Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Indians completed their sweep of the Tigers this afternoon, giving the Yankees a five game lead (six in the loss column) in the Wild Card race with eleven left to play. Meanwhile, the win gave the Indians a half-game lead on the Angels for the second seed in the American League.
As for the division, even if the Yankees go 8-3 over the rest of the season (which essentially means they have to take three of four from the Blue Jays best pitchers and sweep one other series, though a win tonight would count for that sweep), the Red Sox will have to go 5-5 for the Yankees to take the division via the tiebreaker of their head-to-head record. That's not impossible, but it is unlikely.
Curiously, this is all beginning to feel like a replay of 2005 when the Yankees rallied from a poor start of the season behind an MVP season from Alex Rodriguez to take the division from the Red Sox via a tiebreak in the final two days of the season. That year, the Yanks, Sox, and Angels all finished with 95-67 records, while the Indians, who were ahead of both for the Wild Card with six games left, finished just out of it at 93-69. Of course, all of that late-season drama was for naught as both the Yanks and Sox got bounced in the ALDS and the White Sox went on to sweep their way to a World Championship.
Tonight Andy Pettitte looks to bounce back from his rough outing in the opener of the Boston series and hand the Yanks a sweep of the Orioles. As great as Andy has been in the second half, he has a 5.94 ERA over his last three starts and has allowed 27 hits in those 16 2/3 innings, nine of them going for extra bases. The Yankees need Pettitte to pitch the way he did in August (6-0, 2.36 ERA) in order to have a chance in the ALDS, no matter how the matchups shake out. Andy will make one more regular season start after tonight, after which he'll be in line for Game One of the Division Series. He needs to use these starts to sort things out.
Opposing Pettitte is Brian Burres, who has split time between the rotation and bullpen for the Orioles this year. Burres has been far more effective as a starter, the role he filled in the minors each of the last two years. He's also handled the Yankees well this year, limiting them to a run on four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 7 1/3 innings between one start (6 IP) and one relief appearance. In Burres' last start, his first since August 4, he held the Blue Jays scoreless over seven frames.
andy: 7 IP 3 ER 7 H 1 BB
prof. farnsworth: 1 IP 1 ER 1 H 0 BB (solo HR to tejada)
mo: 1 IP O ER O H O BB
burres: 4 IP 5 ER 10 H 3 BB
oh-ree-ohs BP: 5 IP 4 ER 5 H 5 BB
melky - 3-5 in the leadoff spot
a rod - 2-4 HR
posada - 3-3 3 RBIs with a walk
It's too early to start celebrating, put the champagne back.
Remember when people thought he was better than Posada?
Also, Nomar. Nuff said.
Hey, do we want to make a run at this guy?
tinyurl.com/yo55ah
Hey, Joe has given me the night off -- I think they feel like they have the WC locked up and don't need me -- so I'm checking out early. Have fun. Do the best you can, that's all I ask.
But anytime I hear Nomar's name, I'm going to picture a man pouting in the dugout during his team's most important game of the year.
I wasn't a big Griffey fan for various reasons, but in the light of the steroid era, I have a new prespect for him.
Still holding out hope for the division title, they can do it with Matsui heating up.
Dang, Nancy boy homers.
Wait (can't type fast enough)
Wait (can't type fast enough)
I can't really put it into words. You have to see the replay though. Just ridiculous.
And they take out Buckholz who's pitching well but made 2 fielding blunders. I like the J's chances now.
I swear, I was certain it was long gone.
I'm usually not so badly fooled, so I'm wondering what the hell that was all about.
Wind?
End of the bat?
Long, majestic flyball that mysteriously died on the track.
BTW, anyone read this article, on "The Art of Thievery"?
http://tinyurl.com/2zdaqp
130 stolen bases in one season. Unreal.
79 Agreed. Suddenly it's a one-run game and Boston's still down.
JUG-U-LAR!
They're supposed to be built around pitching, so fucking pitch, don't bellyache.
Wow, just can't please everyone I guess.
They're leaving it all on Andy's shoulders.
Today's a Jobaday, no?
It would be nice to have some breathing room, is all, you know?
Nice.
What the hell is a light's-out, high strike-out pitcher out of the pen if he can't come in to put out a fire?
But lazy? Did we all the sudden forget, that baseball happens, a lot? Plus the game's not over yet... Lazy? So every time we only score 2 runs against a bad pitcher in 6 innings, it's considered lazy. Ok, just checking. I have to remember that. Sorry to interrupt.
Ohhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Andy's a golden god!
This is a nice, crisp ballgame to me. Yanks winning, RS losing. Can't win 12-0 every night.
Now, bring Andy out for the 8th?
I won't comment about this game in particular, because I've not been watching it closely enough, but I think you can tell when a team is being, if not lazy, certainly unfocused, which amounts to the same thing.
It's subtle, of course, but I honestly think that if you watch the game pitch-by-pitch you can spot things like mental lapses, bad approach, etc.
Lugo hit a grounder to short... booted!... recovers, throws out Lugo. Who wasn't running hard out of the box because it was a 'routine grounder'.
(I'm supposed to take the night off from baseball, but, yeah, I'm hooked.)
But why run? It's only bases loaded, 2 out, 7th inning, down by 1, on a 3 game losing streak.
Man, I wish they fined these guys heavily.
If Joba could be brought in mid-inning, I'd say start with Andy.
But it's against the rules.
Andy got that last K and now it's time for him to enjoy his success.
Ha!
See, that's lazy!
Er, scratch that as tomorrow's an off day.
Every.
Single.
Night.
RSN is awesome when the team is stinking.
Come on, Derek, hit the gap!
But there's an out, and now five to go. Hmmmm. Mo if Andy needs help, Joba to close? Is that sacrilege?
Is Joe prepared to break The Rules?
What the hell is Joba doing up?
And more to the point, I really wish he were on the mound and not in the pen.
I see Robbie having mental lapses all the time. He can get lazy. Melky doesn't run all out to first sometimes. Lazy. Abreu in right field sometimes. Lazy.
Sucking does not equal lazy.
102 I harp on players all the time. Check through previous game threads over the years if you need some proof. I just happen to stick with things I can actually spot. You know, instead of calling the team unfocused if they happen to be losing. But, to each his own. But hey, sometimes I can watch a game and feel the team is generally tired. I guess that night is tonight for you and I should respect that. Just as long as it's not used in every loss.
I guess we can give that 3baseman a post-season roster spot anyway, even though he can't hit. Anymore.
Alex!
Fucking Alex.
And great, great fucking pitch, Andy!!
Sheer beauty, all around.
Stretch by Dougie, too.
I love him.
I guess we can at that, eh?
Mandsfccsaidtvz has that "go go gadget stretch" getting extra outs tonight- love it. And have to think deeply about upside at 1st base.
And good to get Joba in in the middle of an inning.
I don't want to jinx anything, but I'm practically salivating, over hear.
Ortiz up, Ellsbury at first, one out, top eight.
Joba, really!
Fuck, there goes Joe's job.
He broke The Rules!
Did I say this is a nice place to be?
Did I say you should be enjoying it in a game like this?
did I say you need to be calm?
Those types of remarks are getting old. If you want to debate/discuss something that I said that you don't agree with I would be happy to. But don't put words in my mouth.
I want blood!
Now I'll just enjoy Joba...
Blooooooooodddddddd!@!
ha ha ha hah ah ah ah 1!!
YUM YUM YUM!
That really might take some needed pressure off Mo.
Why not?
Maybe let him get two outs and have Bruney finish! That would be cool.
Time to snap out of it.
I'd like to see the Yankees bat around. Twice. Bring in Bruney for the ninth.
After finally surrendering His first run, Joba was ready for his next test: entering an inning in progress. He was successful.
Thanks Be To Joba
Ok, let's bring Jorgie home!
Jays with the leadoff hotter on.
Big Hurt up.
196 Is this really the experience of entering in the middle of the inning? I think they wanted to avoid having him come in with men on base (and so starting from the stretch). if he was already warming, there is no fundamental difference b/t starting the inning or coming in with two outs and no one on base.
Ok, up to Mo!
Or maybe they just want to keep him sharp, he'd otherwise have four days off. Keep him ready for the playoffs.
I'm really just speculating here.
Sac bunt is good. 2nd and 3rd, one out.
But I agree with a most of the calls off the outside corner. Too close to not fight off, or drive into play.
203 And now, thanks be to Mo!
(I love the way Mo's leg does that little flutter as he comes set, btw.)
Tejada hits the dirt, brushed back.
One out.
Interesting.
Right over the dish.
Fuck.
Markakis in with a double down the right field line.
I just hate the IBB there. It puts incredible pressure on the pitcher.
Oh, crap. Goddam bloop double. ARRHHHHH! (Talk like a pirate day.)
244 245 Geez Terry, the last time you brought Paps in to get more than 4 outs, you regretted it later. Let's hope history repeats itself!
243 Thanks be to Mo!
I don't like Millar here, not one bit.
Millar really can hit.
How's Mo going to put him away?
Outside?
2-2.
Fuck!!!!!!
Yes, he went!!
That's my mouth sealed.
; )
C'mon Paps, walk him . . .
C'mon Mo, get him out . . .
Mo will get him with a cutter in...
He's dangerous.
Exhale.
And Mo said to the pig, "You shall not enter this house!"
The swine was slaughtered, and the wine was poured.
Thanks Be To Mo
Wow, that was pretty hittable-looking.
GRAND SLAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GRAND SLAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6-1 TORONTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COMMON MO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HA!
Papplebon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
uahj hhadhfikdjfal;dskjdsakl;jfdsakl;fdsajkl;fdsaj;fdsklajfdsa;lkjfds
And Mo too, of course.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!
Papelbon blows it.
This is just too sweet.
If you have the URL for a Gameday, it's easy. You just open two new tabs and put their URLs in by hand. Another way to do it is to open a new tab and go to the Gameday you want using HISTORY. You can probably come up with other work-arounds yourself.
Fuck you, ump!!!
You wrung up Derek on that same pitch, asshole!
pitch 2 was above the knees and right down the middle, C'MON fuckwit!!!
Inside, 2-0.
Right over the dish.
C'mon Mo - END IT NOW.
Breathe, breathe, breathe...
Damn, he can't put 'em away tonight.
the
hell.
Moore? Batting .194, never seen Mo before??
Mo, you are such a tease!!!!!
THANK YOU!
1 GAME!
I LOVE YOU ALL!
aaaahdklfdsajkl;daj;;kfdsdddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd
Yay Mo!!!
1.5 games back - damn!
The WC is in but in the bag. Magic number is 5. I CAN"T WAIT to watch the NESN post game show. WHAT PLEASURE!
1.5!!!!!!!!!
OH MY GOD 1.5 OUT
I feel like we just won the World Series.
I just ran down the block like a fucking loon screaming, "One and a half, one and a half!!" and laughing like a madman.
I ducked into my little bar down the block and said to the bartender, whom I didn't know from Adam, "Did you see that, one and a half?"
"I don't want to hear it, get out of my bar!"
So I said once more, with feeling, "One and a half!!!!! ah ah aha ha ha "
And I pointed and laughed before fleeing for my life.
Dude was not amused, poor bastard.
Those objects in your rear view mirror are closer than they appear...
Sorry to be a little somber, but you know who's got to be loving this from his seat waaayyy up in the bleachers? Jim Dean. Wish he could be here to share it with us.
I know I'm all Debbie Downer, but we have to get through the Toronto team that just schooled the Choke Sox.
ric, where for art thou now?
The Closer To God
It was not enough for Mo to humble the swine with thunder, and violent rotations of his arm.
He wanted them to know lightening. He wanted them to be enlightened by His effortless superiority.
He was successful.
Thanks Be To Mo
Play that Sinatra
And congrats Pettitte on your 200th!
BEAUTIFUL!
Andy's 200th, remember?
Wow.
I feel exuberant right now.
It's so nice to capitalize.
What a nice little game.
Anyway, the O's didn't have a lot of good options, obviously.
"If he runs that out, it's a tie game, and the whole complection of the game changes. He knows it, the Sox know it, and all the fans know it"
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
(nice to capitalize.)
431 I think you're right. He went and gave Andy a hug afterward, and handed him the ball.
Nice season, dear Andy.
Welcome home.
435 weeping, if I had said to you three months ago that the Yanks would come all the way back to be just 1.5 games out - and 1 in the loss column - with 10 to play, would you have believed me?
I don't think I would have believed me!
1 game in the loss column.
Wow.
I mean Christ Jesus.
Remember when whoever the fuck was stole home on us?
Remember how ill we all felt?
Aw my gawd.
Francona has gawta go. And we need Yuke back, pronto. Fuck Manny.
449 Lo, and the men tore their hair and rent their garments. For even their beloved Sox finally winning the Serious in 2004 did not relieve New England of its inferiority complex when it came to the Yankees.
https://catfishstew.baseballtoaster.com/archives/257940.html
All the pressure's on you, Boston. Don't choke.
Precisely so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwzlg6erxIw
So this is what it takes to bring you back.
Pretty good game in Chicago. Cubs are about to close it out, and Houston just tied the Brewers. Fun race to watch, the NL Central.
I was just about to make a statement for the record that's of no consequence at all.
I don't think I've ever said anything as foolish as Steve Phillips has uttered, but to put it mildly, I've been unfairly rough on Doug Out since long before he got here.
Let me now state before this honorable tribunal of Bronx Banterers -- to the best of my knowledge, observations, and analytical ability Mr. Doug Mientkiewicz (spellcheck) is a first baseman of the first order.
The New York Yankees would well-advised to include Mr. Mientkiewicz in their postseason playbook.
Sincerely,
Sliced Bread
Bronx Banter
472 Look! It's wsporter!
Gotta love it.
Also, it seems Peter Gammons has written an article about Captain. Anyone actually pay for ESPN Insider?
So sweet.
Andy has a good heart.
I think the Angels are the much easier team these days. Cleveland is so well balanced, a great team.
Second best team in baseball.
I'm rolling with laughter reading all the love for Stink. At the start of the summer most members on this board wanted him off the team.
ha ah hah aha ah !!!
"Yeah, he's old too. He pitched here, went somewhere else, came back and got 200."
ha hah ah ah aha ha ah ah ah !!!
Derek has a great wry wit when he lets himself be loose.
Remember his feud with Carl Pavano over who Assbruise grew up rooting for?
"Come on, 14 1/2, 2 1/2, does it really matter?....ok, yes it does."
It was good stuff, mostly because it's so unexpected on that network.
I remember one other thing from that article: he noted that Albert Pujols went an entire spring training without striking out.
RSN is as predicted -- they think the Sox will be eliminated in the first round of the play-offs.
"I know this. On Sept. 4th, the Red Sox were seven games in front... maybe they don't deserve to win the division. To lose three in a row to Toronto, nothing from anybody... it's a lifeless bunch of losers."
This is heaven, pure heaven.
Joba's a really good kid.
So, what's going on?
That's an amazing feat.
Where's Manny? We should make one of those books like "Where's Waldo?" He takes September off.
Host: He's a loser! I think Manny's a loser.
I hope this team doesn't make the play-offs.
Hey, ws.
Welcome back.
But it's okay, don't worry. There are no monsters. Jeter is captain, and Mo is in His Heaven.
Oh, how delicious.
Where's Manny?
ha ha hah ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!
Poor things, man.
Poor things.
He has always admired Jeter in a less than begrudging Red Sox fan way, but lately, his admiration seems more to do with Manny's inability to play in September. I don't recall exactly what he said (interrupted by a phone call) but he expressed admiration for Jeter's, and Rodriguez's ability to show up, which we know has become a neglected skill among some baseball stars.
I'm not judging Manny, as I'm not up on what his situation is, but through and between Gammo's words it sounded like he was less in awe of Jeter, and more disappointed in the Boston slugger.
For what it's worth Kay was going to talk to Gammons about the Mets, Sox, and Yanks, but only covered the struggling teams during the ten minute plus segment.
I'd just like to remind everyone of this (Cliff, we're holding you to it):
https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/679891.html
Some good comments there in the end. I went on one of my worst ESPN/FOX bashing tears ever.
Also,
"1478. tommyl
Just remember, all of us who were here tonight, optimistic or bitching, never, ever can be called fair weather fans. Anyone who can continue watching after last night and that 5th, good to be with you guys. "
It's been a great year with you all.
Mattpat, yeah, it's at www.weei.com.
Stuart Scott: "Anybody need a hug?"
Let's see it through to #27!
Chet Harper: Sweet Sassy Moelassy!
And it reminds me that this whole season would have been a lot more depressing, when it was depressing, and a whole lot less fun, and it sure has been fun, without Bronx Banter. And I mean Alex, Cliff, Emma, but the commentors maybe even more.
See youse Friday if not before.
Night all. Wish I knew some Sox fans to needle tomorrow, but the only one I knew at work just actually left for another job a few weeks ago.
Maybe he knew this was coming?
Couple of things you need to know:
At some point this summer, Scott Proctor's arm literally broke free of the Yankees, flew across the country and landed in Anaheim, or Los Angeles... same thing, right?
Um, Alex Rodriguez hit, like, 17 times better than Scott Brosius and Yankee fans finally took notice.
Mariano Rivera's 12 year lease on The Hammer Of God almost expired, but He re-newed it, and the Yankees negotiated a two-for-one deal. The Hammer is being shared with a kid named Joba, who only appears to us only when certain Rules allow.
Those are the main things you missed Yankee-wise, while you were missed around here.
Oh, and Jorge Posada put a bold exclamation point on his countersuit against Varitek before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Mr. Posada's favor that it could never be discussed again.
I want to hear weeping and gnashing of the teeth
Saturday: Matsuzaka-Sonnanstine
Sunday: Wakefield-Jackson
If Kaz is on, that game could turn out ok. If Sonnanstine can only channel that magical pitcher somewhere deep inside him...
Yeah Slice, what's with the children running all over the field. Johba, Kennedy, Hughes? It looks like we raided the Boy's Town varsity team.
535 That's when the history books will say A-Rod made the team his.
Good night all - can't wait to see the Boston papers in the morning!
.270/.348/.424 (.772 OPS)
21-29, .762 OPS against, 4.61 ERA
Since:
.297/.371/.485 (.856 OPS)
66-35, .753 OPS, 4.37 ERA
(Yes, I know I'm being completely arbitrary.)
Just remember, all of us who were here tonight, optimistic or bitching, never, ever can be called fair weather fans. Anyone who can continue watching after last night and that 5th, good to be with you guys. "
Yes, I remember this comment vividly.
And here we are.
Win, lose, or draw, it has been a great season.
That said, let's go all the way. I'm starting to taste it.
Alex' remark? "We won the game and that's what matters."
Hear, hear, Alex.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HbvSwnX22k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iErO9MZclDc
:)
People keep saying "The Yankees will have to go 7-3 while Boston goes5-4!" or some such nonsense, which makes it look a lot harder than it is.
Just look at it this way. If after Saturday, we have this thing tied up, wipe everything out. Clean slate.
Yankees vs Red Sox, seven games left for each team, advantage Yankees because of the tie break. We just have to match them over seven games. Both teams could go 0-7 and we'd win the division.
550 Thank you! Well put! I've had Sawx and Tiger fan buds p*ssing in my ear since June about "Well, the Yanks would have to play .800 ball and the Sox would have to play .500 ball, and yadda, yadda, f'n yadda...
HA!
I knew there was a reason I never gave a crap about math and probabilities in school. Because it's a lie! ;-)
http://tinyurl.com/29bkh3
Let's hope their situation continues to deteroriate...
No use reducing the thing to a formula, just watch each game like it's the only game on earth, day in, day out, and hope.
I'm not thinking about the next ten or whatever it is, just the next game. As Derek says, we just have to worry about ourselves, which is to say, win the next game and then worry about the game after that, where Boston is, etc.
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