Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
The Yanks have only one more team left to eliminate in order to clinch the Wild Card. If the Yanks win, or the Tigers lose, they're in. Chien-Ming Wang takes the hill, looking for more support than he got last time out, when Roy Halliday shut down the Yanks, wasting a strong outing by Wang. Jay Ken Thurston J.P. (as in James Phillip) Howell takes the mound to try to stop them. Howell went 1-4 with a 7.36 ERA in eight starts in June and July. He's made one start since being recalled with expanded rosters, turning in a strong outing in Anaheim (6 IP, 2 R, 8 K), but took a hard luck loss as the Rays only managed one run against Ervin Santana and company.
Shelley Duncan gets the call at DH as Matsui gets a rest. Duncan hits seventh, pushing Cano and Posada up. The rest is the usual.
I am happy.
"The players who have been on the roster all season met for 36 minutes before the game to vote on playoff shares"
Does Pavano get a full share?
Um, guys, you haven't wrapped up the WC yet. Please try and win a game soon.
Wang looks awful
The fast ball is pretty fast, and the sinker is diving. I believe he had placement problems.
BB, E, BB, and the Tigers load the bases with nobody out against Santana without a hit.
4-3, runners on second and third, one out.
If the Twins are shopping Santana, what would you guys give up for him? I'd be inclined to say anyone and everyone short of Joba, but then I have a deep and longstanding obsession with Santana and am probably not capable of thinking clearly about this.
I bet Joe throws the real pitchers at them today if we have the lead after six. Even after five, maybe.
why, i'll just bet we'll see henn, wright and desalvo tonite!
You give me a better answer
just like that portal into the mind of john malkovich!
quick! tell him to give jessica alba The Shocker!!!
oh, wait ... she's dating Dane Cook now, forget about it ...
ROBBIE!
They ain't losing tonight!
although, maybe that's not fair ... in double blind tests, shit-flinging monkeys do pick stocks better than Wall Street Stockbrokers ...
in other news, never mind that shit, here comes THE POSTSEASON!!!
I just figured out why the Banter is so quiet. Everyone (most everyone) in the City is over at the BP event at Columbia listening to Alex, Cliff, et al.
Wish I was there too, but I'm glad to be here!
Way to go Shelley D, solidify that PS roster spot!
The Tigers are toast. Anyone know how long its been delayed? I have Santana pitching in fantasy tonight, and I need a good long start with lots of Ks to help me stay in first place!
Man, now that's a non-sequitur, albeit an awesome one!
Heeeyyyy yoooouuuu guyyyyyyyyys!!!!!!!!
That feels good, even if have no idea why I'm crowing it!
http://tinyurl.com/8y593
Hopefully Cliff and Alex get home in time to watch the yanks clinch -- knocking on wood...
I want this game Farnsworth-proofed as soon as possible. I know Farnsworth isn't available tonight; I just mean Farnsworth-proof in the existential sense.
;-)
I say we have Farnsworth start tomorrow's game. It would be kind of like a victory lap.
and jobmoviz don't pitch in this game up by 7 runs ...
Ahem.
Still, things improve when we score a shitload of runs.
Posada nails another rbi.
I think I'll start drinking now, but in a good way. Let's see what I have that's celebratory.
Good things always seem to happen when you're around, Emma. ;)
95 And the LORD said:
Verily, to Farnsworth-proof a game, ye must follow my ways, and just score a shitload of runs, and you will know that I am the LORD.
::Warming up the DVR for the post-game celebration::
99 Hurray for beer!
or at least should be ...
I came home from work the other night to find a note scrawled in Alex's handwriting that read, "know your place, rook."
And speaking of the Mets, they just blew a five-run lead against the Nationals. Unbelievable. The Yankees' bullpen could be a lot worse, guys -- Willie Randolph would kill to have Chris Britton right now.
Now here we are, 12-2. Go Melk man, bases sacked for you.
Seriously Emma, it has been great to have you on the Banter.
Hurray Robbie (Can he get to 100 RBI?! Not that it matters, but that would be awesome!)
Hurray Minky! (Can you possibly hit postseason pitching?)
106 No, Shaun's not relying on his own memory. We've been tracking it. You're the Joba Chamberlain of relief writers -- when you write the game thread everybody instantly becomes supremely confident.
Poor Melky - only he and the MVP don't have a hit. Yet.
A special shoe for Native Americans?!!!
http://tinyurl.com/yrx7ff
Also, I'd like Bobby to get no more rbi this season, same idea.
AND TOMORROW!
Ruggiano has exactly one hit in his MLB career: against Joba.
Go figure.
I know!
I noticed that too and pointed it out to the wife.
The two of us just cracked up in awe and she marvelled, "Man, I want to be Jeter!"
that didn't last very long ...
What a world, eh?
No, it didn't.
Game fucking 6.
I've missed you.
:)
Watch Mo pitch the 9th, just so he can get the last out.
Kay probably hit the nail on the head. He wants to be on the field when they clinch. For a man who has won as much as Jorge, that really strikes me. I think it shows how passionate he is about winning.
My brother wants to know whether there has ever been a higher (real, finite) ERA ratio of two pitchers in the same inning.
If anyone got in and is going to pass on the opportunity, please drop me a line at vockins at yahoo. I don't even know if it's possible to transfer, but I'm willing to try anything.
If you've got tix you just want to dump, I'm willing to give that a shot, too. Thanks!
Jason...is that really what you want to be doing up 12-2?
Where's Jaret "Wheels" Wright when you need him?
Couldn't happen to a suriler guy. He and Bonds* should mob over the winter. Go skiing, skydiving, something like that...
Hey y'all I feel like we've been holding our breath for a long time. I am about to exhale and thanks to all for helping me get through this roller coaster of a Reg Season. Looking forward to Season II and having my life disrupted through much of October!
Cleveland wins Game 1 of their double header, the Angels lost. the Indians have five games left including tonight's night cap and have four fewer loses than the Angels. The Yankees magic number for playing the Tribe, not the Halos, is 2 (any combo of Cle wins and LAA loses).
Bring Wang into a tie game. He gets at least two outs to end the inning. Abreu homers and we keep the lead.
That way, it's Abreu's 100th rbi, Wang's 200th inning, and Wang's 20th win, all in one little package.
Right?
ah.
Agree
Anyone else slightly worried about somebody losing an eye to a champagne cork, or an arm to Shelley Duncan's enthusiasm, during the postgame celebration?
Personally, I couldn't take bowing out to the Angels 3 times in the past 6 years. Twice to Cleveland in 10 years would be somewhat more palatable.
Not that I'm expecting us to lose.
Oh, all those new guys in the line-up. Well, that's all the starters.
But, finally, I think it's a crap shoot. So I'll take anybody -- the important thing was to get into the play-offs!
Just depends on what Yankee team incarnation appears in October...
Daily News: Mutts
Post: Yanks
NYT: Red Sox
More time to adjust to all the scrappiness.
Okay, the moment we've been waiting for: Mo closes the deal!
I hope everyone here at the Banter is standing.
That's not a fun travel log in a week's time.
221 Not yet, but as soon as I walk upstairs to the TV I will.
POP!
Send the word, send the word over there -
That the Yanks are coming,
The Yanks are coming,
The drums rum-tumming
Ev'rywhere.
So prepare, say a pray'r,
Send the word, send the word to beware.
We'll be over, we're coming over,
And we won't come back till it's over
Over there.
It might take me until the end of the weekend to edit it all, but you'll see it before the playoffs!
Let's Go Yan-kees
Ok fine, it doesn't apply.
Let's go, Yan-kees!
Abreu's 100
Jeter's hit total for the year
Joba- one or two more times
Cano's RBI's pushing 80
A few more hits from Jorge
One bomb and 3 more RBI's for AROD
And if none of it happens...who gives a shit!
Man, the entire bullpen just nailed Roger with about 9 bottles of champagne.
Got a great shot of Clemens getting soaked and having to be led by the hand by Posada because he couldn't see anything...
274 Thank you, ric. We'll see if we see your boys in the LCS.
256 Still round the corner, MFD, there may wait
A 27th Serious ring, wouldn't that be great?
And though we oft have waited long
Cursing the Yanks when they did wrong
The day may come at least when we
See 11 more Yankee wins, and the Serious victory.
(with a thousand apologies to Mr. Tolkien)
285 Hurray for HD!
Joba in the background on that - I actually had to stop and think about if he was legal or not...
28 in 08!!!!!
Bullpen management be damned, I have many warm fuzzy feelings for Joe Torre. Kim Jones quotes the veterans praising him, and he REALLY starts crying.
Thanks to all for a great season. BB is second only to the Empire itself.
303 I would start watching SportsCenter again.
Now the Mets HAVE to get in, so Phillips has to eat the whole thing, and not just half. Can you imagine if the Mets miss out? The man will never shut up.
Ew.
312 Stevie P., the greatest GM ever fired.
312 Steve Phillips of ESPN (sigh), who boldly predicted back in the middle of August that "neither the Yankees nor the Mets will make the playoffs."
He also declared Melky to be nothing more than a 4th OF, saying "there are a million Melky Cabrera's out there". This was because he couldn't believe the Yanks wouldn't trade Melky and Ian Kennedy for Gagne.
313 Not the image I wanted in my mind. Where's that Kim Jones post again? Ah, much better!
Wonder who will get to manage this year's last regular season game. Posada? Would Torre let one of the pitchers (Pettitte or Mo) do it?
On to the Indians!
I really love my kid. (not just for that)
We did it.
Or more like a frat boy.
But I love him anyway.
""I'm elated we have clinched the playoff spot.
After a tough first half of the season when everyone seemed to lose faith except for our players and our fans, the team has really stepped up and shown themselves to be the champions that they are. With hard work and determination, we were able to clinch a playoff position and are now heading into our 13th consecutive postseason. I congratulate our players, Joe Torre, and Brian Cashman. I really like the mix of veterans and younger players who have contributed to this comeback. It has been exciting to watch them play, coalesce and pull together. The fans and I look forward to the team accomplishing our ultimate goal -- bringing a world championship back to New York.""
What a damn season.
I'm so happy.
They fucking stole home against us, Jorgie and Alex botched that fucking rundown, and yet, here we are.
Unbelievable.
I love Joe. I nearly started crying when he did.
Well done, boys, well done.
The New York Yankees.
But yeah, Will Leitch, they don't really like him.
Wow. Igawa seems like a really introverted guy. Nice to know they're trying to get him to relax.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03r_s-elmjQ
I don't mean that as a bashing post
http://tinyurl.com/238wnt
The audio's lower in certain clips and I made the mistake of fiddling with my DVR in the middle of the DVD recording during the final out, but otherwise this is EVERYTHING.
Enjoy!
i had to teach late tonight. my phone was dying and had to be turned off. i had no clue what was going on. after work, i turn my cell on, hoping to have some service, and find a text -- from my friend, stuart - cult of basebaal - from the bronx banter. it read: Welcome to the postseason! holy fuckin' shit!!!
it's been a tough, trying season. i couldn't have made it without the wonderful community here at Bronx Banter. i'm proud to be a Yankees fan and equally as proud to be a tiny part of the great family here. thanks to all of you!
thanks to yankz and pistolpete for the audio/visual/links, most appreciated! : )
i head to NY tomorrow to visit my fam and i can't wait to be in Yankeeland. i'd like to say i have a good feeling about this, but then again, i had a good feeling last year. i do really think we can do it. here's to 11 more wins come the calendar flip!
LET'S GO YAN-KEES!!!
he runs an excellent A Cappella group called The Ex-Boyfriends. they'll be playing at the Mercury Lounge in the Village this Saturday from about 7:30-9:15pm. i'm not positive if i'll make it, but i hope to. they're really impressive. i'll be checking in from my folks house, so if any of you think you'll make it, it would be cool to share a celebratory beer...
HA!
if we had the regular season we just had and girardi, mattingly, valentine, whomever, was at the helm - we'd all be WAAAAAAAY more furious than we were. there'd be a BIG lump in our collective throats.
the veterans seem to love him. the kids seem to love him. 90 wins and playoff berths seem to love him. what's another season? or two. just sayin'...
http://tinyurl.com/yfek2x
The Third Baseman via Pete Abe:
"This feels like home. It's hard to believe that I played for another two organizations. So much has happened to me here, adversity, some success, that I feel like anything but New York feels weird for me now."
Watching Rodriguez with the team (his team) last night it's hard to imagine him not wanting to stick around.
Now, go get that ring, Alex!
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