Mo's arm in a futile attempt at the playoffs.

Stormer, this start is atypical for Randy Johnson this year why risk having him regress to the mean? He's given us 7 awesome innings, bring in the Panamanian.

Another intresting question, what do you do with Wakefield sitting at 97 pitches. I guess it all depends how Matsui, Posada and Bernie treat him, but even if he gives a leadoff something I say you stick with him.

Wakfield is channeling Cy Young. That's not it, it's exactly as I predicted Friday.

8 runs, then it will be followed by 2,1,3,2,3. I stick by it, it's happened all year!

Go get em CY! NESN, it's not outstanding, It's the Yankees.

Well that was a productive inning.

Nobody agrees with me on the Mo for 2 thing huh?

Who's warming?

Well, we don't have to worry about that. RJ came up with a cramp in the seventh and in comes Flash for the eighth.

RJ--left knee

Well Gordon is out there.

God save us

NO WALKS.

Flash Gordon is in. Perhaps because RJ tweaked his knee or something.

come on Flash, dont fuck this up...

Oops. Flash ain't no RJ today apparently.

oh fuck.

DAMN

Here they come 150 pitches to first

What's happening?

MO! Now!

WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?

Did they do that on purpose?

Hello, little league. I mean, it worked out, as they put the slower guy on first... but... um... you don't let that drop.

nothing good

Schteeve,

Why risk Mo? Fucking Joe, Flash better get through this inning. God Dammit! Fuck you Joe!

Have you lost it? Randy could have easiliy pitched the 8th. He's been getting better every game down the stretch, as he always does. Atypical yes, but does that mean you yank him for Gordon!!!!!!!

Would you rather see Gordon vs. Ortiz?

Nice Jeter, real nice? Take charge already!

Here comes Ortiz.

Give Cano credit for covering 2B. He has been unfairly killed too often.

Stormer, RJ got hurt. It wasn't a Torre move.

I was surprised that RJ didn't pitch the 8th. He better have told Joe that he was done.

Why so down on Gordon? He's had another very good year, and has been by far the second best reliever on the team.

Mo v. Ortiz. Here we go.

Oh Good Lord

Could they actually have left Mirabelli's pop up fall on purpose?

What's wrong with him?

If the did let the fly drop on purpose, they are lucky it didn't take an odd bounce as Kaat said.

Stormer, You have a fragile starter who has given you 100 pitches. You have the best closer in the history of the game, you have a one run lead, you have a must win game. So I don't think I've lost my mind.

Oh whaddaya know, Righty vs. Lefty with Ortiz, great thinking Joe!

Oh, brother...how's everyone's nerves doing? My girlfriend has just bolted to the bedroom. She can't take it.

I think he cramped

Here comes the cookie monster.... Rivera must be shitting his pants. I know I am

sportsline is slow as shit today

It's Johson's knee. He came up from his last pitch grabbing it. Didn't seem like anything major, but after throwing so many pitches, it made sense to pull him.

It sure looked like that popup was allowed to drop intentionally. Jeter didn't even try to grab it.

Schteeve,

I see your point, but I think Randy is finally on his game. And not to be a bad omen, but this matchup is exactly what I predicted, even the freakin NESN announcers are saying Torre coiuld have avoided this.

Do you people not know who Rivera is? I don't think he's prone to shitting his pants, and I don't think traditional L/R matchups apply.

Alex, run and bring her back in, it's not fair

Come on MO!!!!!!

Again, we ask too much of you.

Schteeve,

I agree about Mo. But this wouldn't have even been neccessary if randy gets through the 8th. I just don't agree I guess.

Nice broken bat.

I could have sworn Gordon had better numbers against Ortiz than Mo

And I like Gordon, but I see way too many 2-0 counts from him, exactly what Sox hitters lick there chops over.

damnit

Stormer: which part of "RJ is hurt" did you not understand?

Oh gosh, I hate this

What is wrong with Johnson?

Ortiz went around and so did Damon.

I know he was not shitting his pants, but he really pitched carefully. I know I am shitting my pants

You see how things fall apart when Joe yanks guys who are pitching well. Randy no guarantee, but I would have been happier seeing him out there. There is a reason Gordon wasn't a closer anymore when we signed him.

Nothing is wrong with Johnson Zack, there is something wrong with Joe.

JOHNSON'S FUCKING HURT

Oh man, that was close.

You see, you fucking see, now how many pitches is Mo going to have to throw, for no God damn reason!

Gordon is capable of closing and doing a good job. As for the "2-0" counts, his BB-totals and K-BB ratio are both good. He's a very good reliever. I don't understand the complaints about him.

Stormer, are you in some sort of weird denial mode?

Stormer, statements like that just completely torpedo your credibility.

Matt,

Johnson is a little tight, he's not "hurt." He would have gladly went out there.

Matt,

Johnson is a little tight, he's not "hurt." He would have gladly went out there.

There we go!

I have an ulcer

Heart-stopping at bats vs. Ortiz and Damon.

Stormer, you've spoken with RJ and know he "gladly" would have gone out?

Sportsline said that Damon grounded out to righ. What the hell does that even mean?

A run, a run, my kingdom for an insurance run (or three).

Can Sheffield at least pinch hit?

Mattpat11: he grouned out to first. Sportsline is wrong.

That was close! Good job, Mo!

Stormer, lighten up, please. Randy Johnson is injured. His knee - again. He clearly tweaked it during his last pitch. He came up grabbing it. Joe was right to pull him.

There we go Mo!

Credibility or no, so be it. I know how good Flash has been for us. I am not discounting that. I just felt that Johnson would have been the better choice, considering the likelyhood of seeing Ortiz up there.

I guess I'm a little excited.

I don't know what's more annoying the foul balls or Stormer's comments... Man, lighten up.

Fact. RJ was hurt, it would be idiotic asking him to pitch hurt.
Fact. Mo is better than Gordon. With the game on the line vs. Ortiz, he is the Man to have on the mound.

I don't know what's more annoying the foul balls or Stormer's comments... Man, lighten up.

Fact. RJ was hurt, it would be idiotic asking him to pitch hurt.
Fact. Mo is better than Gordon. With the game on the line vs. Ortiz, he is the Man to have on the mound.

Matt,

I hear Sheff won't be available at all for a few more days.

That's not really how I drew it up in my head, but I'll take it.

a little excited and completely ignoring the 'injured Johnson" aspect

So much for the insurance run plan.

I will ask again, what's wrong with Johnson?

Well that was tidy

Matt,

You're right, ok ok. I'm going to stand in the corner for a time-out. I deserve it.

Wakefield looks like he could keep pitching for hours. Yanks go down meekly in the eighth. Pass the pepto.

The J E T S, Jets Jets Jets, are getting spanked huh.

I think Jetes is the one who needs a timeout.

My kingdom for an easy 9th. inning

Rich, he hurt his knee in the 7th.

I'm not arguing that Gordon is a better pitching than Mo or RJ, or that I'd rather have Gordon against Ortiz and Mo. I'm just responding to the complaints and worries when Gordon first entered the game in the 8th inning, when we knew that RJ was not going to be going back out. I'm perfectly happy with bringing in their best reliever to face Ortiz in the 8th. I'm just saying that I feel confident with Gordon against anyone, and I view him as one of the team's strengths, not as a weakness.

NICE SNAG, MO!

Yes MO! Gold Glove again, Just one more aspect of his game that doesn't get enough attention.

Great grab MO!

Shit. Thanks.

kc, I would even add that (and I'm sure I'm probably wrong) that I think Gordon has nice numbers against the fat man. Shrek hits Mo pretty well.

aw fuck its Trot

No more Trot.

MO! Nice grab.

It looked like Johnson's right knee to me. He came up grabbing it, then was kneading it and shaking it. He walked off the field on his own, so hopefully it's nothing serious.

Here comes Manny

Phillips is pretty good with the glove at 1B, maybe better than Tino is at 38 or whatever.

ESPN has Phillips playing first Sportsline has Johnson

Sportsline is high.

ah.

Full count... so much suspense.

He was squeezed.

Crap. Walk.

Okay. maybe walking Manny before Millah was for the best...

We're fucked.

Mo will get him out.

All right, I officially have no fingernails left. Why am I sports fan? Why do I put myself through this??

2 of 3, would sure be nice.

Can we all at least put our collective heads together, get as much positive energy as we can and chant as one:

Lets Go Minnesota!

Lets Go Minnesota!

Lets Go Minnesota!

I would love to take the division, but how bout a fall back plan.

Ugh.

Oh gosh, I can't watch!

Come on, Mo. Get it done.

Ruh Roh Scooby!

OH FUCK.

Fucking Millahhhhhhhhhhh!

Fucking Millahhhhhhhhhhh!

AAARRRGGHHH

This is a lot of visits to the mound for Flaherty.

this is so bad. So, so bad

Hitting Mo hard so far.

Oh dammit, and its John "babe ruth" olerud too

Come on John, we picked you off the heap, repay us here!

I don't think I've let out a breath all inning.

He is fucking getting squeezed.

There. That was easy. No surprise taking 2 of 3 from Boston. I'm just glad to see the Yanks kept focused and weren't thinking ahead to the series with Tampa. Good job, guys!

Now let's go Big Blue Wrecking Crew!

There we go

Varitek on deck? Olerun come on man, you can't catch the cutter!

K

Told ya.

Ok, I need a nap!

OMG! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Mo!

Now, what were we all worried about?

Hopefully the mound visits tired out Flaherty so that he won't be able to start next time RJ pitches. Perhaps that was Mo's strategy :-)

Mo leaves it out there again!

Where would we be without ye!

Ye of little faith in Mo.

my heart and stomach lining didnt need that.

homina, homina, homina

Bloody hell . . . .

Lets Go Minnesota!

Lets Go Minnesota!

Lets Go Minnesota!

Lets Go Minnesota!

Lets Go Minnesota!

I guess we will ALL benefit with that off-day tomorrow

I am having total system meltdown here: computer moving slower than managable, yahoo shuts down, can't reload BB....How did Mo get him out?

Mo must've thrown, what, 40 pitches? Good thing they have a day off tomorrow.

YES!!!! That was incredible. I think I lost about 4 pounds just sweating through the last couple of innings there.

Thank you, Mo! Thank you, thank you.

I know it was against the Boston B-Squad, but this game was HUGE for the Yanks. We live to love, and sweat another day.

Mo is money. Never doubt him.

Zack, Olerud whiffed.

37

The Yankees don't have Sheff or a healthy Po.

Judgment Day, indeed.

Anyone got Tix for the Open today, Agassi vs. Federer?

Rivera retired Renteria on a hard liner through the box. Mo stabbed it, which was fortunate, because it was smoked and had single written all over it. After a ground out to first, also hit modestly well, he went to a full count to Manny, everything up and in. And he walked him. Fell behind Millar 2-0 and left a pitch, low and over the plate which he deposited into center for a single, Manny hustling to third. Ball, strike to Olerud. Maybe there were two balls? Anyhow, the second strike was fouled off to the left side and that was Olerud's pitch to hit. It caught a lot of the plate. The last pitch was over the plate, but high. Olerud swung through it and that was the game.

Damn! well, even if my Jets are getting trounced like a JV team, at least I have this to cheer me up

I hear Sheff is out at least a few more days, anyone have the details on that?

If Torre doesn't realize now that Tino should DH whenever he plays, fire him on the spot.

Also, Bubba should be ahead of Lawton on the depth chart.

Alex, it wasn't the B squad per se, it was the No Ortiz, until the game was on the line, and the personal catcher squad.

And that was a great performance by Randy and Mo. Great clutch hitting by Giambi ;) and I have to say it was fun sharing the whole game with you folks. Thanks for the forumn Alex.

Yea, what is up with the Jets, they can't get anything going at all.

Anyone counting how many games Giambi has won for us? He is the only reason we are this close.

Cano has 27 doubles. Not bad.

Giambi has won at least 10 games.

Wow, Giambi is carrying this team offensively down the stretch, he may end up with as many HR as Rodriguez...lol.

Thank you for your hard work Jason!

Hey he could be at home with Palmiero, or sitting a whole year to get in shape to play without the juice like Bonds, or be injured like half the league who is now off it, but NO, he worked hard, day after day, took the abuse, sometimes wrongfully, and is now carrying us.

Again, thanks Jason.

Who'd have expected a Yankees vs. Red Sox game to end up 1-0?

Great game...now that it's over.

If he doesn't get comeback player of the year, then that award has no meaning.

This goddamn team is going to send me to an early grave.

I think the Yankees can be very dangerous in the postseason, but their inexplicably poor play v. TB may prevent them from getting there. If they don't sweep them this week, they probably won't make the playoffs.

Rich,

Ok, even I'm beginng to be optimistic. If we can get a few great performances from Johnson, please don't be hurt, and Small, and get Moose back. I like our chances. We just need Paul Galuli and Tanya Harding to visit the Indians clubhouse.

I am rooting for KC with all my heart! It's in their hands to an extent. They have 7 games with them.

Did I read that right? Pennington has 6 fumbles today?

I hope the Yankees finally solve the @#%$ Devil Rays. If not...I hope the Red Sox lose their last two series against Toronto. They're as bad against the Jays as we are against the Rays.

Randy says he came out because he was cramping. Shouldn't affect his next start.

He also referred to Tampa Bay as "our nemesis." :-P

tremendous game to listen to. wasn't on the thread but the only thing I thought about was if the Yankees lose people are going to be doing the usual blame game but it all came down to one person-Wakefield. He was the greatest of his career. Randy completely emptied the tank and was still totally exhausted at the post-game interview, hope he's gonna be OK after this. It's a good thing both Flash and Mo were available today and had enough to just barely get the job done. Probably a classic. I'm probably repeating stuff others have said

randym77

He's right!

As good as Wakefield was, Randy was nails. I'm gonna stop talking shit about him.

Randy Johnson threw one 99 mph pitch, and was regularly hitting 97 mph. He hasn't pitched like that for awhile. I hope he can keep it up.

Yes, he's right about Tampa being our nemesis. Giambi said something similar. But maybe they shouldn't keep saying that. I think it's getting to be psychological.

And on that goofy dropped popup thing...AP is reporting it as a rookie error by Cano. He signalled for it, then backed off.

Not a rookie error, simply, an error. He's played this game before.

Damn, I leave for Kyudo practice after the first, come back and the score was the same. Great effort by the Unit. Now it's only three in the AFILC, with three in Boston. Throw Small, Unit and Wang at them.

The 2 best offensive teams in the league meet. Totals: 1 run, 6 hits. When is the last time that happened?

On the scoreboard LAAofA won and Oakland lost. Now let's hope the Twins can pour some cold water on the sizzling Indians in the ESPN game just starting. If Cleveland doesn't cool off soon we'll have to kiss the WC goodbye.

Honestly, I think we have a better chance of overtaking Boston. Yeah, we have to play Tampa three more times. But they gotta play Toronto seven more times. They haven't won a single series against the Jays.

Cleveland already up 7-0 in the 2nd. Someone's got to get to these guys soon. They have a lot of games left with KC and at the moment their pulling the rug out from the Yankees and anyone else in the WC. Since I don't think we're going to catch Boston this continues to look bleek for the post-season. Geez, Cleveland's smashing runs so fast I can's even post this. Now 10-0 Cleveland.

randym, I think the problem with catching Boston is I think they still play a ridiculous amount of games at home compared to the Yankees.

They don't play a ridiculous amount of games at home. We play a ridiculous amount of games away. :-P

But I'm still hopeful. We took three out of four in our last series at Fenway.

The Yankees' final seven games are on the road, the Sox' final seven games are at home. The Yanks have seven home games left overall, the Sox have 11. The only road series that could conceivably present a challenge for the Sox is the upcoming one against Toronto, in my opinion. After the Jays, the schedule is unbelievably smooth for the Sox.

Given how medicore a road team the Yanks are and how great a home team the Sox are, I would not say the schedule favors the Yankees by any stretch of the imagination.

It ain't gonna be easy, that's for sure. But I think the Yankees have a good chance against everyone left on their schedule, except Tampa. That last series at Fenway could be the big deal everyone was hoping for at the beginning of the season.

I fear it's a better bet than hoping Cleveland cools off. Their schedule is at least as cushy as Boston's. Twelve games at home, 7 games against KC.

Curt Schilling is the biggest hypocrite of them all. It's wonderful how absolutely devoted he is to his wife.

I think everone's now pretty much agreed more or less that:

1 The Sox have a big advantange on the Yankees based on schedule and the fact they start off 3 games up from here.

2. Cleveland has probably the easiest schedule of any of the contenders, is red hot, and thus has an advantage against the Yankees in the WC. That becomes even more dauntaing when you factor in the fact whoever loses the Al West division between LAAofA and Oakland is also going to be another significant non-yankee contender for the WC.

So it comes down to this. Will the Yankee be extraordinarily good enough from here compared to it's contenders to win either the WC or division. It's obviously no longer all in the Yankee's hands because if Boston and/or Cleveland start running the table the Yankees are done no matter what they do.

The bottom line is the Yankees probably won't be good enough based on their pitching holes on paper. But they certainly have enough to succeed given what Boston or Cleveland are likely to be good to very good but not extraordinary. This is exactly why I said that loss the other day with Wang was a big positive because we now have a solid rotation at least lined up. Sheffield will make a lot of difference because were obviously a much better team offensively and defensively with Sheff. So if I was some completely objective numbers cruncher I'd say the Yankees won't be in the post-season. Since I'm posting on a team oriented board I'm obviously not that neutral numbers cruncher but a Yankee fan, Either way the Yankee certainly still have a reasonable shot to make the post-season and I hope they do

Just for kicks...ESPN's "last 30 days" win-loss records for the AL.

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1. Cleveland Indians 18-9

2. New York Yankees 18-10

3. Boston Red Sox 17-11

4. Tampa Bay Devil Rays 16-12

5. Los Angeles Angels 15-12

6. Minnesota Twins 15-12

7. Chicago White Sox 13-15

8. Texas Rangers 13-15

9. Oakland Athletics 13-14

10. Seattle Mariners 12-16

11. Toronto Blue Jays 12-15

12. Detroit Tigers 11-15

13. Baltimore Orioles 10-17

14. Kansas City Royals 8-18

Yeah, I know. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. But the Yanks aren't doing that badly, all things considered.

Over at Yankees.com they are running a poll about who the biggest surprise of the season is for the team.

The choices are:

Robinson Cano (6%)
Shawn Chacon (4%)
Jason Giambi (31%)
Aaron Small (39%)
Chien-Ming Wang (21%)

Here's my opinion on these results. Why on Earth would a single human being select Robinson Cano as a bigger surprise than the 3 pitchers on this list? More than 2000 people picked him.

Cano was one of the crown jewels of the Yankee farm system and the subject of virtually every winter ball story in Yankeedom.

Likewise, as happy as I am to see Giambi back in MVP form, he is hardly a surprise next to Aaron Small, his high school teammate. Let's be real. Giambi had plenty to doubt, and a long road to come back, but at least he's been there before. At least you know he's capable of MVP numbers, whatever his troubles in recent days.

Chien-Ming Wang is a good choice for this poll because no one thought the Yankees had a Major League pitcher in their farm system, let alone a darn good one. He scores points there. Likewise, Shawn Chacon has never proved anything in his Colorado days and has been very good for a struggling Yankee staff. He gets some points too.

I'm not sure that 39% for Aaron Small does him justice. I think many of you will agree. This is a guy about to turn 34, who has had virtually no major league time, let alone success, and was probably on the verge of taking up carpetry or something after this season or next. He was on his way out of baseball if things didn't click soon.

This is a guy who is now 7-0 with a sub-3 ERA. This is a guy who I would trust with the ball before anyone currently pitching in the Yankee rotation, save the recent performances of Randy Johnson. I feel as comfortable giving Small the ball as I do with Mike Mussina. He's better than Chacon, Wright, and at this moment at least, he's outperforming Chien-Ming Wang.

Hell, I'd much rather have seen him all year than the wildly over-paid and chronically broken Kevin Brown, and is more poised and consistent than Carl Pavano.

Next year, give me a rotation of:

Randy Johnson
Mike Mussina
Chien-Ming Wang
Aaron Small
Carl Pavano

and I'll be happy. Unless you can score a top young-ish pitcher and move Small to long relief, I'd go to war with that rotation.

"280. marc... I think everone's now pretty much agreed more or less that: 1 The Sox have a big advantange on the Yankees based on schedule and the fact they start off 3 games up from here."

I have to agree. I thought the WC was our best chance, but the Indians are hungry and have nothing to lose. Few Expectations (unlike our team has) makes life very good.
The Indians will be hard to catch.

We still have 3 against the Sox. A sweep (unlikely though it seems) puts us even. 2 of 3, we only gain 1 game. So, it's a tough row to hoe, but our best chance may be for the division, for at least we have some direct say in that.

I am spoiled. It will be a very bad Autumn for me if we don't make the PS.

P.S. In our last 10 games against Oakland, TB and the Sox, we went 5-5. This is September. Playing .500 ball for any stretch won't get the job done.

Looking at how we and the the Sox have played against TB only, we have lost SEVEN games to the Sox. This is a long season, and we can point a finger to many games that 'lost the season' for us, but TB has single-handedly killed us. Last week was the icing on the cake.

Imagine. If we played TB the way the Sox have, we would be 4 games up. Gripes.