Randy is going to be en fuego today!

The HR RJ is back! God Dammit! Come on, why groove one belt high middle in there?

Seriously though, why groove a belt high fastball with 2 strikes?

Thank God for Millar

Unfortunately, of the 7 hits he now has against him, 3 are home runs.

And the results are showing :)

So, what do you think about tomorrow? If Moose goes down, you think Joe will go to Jaret? That's my guess, although you would think Small would be available for two. I sure hope Joe hasn't fallen in love with Proctor.

Walk, what the F Randy?

Nice to be 45 and still getting yelled at by your dad.
Go Yanks !

Does your Dad have a pen that writes upside down?

If you dont like the ump, suck it up, and execute your pitches!

That is too funny, Ausanio? I went to high school with him, he was the hometown hero for a while.

I am not a shrink, but I think Randy has the self destuctive gene, no? I'll lay 10-1 that Papi makes it to the plate this inning.

Come on, one more out, Randy!

You are on Crack! I'll take that, thanks!

Now I want some more runs and a bunch of 1-2-3 innings from randy

The good news is if Randy settles down, Joe will gladly let him go 120-130 today.

I want some more runs. Come on Sheff

MATSUI!!!!!!

Becky just called while driving home from work: "Home Run Matsui! Home Run Matsui!"

Mattpat...I share your enthusiam, really, but could you refrain from posting words that long? It stretches the screen and makes the whole thread impossible to read.

I see we hit 2 sac flies to score 2. I wonder how many games we would have won if we could have done this in other games.

There goes Ortiz. Settle the fuck down Randy!

Nah, no he IS the President of the Condo board (really!)

Who said that A-Rod did not do anything again?

Scored runs, stole bases.

Keeps Ortiz at second.

Eventually, it will scroll off automatically.

@#$%!!!!

Who do I call to complain?!

Come on, throw strikes to Trot

Fuck Fox! How can they be so inept?

Where the hell was Jeter?

If anyone has a phone number, post that, too, please.

They won't stop doing that until the game ends. They have a file on me I'm sure, after all the calls I have made in the past.

But I am seriously ticked off. Gawd, I hate Fox with the intensity of a thousand white-hot suns.

MVP! MVP! MVP!

You can try the local affiliate, but on a Saturday it's tough. They just don't care.

It's just Fox, they are a bad sports outfit. So long as no runners get on in Cleveland, we'll be ok. It's all about a 5 run lead. This game is ours, just stay on point, and scream into the Fox answering service once or twice, you'll feel better.

Yes Fox is correct. The Tribe would be 2 out, behind us. The best they could do would be tie with Boston and force a one game playoff with Boston for the Wild Card.

If the Yankees win today and tomorrow, and Cleveland does the same, Boston is out. That is my dream scenario!

If the Indians lose and we win, they are 2 back with one to play. If the Sox win tomorrow, both Yanks and Sox beat Cleveland by 1 game, so the East is Division and WC.
Why we don't play Boston for the 'Division', I'm not sure. I guess we get the Division because we (will have) won the season series.
We would also play the Angels (I think) as Chicago with the best record plays the WC.

In this case, the WC gets a break, playing and traveling to Chicago instead of CA.

So what's the game situtation? 7-2 Yankees. Top six. Stanton in. Johnson at 90 pitches. Wow. That's mighty fine!

Oh, but Boston fans are going to say ARod's homer was typical pile on stuff.

Buck is dead right. We lead the Sox 10-8 in that case, and win the tie-break.

Cleveland can lose today, I can root for White Sox if we win.

We better switch back soon, though. Grrrrr.

ENOUGH WITH THE BASEBALL INTERRUPTUS, YOU PRICKS!!!

While the Indians looked unstoppable, the pressure has gotten to them. No way they should have lost yesterday. Scored only 1 run in 12 innings. Today they are pressing and not hitting. I do not expect they will come back.

Lets hope Cleveland loses before we win. That way we can celebrate AT FENWAY both today AND tomorrow!

C'mon A-Rod, get that run back!

MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP! MVP!

Cleveland down, shew!

AB 207
AVG .353
OBA .392
SLG .580

WTF is wrong with you!

You have to be a male 35 or older in order to win the grand prize. Why is that? They only want winners who look like they might be taking Viagra?

Sox get out of it!

Fuck you Manny! How come no one ever calls Manny out on gazing at his HR's? Especially the meaningless ones!

It shouldn't even be a question. If he did that against Pedro or Gibson, or even Clemens, he gets beaned for sure. I just don't get it. That is how baseball works. The only thing I like about Varitek is that he runs like a banche on HR's. You don't show up the pitcher, and that is what Manny does. I would not be adverse to beaning him in the helmet, it's just unprofessional NFL crap that he pulls, and he deserves what he gets, even if it ends his career.

Let's go, Yankees!

Will Torre put a team on the field tomorrow? Aside from pride, we (if we win today) have as much as we can get (aside from a more tired opponent). Will we rest tomorrow, or play for the win?

CLIFF..... jump in! Who plays tomorrow?

Singledd, what are you writing about?

Thanks Cliff and Alex for providing us a home!

A-Rod: MVP

Cy Young: Mariano

This victory seals it in the minds of those foolish voters. The Ortiz talk is now done. Good night!

That was such a beautiful inning to behold. The team operated like the well-oiled Yankee machine of old and it was good.

GO YANKEES !!!!!!!!!!!!!

BUT IT DOESN'T END HERE FELLAS...LET'S TAKE THE RED SOX OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS AND TAKE IT ALL THE WAY FOR CHAMPIONSHIP # 28 !!!!

And for you guys bitching about Fox coverage, if you live in Philly you can't even watch the game. They blocked it out from extra innings and every sports bar in town. They showed reruns of Stargate SG-1. I kid you not.

Stormer, if Cleveland wins the Wild Card (still possible with Cle & NY wins and a Cle one-game playoff win) the Yanks play Chicago.

I haven't been able to bring myself to check this board during the Yanks/Sox to this point because I couldn't take the stress of the moment to moment updates, but I wanted to check in to say Bronx Banter and the New York Yankees are both Champions!!!!!!!

Congrats all. Now on to the WS!!!!!!

I'm wearing my Yankee hat around the rest of the weekend!

I finally rush back to the hotel to catch the final, and the Holiday Inn TV system lost their FOX feed. I can't get broadband in my hotel either, so I end up finally catching Mo closing out the division on a 12kbps Real Audio feed from WCBS.

I can't believe it --F----ing DIVISION CHAMPS BABY! I had figured it would come down to Sunday, so I actually set up my flight back to Boston on Sunday so that I would have a few hours in Atlanta (my connecting city) to watch the game somewhere in the airport...how's that for being irrational?

As for the line-up, I sit Sheff & Giambi because of their recent injury issues. Maybe DH Matsui. So that's say Crosby and Lawton in the OF corners and Tino at 1B. Otherwise I start everyone else, it would be nice to force Cle and Bost to play on Monday.

Small Re: Steve Goldman. I think he's a great writer -- one of the best baseball writers on the net -- and that he was wrong about his predictions doesn't diminish my respect for his work one bit. This was an extraordinary comeback, and no one could predict it!

I have a feeling we'll be playing in Anaheim, just my gut.

I have a feeling we'll be playing in Anaheim, just my gut.

I like Moose in the pen if he's hurting. Yank him early if he struggles tomorrow, and put him the pen for the ALDS.

If they end up with the same record, the Angels have the tiebreaker. For that to happen the Angels have to win today and tomorrow and the Yanks have to lose tomorrow. Otherwise Yanks have homefield in the first round.

Re: Mussina

I agree with Cliff. Start him and see what he has. He says he needs work to be ready so lets give him some work.

I would love that.

Winning tomorrow is semi-critical, but not for redemption or retribution or any of that jazz. Simply put, I don't want to see Boston again on the other side, do you?

That is what I am hoping for.

It's probably Gomes vs. Street for ROY. (Iguchi should get mention but won't)

I say Wright could be perfect in mid-relief in a close game. Just a thought.

6 spots available...
Bellhorn
Womack
Proctor
Leiter
Wright
Embree

Who did I miss that should be there?

He said that Torre wanted to see what he had for the playoff run. He'd get the hook early if he has nothing and probably won't see much action in the post-season (that's my interpretation).

Shit, Torre just said no Moose tomorrow. Wright's starting. Man, Moose better have been breaking of some nasty knucklecurves in his last bullpen, starting a five game series out 0-1 is baaaaad news.

Mussina, Chacon, Johnson, Wang?

I can't believe the Yankees offered both Wang and Cano to the Diamondbacks for Randy Johnson. And the Diamondbanks didn't want them. Thank heaven.

However, my jaw dropped when I heard Moose say he's starting Game 1. Shouldn't he get a short try-out tomorrow, followed by Wright? I can't believe he would get thrown out there in a high pressure situation after his last horrendous start.

Moose in Game 1. Wow. Awful decision by Torre, just brutal. Cripes. I hope I'm wrong.

I assume the starters will be Moose, Unit, Wang and Chacon, but no idea in what order. Moose in 1 and Randy probably in 3, but otherwise, dunno.

Wang would be on regular rest for Game 2.

The only possible change would be to flip Chacon and Mussina. Unless you're willing to drop Moose altogether and put Small in the rotation.

I was watching YES. Leiter is okay. He's different, but I like him, even if his pitching often drives me nuts. The Yankees rag on him for his age, by asking him how he pitched to Babe Ruth.

But it ain't gonna happen. See all the love for Joe on the field after the game? That's cuz he sticks with veterans, usually longer than he should. But that's the way he manages.

First you say manny is a bad example for kids, then you say you're ok if someone ends his career.

Class act. I guess every team has a few.

Cliff,

How has Moose been against Anaheim? I have a feeling that he would perform better against the White Sox.

If both Boston and Cleveland win ...
The Yankees would still own the AL East title, due to having a 10-9 edge in regular-season play with the Red Sox. And the Red Sox will be the Wild Card and play at Chicago on Tuesday.

If Boston wins and Cleveland loses ...
The Yankees are AL East champions (see above) and the Sox own the Wild Card and play at Chicago on Tuesday.

If Boston loses and Cleveland wins ...
The Yankees are AL East champs. The Red Sox host the Indians Monday in a one-game playoff for the Wild Card.

If Boston and Cleveland both lose ...
The ultimate clarity: The Yankees win the AL East and the Red Sox are the Wild Card and open at Chicago on Tuesday.

Yanks need Texas to beat the Angels tonight or tomorrow to ensure homefield in the event we meet the Halos, no matter if we win or lose tomorrow. If the Yanks and Halos finish with the same record, the Angels will get the homefield via their 6-4 record against us in the regular season...

If Boston gets the Wild Card and beats the Angels, and if we eliminate Chicago, we would hold the homefield over Boston...

Though it would be nice if we could beat Boston with our scrubs, like Chicago did to Cleveland. :-D

//So, how you all enjoying that Cleveland-Chicago game on TV?

Way to go, Fox. //

Good to see everyone is still posting and excited!

I can't believe Torre would be so stupid as to start Moose in game 1, but then again, I guess I can believe it. It seems like a very very unfortuante move, whereas if he starts tomorrow, you can see what he has. So who pitches tomorrow, DePaula? if thats not throwing in the towel than what is? Joe, please don't do this. I guess it would be Wright

I think it is worth trying to win tomorrow and seeing what we have in Moose and Wright, and forcing the Sox to push themselves, in addition to the fact that I would much rather face the White Sox than the Angels. Oh well, this is Torre...

Ortiz will hit a few HRs tomorrow and "tie up" his MVP status, but we all know that today is the day that really mattered. I am so happy, and so in shock

Mad love to Cliff and Alex for keeping the Banter Extra Innings Lounge open 24/7... all is right with the world once again — the Pinstripes are playing October baseball — where wives, girlfriends, better halfs, kids, pets, bosses, clients, whoever... either join in or take a back seat and keep their F'n mouths shut ;-)

In terms of our first round opponent, I rather see the White Sox. Even though we may end up with home field over the Halos, I don't think the Angels fear us on any level. A lot of that squad that KO'd us in '02 is still there and they've beaten us more than we've beaten them since '98. Add in a emotionally drained Yankee team that may have to deal with red-eye coast-to-coast flights, etc... who needs it?

Not to say (or disrespect) the ChiSox 'fear us' — but I like the way we match up with them, plus a few intangibles like the Sox suddenly on the biggest stage with everything on the line, where I'm thinking/hoping the poise element might be in our favor.

Update: No help from the Rangers yet, Angels up 6-1 in the 5th...

In Texas: Rangers close it to 6-5, bottom 7, second and third, 2 out... pitching change for the Halos...

BTW, after Iguchi's HR today that helped us win the division, I'd be A-OK if he won ROY over Robbie. Probably Huston Street or Joe Blanton really deserves it, based on performance, but I'd be surprised if either on them won.

Top 8: Ex-Yank Juan Rivera drops one inside the right field foul pole for an HR. Back to 7-5 Halos...

Agreed on Robbie — hard to make a solid case given both some other great performances and the ever-present NY-bias from sportswriters...

Stupid Shields - two out, no one on for Texas - argh! He's been terrible the last couple months, why did he have to remember how to pitch now?

Hey, DeRosa just singled - hopefully Texas can get the top of the order up!

BUT for Cleveland to win the WC, we need to beat Boston tomorrow - and one more Yankee win makes us the 2 seed. I guess the question becomes whether where we play the Angels on Tuesday - the Bronx, or wherever the hell the Angels are these days. ;)

Guess we'll fall a few comments short of 600 tonight. Should be fun to watch tomorrow's game - I'm really hoping Torre lets Bernie manage.

watz — For us to open against the ChiSox, we would have to beat Boston tomorrow — while the Tribe wins against Chicago — which would force the do-or-die one game playoff for the Wild Card in Fenway on Monday. If Cleveland wins that game, we would open against Chicago and the Tribe would play the Angels in the opening round...

In short, if Cleveland pulls it off and gets the Wild Card, MLB rules state that a WC team cannot play it's Division Champ in the opening round (just like Yanks and the Red Sox last year)...

My head is spinnin'... 99% sure that's correct

Whatever the case, I think we will prevail in that series. Likewise, I don't fear Chicago despite the pitching. The Sox are the only team that give me the willies.

Anaheim is certainly tough and I think we'll have a fight ahead of us, but they aren't the same team they were in 2002 to me. Vladdy is a monster, but the rest of their guys aren't as scary as they were a few years back....with the exception of K-Rod.

Chicago doesn't scare me at all either. Their starters have been super tough all year, but somehow I think the Yankees will handle them.

Imagine another 7 game series with the Red Sox. Ugh. Will any of us survive that?

We cannot play the White Sox in the first round. If Boston is the Wild Card they would automatically face the White Sox. If Cleveland is the Wild Card that means we beat Boston tomorrow so we'd have a better record than Anaheim and thus we would play Cleveland.

1. Competitive

LF Matsui
CF Bernie
RF Crosby
1B Tino
2B Cano
SS Escalona
3B A-Rod
C Posada
DH Sierra

2. Rest-oriented

LF Lawton
CF Womack
RF Crosby
1B Phillips
2B Cano
SS Escalona
3B Bellhorn
C Nieve
DH Matsui

I just don't see all unfolding to get Cleveland in. They have to win tomorrow, and win at Fenway the next day. They had a great year but are sputtering, and they would have to face the Red Sox at Fenway.

It seems to me that the Yankees will face the Angels, and the Sox will face the Sox. I'd bet on it.

Not sure if I'm reading you wrong, but to clarify....

The Indians must win tomorrow AND the Red Sox must lose for the playoff to occur. If the Sox win they're in. If the Tribe loses and the Sox win, tough beans for Cleveland.

I hope we take care of our half of that equation, because I'd love to see Coco Crisp, Jhonny Peralta, Ben Broussard, and Victor Martinez get their crack at Matt Clement on 3 days rest. We should only be so lucky. Go Yanks.

I would DH Matsui, though. He won't want to miss the game entirely, but he could probably use some rest.

And yes, leave A-Rod in. Give those Beantowners a look at what a real MVP looks like. ;-)

I would like to DH Matsui also. It's a rare opportunity to do so with Sheff, Giambi, and Jeter resting. Not sure how Torre will play this one.

I'm guessing that the pitching will determine everything. We may get half a game of competitive hitters, but it will ultimately be up to Wright, Leiter, Mendoza, Felix Rodriguez, Embree, and maybe Mariano if the game is saveable at the end.

Re: today's lineup, at some point I'm pretty sure I heard Torre mention that he'd do what most of his vets wanted - ie, if Jeter wants to play today, Jeter plays. I hope the slightly banged-up crew (Cap'n, Sheff, and Giambi) are rested - giving us mike's 'competitve' lineup, very nice! - but I bet Jeter and Sheff see some action today. Not a full game, but at least 5 innings.

Of course, if Bernie ends up managing, who knows what will happen? IIRC, Sierra managed the last game last year - here was the lineup:

1. Jeter ss
2. Rodriguez 3b
3. Sheffield rf
4. Matsui lf
5. Williams cf
6. Giambi dh
7. Olerud 1b
8. Cairo 2b
9. Navarro c
Halsey p

Except for Navarro catching, I think that was the standard lineup at the end of the year. Note also that most of the regulars didn't play the 2 previous games.