October 2009
2009 World Series vs Phillies…Game 3
We’ve been here before. Baseball on Halloween? Done and won before.
Tonight the Yankees go up 2-1 behind the clutch left arm of Andy Pettitte.
For the Phillies, Cole Hamels is out there, though this hasnt been the same postseason for him as 2008.
It also seems the Yankees have finally found the perfect 8th inning bridge to Mariano Rivera…in Mariano Rivera…..now we just need the perfect 7th inning pitcher and we’ll be set!
Mo with the 9 out saves?
The question tonight though seems to be who will be the 3rd outfielder for the Yankees? Will Hinske get his shot? Swish a chance for redemption? Matsui earned the right not to leave the lineup? We’ll find out. I hope its Godzilla though, that way Girardi can do his usual late inning pinch running with Gardner and not miss a step…
Lets do this!
Top 1 in Philadelphia
Ugh…Rain sucks…
Looks like we’ll be playing November baseball tonight if this delay holds up…
Good thing is: whenever it rains for a delay, Pettitte pitches well…
…And it looks like Swisher gets his chance at some World Series redemption…him and A Rod…
Quarter after 9…Play ball!!!
End of 1 in Philadelphia
A Rods slumping? How bout Howard? How many strike outs in a row now? 5? 6?
…………and my computer craps out right after A Rod hit the home run-turn double-turn home run again…
I got it working again, but mlb.com still doesnt load…for some reason…
Does it really matter compared to the big picture? The Yankees win! 2-1 advantage!!!
Now its a series…
Theres been nothing but talk these last couple days about pitching. How great Lee/Sabathia/Martinez are…but last night featured a pitching performance that outshined everyone!
Burnett pitched in a manner that deserves his entire paycheck. If not for A Rods misplay that let a run score early, AJ wouldve had a nice shutout going. Nevermind that. He outpitched every other starter this series, including Lee-yeah thats right. AJ was in control in every inning over the Sillies
Yankees now have this thing tied at 1-1 with the ever-clutch Pettitte going onn halloween vs the not so steady Hamels…then its the Lee/CC rematch in game 4 before AJ goes out there for game 5 against someone not named Lee. Is it too much to think we can take the next 3? Cuz I think we can.
Now if only A Rod can break this little ugly slump he fell into, we’d be golden…
2009 World Series vs Phillies…Game 2
You’d swear it was already over the way people flip-flop for the Phillies.
Anyway, we tie this thing up tonight. And if we don’t, bollocks, my “Yankees in 6″ prediction still exists, though I’d rather not have to win 3 in a row in Philly…
My Dad mentioned 1996. Yankees trailed 2-0 to the Braves before winning it in 6. As far as I know, 1996 Braves > 2009 Phillies….and 2009 Yankees > 1996 Yankees. So we should be fine…right?
Though its worth mentioning that the 96 Yankees won those games thanks in part to Jim Leyritz (3 run game tying jack), Paul O’Neill (CLUTCH catch to end 1-0 Yankee win) and John Wetteland (MVP w/ 4 saves)….
Tonight we have a our backup catcher and a new rightfielder both starting
Jose Molina probably wont be going deep and Jerry Hairston Jr is NO Paul O’Neill…though Rivera is just as clutch as 96 Wetteland…
So all in all, it would be best if we avoided going down 2-0 before heading out to Philly…
Burnett better pitch a f*cking GEM in order to justify us benching our starting catcher down 1-0 in the World Series. Swisher is slumping, so Hairston cant be any worse, though with both Swisher and Posada benched, it weakens our lineup power-wise.
Hughes seems to have lost himself lately, but with a bullpen a great as ours, he doesnt have to shoulder the load alone, I just hope Girardi realizes this. Joba and Coke exist for a reason.
Speaking of Girardi, this is the first time the Yankees have trailed in a series, so Joes decisions will be second-guessed like crazy-even if we win-so he needs to keep his head level and make good decisions.
Benching Swish was a good thing all things consitered…starting Molina wasnt…
…though I must ask, why not Gardner instead of Hairston? I’m sick of seeing him come off the bench as a pinch-runner. Everyone knows hes gonna try to steal, and the Angels showed that that isnt always a good idea (especially when they see it comming a mile away)
……as for Molina, we all know Posada will come in as soon as Burnett stops pitching, but this time there is no backup. We dropped Cervelli for this series to make room for Bruney. Smart?
$5 says Girardis only benching Posada because we all know Martinez would try to throw a fastball at Jorges head.
ALSO
WTF? Why is it that whenever he faces the Yankees, Pedro Martinez has to open his God damn mouth and say something stupid? He brings up 2003 like he was a victim, or how the whole Don Zimmer thing wasnt his fault. Hes trying to set this up like the Yankees are the bad guys or something…
…and how hes the most influencial person to ever set foot in the Bronx? Seriously? This (old) man is insane, and he cant beat the Yankees. We are the only team he could never dominate. We make him look human.
Besides, most of his wins this year were made possible because of some major run support, so as long as Burnett can hold down the Philly offense, we got a win. Just do what CC did last night, except the Chase Utley part.
…Wow…and this was just pregame…
Top 3 in New York
The Ground-rule 2B earlier-FOX tried to show a replay but apparently never had a good shot…which probably means it was foul and FOX doesnt want us to know it….I really dont know since I wasnt watching at that moment…I did catch A Rods not catching a grounder and letting the Phillies take a lead though…
Anyway, go to yahoo sports right now: theyve got the main article talking about Pedro and “redemption” What redemption? Yes, we’re Pedros “daddy” and yes, he cant seem to beat us in big games, but hes hardly sucked against us. Hes 11-11 lifetime against NYY, hardly worth “redemption”
Trying to play this game up?
Bottom 3 in New York
9:10pm…if Molina takes Martinez deep, I’ll sh!t my pants…
9:11pm…damn…walk instead…
Bottom 4 in New York
TEX! What slump? Tie game!
Bottom 6 in New York
GODZILLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! 2-1 NY!!!
Bottom 7 in New York
Pedro at 100 pitches…Philly a little scared to bring in bullpen?
Girardi seems like hes gonna go for the 6 out special from Mo again
…Wow…Gardner goes from 1st to 3rd in a heartbeat…on a 1 hop single into right
……Hmmm, we’ve been here before. Tired Pedro, Posada at the plate, the quandry of whether or not to bring in a reliever…
………annnnd looks like history wont repeat itself. Pedro gets the hook this time…smiles like an idiot on his way out too…TVs on mute, so I cant hear Joe Buck talk about “how great he did”…
…………I’ll say it now: when AJ pitches game 5, Posada better be catching. Cuz thanks to him, Yankees lead 3-1 now…
……………Wooooooooooooooooow. Biggest blown call of the postseason. The umpire even signaled…and yet the Phillies still luck out. Seriously, instant replay cant exist for sh!t like that? I guess it doesnt matter, since Mos pitching now.
Still…FIX!
Top 8 in New York
Enter Sandman…
Bottom 8 in New York
Seriously? Beaning Tex? Any other situation, I’d say it was intentional, but I doubt it when its a close game in the World Series…unless theyre trying to knock Tex out of the entire series…those b*stards…
…Seriously, A Rod? 6 strikeouts in 2 games? Little hard to ignore…
……Quick question: Why is out bullpen active if our closer is already in the game?
………How come we dont get the inside strike calls?
Top 9 in New York
Why does FOX use that pitch tracker when it clearly isnt accurate?
Mo is making the Philly hitters look stupid!
Yankees win!
1-1! Lets go to Philly!
2009 World Series vs Phillies…Game 1
This is it. This is what we came here to do. Get to the fall classic and take it. 4 wins away and only 1 more team stands between us and the number 27.
Ph*ck the Phillies! We got this!
(I honestly cant believe “f*ck” with a ph is censored)
BTW:
Red Sox fans cant say sh!t
Angels fans cant say sh!t
Mets fans are hanging themselves over this, I doubt they’ll want to weigh in on this.
The Liberty Series is ON!
Jimmy Rollins says Phillies in 5
He was right about Philly winning the east in 07, and about Philly winning 100 games in 08
I say Yankees in 6
I was right about needing just 3 games to oust the Twins, 6 games to eliminate the Angels
Lets see whos the better psychic…
C.C(y Young). Sabathia is on the mound for us tonight, winner of all 3 October starts this year.
Cliff Lee faces him. The mad did great against the NL this year, which made up for his sh!tty performance against the AL this year…so pardon me if I doubt he can beat the AL champions.
We’ll find out soon enough, wont we?
Middle of 2 in New York
CC had a rough 1st…but his usual MO is to have a tough time early, then lock down around the 4th and be golden the rest of the way…
End of 4 in New York
If Lee doesnt stop striking people out, Joe Buck might propose to him.
Bottom 5 in New York
INFIELD FLY! **** McCarver! Rollins cant do that! Infield fly!
INFIELD-F*CKING-FLY!!!
Another f*cking blown call by the umpires. Right after the 3rd base umpire blows a call saying Cano swung at a pitch he CLEARLY didnt swing at!
Hey umps, try to be a little more subtle if youre trying to hand the Phillies a win.
End of 5 in New York
Bull sh!t. Infield fly dont apply cuz there was only 1 runner on? Why? Cuz its assumed hitters would be running to 1st.
Name one hitter recently who has ever run out an infield pop?
Rollins was up to some shenanigans and MLB let him get away with it.
A Yankee try that? Everyone b!tches about how the Yankees cheat…
Someone tells me it doesnt matter.
Sure. Hitting w/ 1 strike as opposed to an umpire blowing that swing call and having to hit w/ 2 strikes. That doesnt matter. That wouldnt obviously lead to the following play…
End of 6 in New York
Its official. I want to punch Tim McCarver through my TV.
The last time I wanted to do something like that was when Joe Buck tried to belittle David Cone’s perfect game a few years ago (he made it seem like all 27 outs were against Expos hitters who were fatigued, among other excuses…for 20 strait minutes)
I also sympathize with all Angel fans from the ALCS. I found myself saying the same things you did: “That God damn former Indians pitcher!”
Bottom 9 in New York
…On the bright side, we didnt get shut out!
I sure hope A Rod isnt reverting back into the A Rod of previous postseasons…THREE strikouts?
Luckily, this isnt the Super Bowl…and I did say Yankees in 6.
Mathmatically, its impossible to win the world series in 6 games unless you lose a couple games…so, I’m not worried.
Cliff Lee on short rest wont be the same either, so he’ll lose if he pitches game 4.
The What-if World Series
2 whole nights without Yankee playoff baseball? I needed to occupy my self…so I went and made a device that would transport me to an alternate world where things are very different to that of this world…either that or I tripped down the staircase drunk again. Either way, this is what I saw:
The 2009 World series: Cleveland Indians vs Pittsburgh Pirates
How did it happen in this world, when it clearly didnt happen in ours?
Cleveland chose not to rebuild for the future and instead decided to gamble and try to win with their current team. Disappointed, but not discouraged by how 2007 ended, C.C. Sabathia didnt leave the Indians and along with Cliff Lee in 2009 became the most feared 1-2 pitching punch in baseball. Betancourt was given a shot to be the full time closer in 2008 when it was decided enough was enough with Joe Borowski. Betancourt flourished in his 1st full year as closer and was easily able to close out the leads CC-Lee always handed him.
On offense, Shoppach found his 2008 stride and Victor Martinez was never traded. In their outfield, Sizemore and Choo were join, of all people, by Manny Ramirez, who grew tired of Boston and its ungrateful fans. Cleveland didnt have Yankee-caliber money, which meant 2009 might be the last time theyd have all these superstars around. So the managment went all-or-nothing and signed Manny for a 1 year deal before the Dodgers could work out a deal with him, Manny excited just to have a chance to win where he originally got started. Inspired by Manny returning and by a certain icon returning to Seattle, Jim Thome pushed for a trade at the deadline and returned to Cleveland as well, offering some needed pop off their bench.
The Indians ran away with the weak AL central, clinching a playoff spot before any other AL team. Round 1 had them facing the Yankees. A CC-less Yankee team fell short against the Indians, who won the ALDS in 4 games in front of their home fans. The CC-Lee duo also proved too much for the Angels, that series ending in 5 short games.
In Pittsburgh, teams tried trading them prospects for their Bays and McLouths, but in this world, Pittsburgh didnt bite. In fact those two along with the emerging of McCutchen made them the best outfield trio in baseball. Along with Sanchez still on roster and Doumit having an injury free season at catcher gave the Pirates a solid offense.
With some actual run support with McCutchen-Sanchez-Bay-McClouth-Doumit at the top of the lineup, the Pittsburgh pitching staff had a much better year. In our reality they only had a refreshing start to the year but soon spiraled back to crappyness…but in alternate land, Duke leads this pitching staff, which gives him better support and makes him their ace. The Pirates this season not only defy the world with their first winning record since forever, but they actually make the playoffs-falling short of the Cardinals for the division but barely edging out the Manny-less Dodgers for the wild card.
In thier first NLDS ever, the Pirates continue their amazing year by shocking the Rockies with a sweep. Faced with the defending champs in the NLCS, the Pirates wage a 7 game war with the Phillies, emerging as the winners to head to their 1st world series since 1979.
I woke up/teleported back from my dellusion before I could watch Sabathia throw out the game 1 pitch to McCutchen in Cleveland. Too bad. I wouldve had my money on Cleveland though, for what its worth…pretty interesting if it happened that way…
…but we live in a world where Manny went to LA, the Yankees got CC, Pirates traded everyone away and Cleveland chose to rebuild.
Go figure.
Yankees in 6
There, I said it.
We’ll win game 1, naturally. Philly will fight back and win game 2. We’ll roll into Philly and take game 3 then CCs game 4 start will be another masterpiece. 3-1 Yanks. Philly will salvage game 5, forcing the trip back to New York. Pettitte will pitch another clutch game and we’ll take this thing at home.
I was dead on the mark for us needing 3 and 6 to win the ALDS and CS. No reason to think I’ll be wrong here.
Philly has a good looking infield with Rollins, Howard and Utley…but we’ve got Jeter, Tex and A Rod…AND Cano. Phillies have a more sound looking outfield though, Ill give them that.
Both Starting rotations look clutch. Lee-Hamels can go toe to toe with Sabathia-Pettitte, though anyone against CC is a lost cause for Philly.
What puts the overall advantage in New York is the bullpen. Philly can match us everywhere but in the pen. In fact, Philly has had one of the worst bullpens in the postseason, while tha Yankees have had the best. If the Yankees can outlast Hamels and Lee and work into that pen, the series will be ours!
Burnett aint half bad either, much better than any other Phillies pitcher.
…and dont start about the return of Pedro Martinez. Dont forget who your daddies are, Pedro…I hope you end up having to pitch in New York just so the crowd can chant “Who’s your daddy?”
…….Brad Lidge or Mariano Rivera? HA! Dont make me laugh. Anyone with half a brain cell would pick Mo.
When 2 powerhouses like the Yanks and Phills collide, it all comes down to who has the better bullpen, and the Yankees clearly win on that front, and thus, should be favored to win #27 this year.
Game 1 in a couple days…
2009 ALCS vs Angels…Game 6
Pettittes done this before. I’m not worried. Get ready Philly.
I had a dream the other night. Yankees will lead over LA 2-0 when the bullpen comes in. Lets see if the dream comes true.
Top 2 in New York
Swish! With the DP! BadAss!
End of 2 in New York
We keep pushing. We’ll score eventually. 2nd time through the order and we’ve only made 6 outs. We’ll do it, especially with Tex and A Rod leading off next inning.
Bottom 3 in New York
Tex was safe. Shenanigans!
Bottom 4 in New York
Seems FOX has decided to run with the “Yankees strand runners” theme. F*uck em. One hit with ducks on the pond and Joe Buck’ll have to find something new to criticize the Yankees about…
…aaaaaaaaaaaaand we have the lead! Damon with the based loaded hit! 2-1!
……and like I said before, Joe Buck will have to find something new to criticize about the Yankees now…
………LAs fear of pitching to A Rod bites them in the a*s with a bases loaded walk. 3-1! Angels panic, run to the bullpen! I told you if we keep pushing like we did early it would all pay off!
…………Thanks Jorge…way to kill our rally…
Top 6 in New York
Torii Hunter swung at that pitch…f*cking umpires keep screwing over the Yankees with these sh!tty calls…inning should be over…
…and Pettitte-not the flashiest play with the leather-but he gets the out. Great job by Pettitte tonight! Time to let our bullpen cruise control us into the series…
9 outs to go (again)
Bottom 6 in New York
Seriously, whats with the double plays killing our running/would-be rallies?
…and is anyone else sick of the constant NFL updates? I’m pretty sure people watching the (football) Giants vs the (football) Cardinals game dont give 2 sh!ts about this game…I sure as hell dont care about them…Though it would be funny if there was an idiot out there who now thinks the San Fransisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals are fighting for the NL crown in a high scoring game…
Top 7 in New York
Pettittes still out there…back for more Girardi? (Remember my promise: 8th inning and Pettitte still pitches, I’ll find you to scream in person)
…Guess he heard me. Another great play by Swisher (his bat may be ice, but his glove came up big for us twice tonight) and Girardi finally yanks Pettitte after a single. 8 outs to go, and its time for…
JOBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
…Holy sh!t, Jeter boots it…we got 1 out from it at least…once again, 7 outs to go.
……Joba rules baby! 6 outs to go!!!
Bottom 7 in New York
…Maybe Molina shouldve caught this game…just sayin-that wasnt Posada’s 1st DP tonight.
Top 8 in New York
Enter Sandman.
…Mo in the 8th? Seriously? This better work out for your sake, Joe.
Middle of 8 in New York
…Gut-wrenching, heart-attack enducing inning…and we still have the lead…
3. More. Outs.
Bottom 8 in New York
Wow, Swish got the bunt down….and the Angel drops it! 2 on, 0 out! Insurance time!
…Holy f*cking sh!t! The Angels can-NOT handle a bunt. Let everyone bunt!
……3 sacrifices this inning. Nice.
………Joe Buck sounds so depressed right now…
End of 8 in New York
Here we go…nice lead for the best postseason closer in history. 3 outs, mearly a formality. I can taste it!!!
2009 AL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALCS blue balls
Ugh. Rain blows.
If we didnt have that useless off day between games 4 and 5, we wouldve had a chance to win it all yesterday.
And is not like the Yankees benefit from this extra day, the Angels sure do, as talk about bringing Lackey back on short rest is brought up.
But the team that benefits the most from this rain out is the Phillies. The Yankees/Angels will have 1 less day of rest before game 1 of the world series.
If the Yankees lose game 6, theyre really in trouble…against Philly. We’ll have to use CC in game 7, which would make him unavailable for game 1 against the Phills…and Burnett would hypothetically be out go-to guy for game 1…which makes me hope we win tomorrow night.
Yankees need to play game 6 like a game 7, that way CC will be set as our world series game 1 starter.
Tweaking my drinking game…
Looks like I’m not the only one who made a drinking game out of FOX
Great minds must think alike, huh?
Anyway, I’m gonna go ahead and lay out the drinking rules ahead of time for game 6. If you wanna play at home, feel free to use both my rules, and the ones from the above link.
Take 1 drink:
-Tim McCarver says something stupid
-Joe Buck says something negative about the Yankees
-An Angel makes a routine defensive play that Buck/McCarver insists is a “great play”
-A Yankee hits a home run (except A Rod–see below)
-Buck/McCarver talks about momentum for the Angels
-Every time Joe Girardi changes pitchers
-Every time Girardi sends in a pinch runner
-Anyone says “payroll” “Salary” or “High priced free agent”
-Every pick-off attempt against Brett Gardner
-The Angels go 1-2-3 in an inning
Take 2 drinks:
-The Umps blow a call
-Buck gets excited for the Angels to the point he might be having an orgasm
-If either Buck or McCarver bring up how they think the Phillies will beat the Yankees
-McCarver analyzes more than one pitch in an inning
-Every IBB for A Rod
-Every pitch-out attempt against Gardner
-The 2004 ALCS is ever brought up
-The Angels have RISP and dont score
Chug an entire beer:
-McCarver says something so stupid, he confuses himself
-Buck suddenly flip-flops into saying positive things about the Yankees if they lead in the 9th.
-A Rod goes deep
-Joba does his fist pump
-Girardi sends the DH to play the field again
-Gardner steals 2nd on a pitch-out
-Angels have the bases loaded and dont score
I miss the over-managing Joe…
I wanted to write this last night, right after the game, but I figure I’d do better with a clear head…Right now my head may not be entirely clear, but its definatly sober(er)
I guess Joe Girardi took all those criticizms to heart after game 3 when people said he over managed…so last night, he under managed. I know full well that AJ Burnett pitched a great game after that batting practice session he threw the Angels in the 1st, but when you’re 9 outs away from the pennant with the entire bullpen rested, why would you let our most unreliable starter keep pitching? I’m 99% sure any combo of a fresh Coke, Hughes, Joba and Robertson couldve gotten 6 outs before Mo goes in (hell, or just 5 outs and Mo gets 4 again)
I know Burnett pitched solid (as solid as you can get when you allow 4 runs before out #1) but in the playoffs, why would you pass on such a sure thing as letting our bullpen do their thing? It makes no sense.
I’m not done
Bases loaded, 2 outs, down by 1, and who comes up to the plate? Nick Swisher, a man whos stuck in a huge slump. Hairston was available, no? Cervelli sure was. Either way, a pinch hitter wouldve been a better idea than sending up a man who made 2 of the outs during our 6 run inning.
I’m still confident the Yankees got this. Pettitte is clutch and as long as the offense shows up, we’ve got it…if not, CC has game 7. I’m more concerned about how Girardi will handle the Phillies.
Game 6 Saturday…
…and I swear Girardi, if we have a 1 run lead after 7 and you think Pettitte can handle the 8th, I’ll make that 6 hour sleepless drive to scream at you in person when you wake up the next day.
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