Last night's game was a weird and frustrating one. The swarm was just par for the course.

Blah ...

I'm sure I'll remember the Bug Game for ages. And probably, hopefully, the memory will be sweeter than the real-time experience, which was pretty nauseous.

How strange was it, too, to have all those 'guests'? I felt like I was bringing new friends over to my parents' house and hoping my folks would behave themselves. (I thought we acquitted ourselves admirably.)

I hate this feeling right now.....my uncle was a huge Yankee fan and I hope he can help me out here, hopefully he can talk with the Babe, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Scooter, and Mantle and get them all together to lift every 2nd long fly ball hit by the Yankee batters and make sure it clears the wall for a homerun.

I'm counting on you, Tio.

Let's go Yanks!!!!

We would have had more men on base if we simply didn't swing.

I know it's hard, but this is what professional hitters need to do to beat guys like CC and Carmona. If they are always behind in the count, you might eventually see some hittable pitches.

I have no doubt that without the bug infestation, we win 1-0. Bizarre, incredible bad luck.

I am still hopeful, we have 2 at home against pitchers we can beat. I don't think our guys are going to go down without a fight.

Hand raised. I'm actually glad it was a hit, not a walk that did in the Yankees.

Remember how all the bats went cold after the Yankees were up 3-0 in 2004? Maybe we get the reverse now, and the cold bats heat up.

Apparently, we got the worst of it, as all reports indicated the eighth inning was the worst of the horde. I was actually thinking Joe maybe should have just brought Mo in when Sizemore was on 3rd. But even on the wild pitch that scored the run, if it had been someone just a tad slower on 3rd, we would have had him. Just so frustrating.

Anyway, it can't get any worse, right? I actually think Westbrook is going to start strong against us (because we'll be tight), but here's hoping for a big breakout of the bats by the 4th or 5th inning. If we can't get more than 2 runs by the sixth, we're screwed, because Perez and Betancourt will shut us down again probably.

First off, of course, everybody - with the possible exception of Abreu - looks absolutely awful at the plate. Sure, Iwish he were doing better, but singling him out is so out of line it's almost bizarre.

Second, I didn't think he looked lost at the plate. The at-bats weren't necessarily as bad as the results. He struck out on three pitches in the 7th, but all three pitches brushed the bottom of the strike zone with hellacious movement - unhittable strikes, all three. In the ninth he worked the at-bat well, fouling off a bunch of pitches. Again, it worked out badly, and he should have laid off that pitch, but it's not like he was flailing weakly at bad pitches, as he has in the past. (weepingforbrunnhilde, as our at-bat maven, what did you think?)

Anyway, I am interested to see how the Yanks hitters fare against Westbrook as he is definitely not in the same category as Sabathia/Carmona.

However, I am also trying to better understand why the Yanks bats are so prone to slumping together and in the post-season in particular (especially the last 2 years when there has been enough of the same guys). Is there something about how the postseason is played, especially currently, that does not allow this lineup to do well? Why does someone like Kenny Lofton have such a good postseason and no one in our lineup does? Or take Kaz Matsui? Is this stuff just good luck/bad luck in a very small sample size, or is there something else - I am not getting at the whole clutch/choker aspect as much as hitting styles.

I am obviously hoping the bats wake up and hoping Roger has one more great show left in him. Yankees re-birth on Sunday. Please.

I feel like we are so close to having a team that can win 2-3 World Series, it'd break my heart to tear that up because someone in Tampa is pissed off.

Oh, and the bugs were a clear case of biological warfare on the part of the Tribe. They cheated. That's what I am telling all my friends who are Tribe fans.

I'm guessing the high-level venting has dulled my senses somewhat. I don't know guys, the negativity all year from the media and the present broadcast has wore me out. Don't fall into their trap, good people. I'll be there for all of you in spirit.

>;)

And regarding Westbrook and the Yanks being tight tomorrow, I'm expecting something quite different. In fact, I think they should change the rules for tomorrow night, scrap the whole 9 inning thing, and just play until one team has 15 runs, leading by at least two at the end of the inning.

As a Sox fan, I must say I have mixed feelings about the Yanks-Tribe series. As much as I'd like to see the Yanks dispatched as quickly as possible, I'm not sure I want to see the Indians. the idea of seeing Sabathia and Carmona four times is far less than thrilling. Even with Drew and Manny hitting and them in the middle of the order with Lowell and Dr. October, the hose will have a real tough time with Cleveland.

Stupid bugs. As if I needed another reason to dislike Jacobs Field.

if that was actually true, I'm very disappointed that none of the tabloids took the chance to use the following headline:

BLAME CANADA!

i guess taking shots at arod was easier ...

I thank god every day for making me a Yankee fan.

16 Hey, it could happen.

You said it, Alex. If nothing else, I suppose that match-up made me realize I dislike the closer more (much more, even) than I dislike the leftfielder.

But all in all, man, a harrowing night indeed.

Down but not out.

One game at a time.

The team's capable, they just need to actually do it.

Scratch and claw, scratch and claw.

I take some solace in the fact that, for the most part, I think the team has been shut down by superb pitching more than by a lack of focus. Most--most--of their ab looked pretty respectable.

At this point, I think it's on Joe to play some little ball. He did set Abreu in motion that time, which was great. Now we just need to treat each and every baserunner like it'll be the only one of the game and focus on getting him in at all costs.

If that means suicide squeeze, so be it.

Let's at least go down fighting.

Last year the impression was that we all preferred to face the Tigers as a round one opponent and look how that turned out.

This year it was a preference for the Tribe and the 1.5 hour flight rather than having to travel to the left coast and playing the dreaded Halos.

Well, f*ck that!!! To borrow a phrase from Alex, please raise your hands if you think playing the Angels, as they are currently constituted, would have been much harder than playing the Tribe?

I'm done. If I ever hear about how a certain team would be an easier ALDS opponent my head is going to explode. Never again will I buy that bullshit story.

But I have to say, if the Sox finish off the Halos and the Yanks lose this ALDS, then I think the Red Sox have their hands full. CC, Carmona, and the Raphael twins are going to give Boston fits.

God, I hate this feeling!!!

Nice to have you back.

I think the hitters haven't been nearly so bad as their pitchers have been good. I do think Alex could have shortened his swing a tad, especially in that last ab, but still, those were some sick pitches.

My sense is that the hitters are focussed, they're just being consistently beat, with a couple of exceptions. Robby first-pitch swinging comes to mind.

The thing is, the question didn't invoke his post-season woes at all, but was really focussed on that 9th inning ab in isolation, iirc. He's the one who contextualized it in the "Arod chokes in the postseason" storyline.

Pity.

Abreu's double was a thing of beauty; maybe Joe should fine his players for trying to pull the ball until they've scratched out a couple of runs.

I don't know.

I just don't know, but it's maddening to see Lofton slap the ball around the park, California 2002 style, while our guys can't find two hits to rub together.

27 Yes, Funny about Melky and Damon. That is the frustration to me even more than any pitching problems - the slap hits doing in the Yanks while too many bats go cold at once.

Though the control by Cleveland's pitchers especially in relief is impressive. I have decided to be tortured by listening to the "announcing crew" on TBS and one of them said some mostly stupid things about Cleveland's minor league system, but did mention something about the pitching philosophy being consistent throughout a pitcher's development - which I think with all the young arms the Yanks have, the potential is there to coach them in a consistent manner and develop a decent corps of middle relievers rather than have guys coming from different systems with slightly different philosophies and have them not really work out.

Anyway, there is still Yankee baseball in '07 - here's to a better performance, better luck, and a better outcome.

taking a sip of Long Trail, yum!

Win One for "The Voice of God"!

" Yankees first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz said playfully that the gnat-like nuisance was caused by the cologne brand of the team captain.

"The joke around the guys was that we all have Derek Jeter's Driven on," he said. "
via the 4-letter network

Remember spring training? Not once, but twice, the Yankees were chased off the field by swarms of bees. A sign that it wasn't going to be our year, perhaps.

Either that, or it's Jeter's bleepin' cologne.

hey Dimelo, that's tough: my condolences.....when did all the Dominican Sox fans pop up? Pedro? I remember living in Jamaica Plain as a Yankee fan, all those guys with #45 spray-painted on their cars....

I think we win game 3, and game 5 if we get there; short rest in game 4 will be a crap shoot.

And I'd like to remark, for the record: Jake Westbrook is not capable of shutting this lineup down. Period. He simply lacks the stuff & command. (And we're familiar with him.) This team was built to beat the living shit out of non-premium starters. If we fail to get, let's say, 4 runs in 6 innings or the equivalent, let there be no talking about how well he pitched, whatever images appear on your television sets.

None of the 'losing' teams are hitting much.

Gotta say I disagree with that one. Yes, they're up against the wall, but there's certainly not "nowhere to go but home" - there is no reason that they can't win 2 in NY and head back to CLE for a shot at advancement.

I know that's not looking too good right now, but don't count them out just yet! They've had a flair for the dramatic all year...

Yes, pitching is uber-important in the post-season, but what good does it do if no one is hitting? Carmona pitched a GREAT game last night, no doubt about it, but this lineup is way too good to be held to 3 hits in 11 innings even when facing a great pitcher.

I will raise my brother's hand - he was sure it was going to happen. (I wish he would come here, but I haven't yet convinced him to.)

I'll raise my hand too.

9 Welcome ms october, and I'll second the call for a bat-rebirth.

4 Dimelo, I am so sorry for your loss. Safe travels back home, and hopefully with the help of your uncle, Jim Dean, and a host of other folks, Mystique and Aura will do their thing again tomorrow.

All the Yanks have to do is win tomorrow, and they're set. They got to Sabathia already - and if he comes back on short rest in Game 4, they'll definitely get to him again. And there's no way in hell gnats, ants, locusts, or anything else will keep the bats from obliterating Carmona in Game 5. They aren't getting embarrassed by that guy again. No codswallopin' way.

See you all tomorrow.

Not much talk of "The Ghosts of '78" lately maybe since we didn't win the division, but we still came from 14.5 and 9 out to make the post season. That's no small feat.

On tomorrow's date in 1978 at The Stadium, the Yanks knocked Kansas City of it in Game 4 of the ALCS, 2-1. Nettles and Roy White hit dingers, while Guidry went 8 innings, closed out by Goose.*

When we win tomorrow, I'd like to see a close one like this. No sense waking up to score 16 runs, then score 1 again the next game. It starts with win #1 and builds from there. Get that swagger back one game at a time, fellas...

* Box score here if anyone's interested: http://tinyurl.com/ywt5ka

And, Dominican, aha. Now I can finally parse 'dimelo'! I had it all wrong (even the accent).

As I heard someone once say, "We've got our backs against the driver's seat."

Maybe we have finally got 'em where we want 'em. In our house, with no bugs, with our furry friend patroling the foul pole (the squirrel will be there won't he?)... Three in a row... That's all we need. It's happened before. It can happen again. This team has come too far to go out like this... We got our backs against the driver's seat, baby. Our backs against the driver's seat...

That's the codswallopin' funniest thing I heard all day...

Let me explain:

1. I would rather have Roger than Westbrook and we have no doubt hit Westbrook well. If he can't wake up our bats we have no chance to go any further anyway.

2. Winning game 3 will give a choice of either Mussina/Wang or someone else. If Wang is chosen, which won't be a terrible idea considering his home success, the yanks will most likely face Byrd with him. Another pitcher they've hit well. I am confident that Wang will bounce back at home.

3. It's doubtful that Wedge will rush back Sabathia for Game 4 just to close it out. So he will be saved for Game 5. Meaning we won't see him or Carmona again until game 5.

4. An 0-2 deficit while bad, is not the end. It's not as bad as 0-3. We've seen comebacks plenty. Some we were on the other end of. Some we were the victim. If the Red can do it in '04,then no doubt an 0-2 deficit is not impossible.

5. We don't have to see any more stupid gimmicks or corny slogans. No towels, no drummers, just Yankee stadium.

6. Eventually it will be their turn to be in a close game and we will see Borowski. I think we will all be happy to see that.

Of course all of this (with the exception of #5) hinges on the Yankee bats waking up which I think is likely at home, with Westbrook, cooler weather free of bugs, with the crowd behind them.

And as we all know, once they wake up, they don't go back to sleep for a while.

It all starts tomorrow!! Let's Go! Keep the Faith!

"Red Sox Nation", "Raider Nation", et al. F that. We don't need no stinkin' "nation". What, join a club? Elect a president? Wear makeup? Pfffh. We're Yankee fans.

And: "And as we all know, once they wake up, they don't go back to sleep for a while."

There is an 11 win run in this team when they're awake. Not in a row maybe, but within the next 17 games. But it's gotta start with at least three in a row. That's all I'm askin' ;-)

I think the at-home factor will be a huge boon for the team.

And I love the quote from Rocket: "My job is to get the ball in the hands of the next starter."

That's it. One. Game. At. A. Time.

PeteAbe runs into 'The Sweater' on a flight back from Cleveland (via LoHud):

I went over to say hello and we had a nice conversation. Carnesecca is 82 now and a huge Yankees fan. "You watch," he said. "They'll get back in this thing. Joe Torre is from Brooklyn, St. Francis Prep. I remember when he was a kid. He knows what to do."

----

Louie. Mullin. Berry. Those were the days for St. Johns and the Big East. The wars against G'Town, Villanova, UConn...

Well, the Cubs losing is always good, but in general.

Either one team is due to make huge comback or there's a pattern

AL always puts up more of a fight.

.....Which is nice.

I miss the old Big East. Top shelf basketball that was. I mean, the conference is good now too, but back in the day, wow.

The Phillies lead the LEAGUE in OPS by 21 pts (although Colorado was 2nd).
Colorado was 8th of 16 in both ERA and BAA, although the Phillies were 13th in ERA.

Maybe something indeed happens in the PS, and there is no way the Phillies should have been swept.

Meanwhile, the Cubs were 2nd in ERA compared to the D-Backs 4th, and 8th in OPS compared to the D-Backs 14th.

Again, a colasso choke by the Cubbies? No way the D-Backs should have swept.

Meanwhile, Chicago's big gun, Aramis Ramirez, was 0 for 12, 1 BB, 5 Ks, .077 OPS.
Our old friend Sori was 2 for 14, 1 BB, 4 Ks, .343 OPS.
Think they will steal the headlines from ARod?

However, so far the Yankees have the worst offensive production in the PS.

At least that's what I'm holding on to.

ugh- id post links to "yankee universe" paraphernilia, face painted yankees fans and other assorted rallying related behavior but why bother?

3rd gen said it best in 15 . Thank god indeed.

66 I'm in the same boat. I figured all 4 series to be very competitive. I'm not sure why I was pulling for the Phillies, maybe because the Rockies still look and feel like an expansion team. The Sox are almost certainly going to sweep, so it's up to the Yanks to add some drama to this thing.

And Steinbrenner is up to his old ways again, this is vintage stuff: http://tinyurl.com/ypftgb

Steinbrenner also had some choice words about retiring veteran umpire Bruce Froemming and his decision to play through the late-game bug infestation during Friday's Game 2 extra-inning victory for the Indians.

"The umpire was full of [expletive]," Steinbrenner told the paper. "He won't umpire our games anymore."

"As the Yankees stand on the brink of elimination in the first round of the playoffs for the third season in a row, owner George Steinbrenner says longtime manager Joe Torre needs his team to advance to the ALCS if he wants to keep managing the club.

"His job is on the line," Steinbrenner told The Bergen Record. "I think we're paying him a lot of money. He's the highest-paid manager in baseball, so I don't think we'd take him back if we don't win this series.""

Wow.

i just really, really, really hope we win. i think we can. i think we can advance. but if we don't, shit...i'm not ready for a complete overhaul. and as easy as it is to point out joe's shortcomings, i don't think the team will be better w/ a mattingly, girardi or (gulp) la russa. i'm surprised there hasn't been more speculation on TLR. but i'm glad there hasn't been...

i'll be in a recording session, so i'll miss the game. i'm taping it just in case...

GO YANKS!!!