MLB Postseason Friday October 9, 2009

[huh?]

<table width="750" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr class="stathead"><td colspan="6"><a name="20091008"></a>Thursday, October 8, 2009</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td width="36%">RESULT</td><td width="17%">WIN</td><td width="17%">LOSS</td><td width="17%">SAVE</td><td>ATT.</td></tr><tr class="oddrow team-10-27 team-10-22"><td><a href="/mlb/boxscore?gameId=291008122">Colorado 5, at Philadelphia 4</a></td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4762">Cook</a> (1-0) </td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6216">Hamels</a> (0-1) </td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6175">Street</a> (1) </td><td colspan="2">46,528</td></tr><tr class="evenrow team-10-24 team-10-19"><td><a href="/mlb/boxscore?gameId=291008119">at LA Dodgers 3, St. Louis 2</a></td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6031">Sherrill</a> (1-0) </td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4064">Franklin</a> (0-1) </td><td></td><td colspan="2">51,819</td></tr><tr class="oddrow team-10-2 team-10-3"><td><a href="/mlb/boxscore?gameId=291008103">at LA Angels 5, Boston 0</a></td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=5203">Lackey</a> (1-0) </td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28487">Lester</a> (0-1) </td><td></td><td colspan="2">45,070</td></tr></table><table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"></table><table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"></table><table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr class="stathead"><td colspan="6"><a name="20091009"></a>Friday, October 9, 2009</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td width="30%">TEAMS</td><td align="right" width="12%">TIME (ET)</td><td width="10%">NAT TV</td><td width="12%">XM RADIO</td><td width="10%">RESOURCES</td><td width="30%">PITCHERS</td></tr><tr class="oddrow team-10-9 team-10-10"><td><a href="/mlb/preview?gameId=291009110">Minnesota at NY Yankees</a></td><td align="right">6:07 PM</td><td>TBS</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td><a href="http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/new-york-yankees-tickets/" onclick="this.href=this.href+'?gcid=C12289x450&gtkw=New+York+Yankees'" title="New York Yankees Tickets">Tickets</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;92999071;16443180;q?http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/cities/index?city=new-york-city&startDate=20091009">Travel</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="/travel/stadium/index?venue=mlb_10">Stadium</a></td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=28889">Blackburn</a> vs <a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4153">Burnett</a></td></tr><tr class="evenrow team-10-2 team-10-3"><td><a href="/mlb/preview?gameId=291009103">Boston at LA Angels</a></td><td align="right">9:37 PM</td><td>TBS</td><td>&nbsp;</td><td><a href="http://www.stubhub.com/mlb-tickets/los-angeles-angels-tickets/" onclick="this.href=this.href+'?gcid=C12289x450&gtkw=Los+Angeles+Angels'" title="Los Angeles Angels Tickets">Tickets</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;92999071;16443180;q?http://sports.espn.go.com/travel/cities/index?city=los-angeles&startDate=20091009">Travel</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="/travel/stadium/index?venue=mlb_3">Stadium</a></td><td><a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4242">Beckett</a> vs <a href="/mlb/players/profile?playerId=6479">Weaver</a></td></tr></table>

[huh?]

Division Series Status:

AL
NY - 1
MN- 0

BOS- 0
LAA- 1

NL

PH- 1
CO- 1

LAD- 2
STL- 0

[zuffy]

Lets go Yankees!

Burnett better bring his A game with Molina catching.

[starman9000]

Lets go Yankees!

Burnett better bring his A game with Molina catching.

Yeah, it's gonna be hard to match the 2 passed balls and 1-4 day for Posada :)

[zuffy]

Personally I don't care if Posada or Molina is in the lineup but I expect Burnett to perform now when he has his personal catcher catching.

[starman9000]

Ah, I gotcha.

I don't even think Burnett needs his A game, but I sure hope he doesn't bring it. I wouldn't want anyone but Blackburn going for the Twins tonight. Joe needs to end his power drought.

[wirefan]

Burnett looking reasonably sharp early - though you never can tell with him...
Blackburn also looks pretty good

[starman9000]

Both pitchers looking good. Can't quite figure out this guys strike zone though.

The Twins can't afford to constantly waste Punto getting on.

[starman9000]

Stinking Gomez.


Now it's blizzarding here too. :(

[Red Dog]

I hope that guy was running full tilt - that could have been an inside-parker.

[wirefan]

Thought Damon could have gotten there - that to me is the Achilles heel - both corner outfielders are subpar and even bringing in Gardner and moving Cabrera to left or right still leaves one weak outfielder.

[parrotheads4]

IT IS HIGH, IT IS FAR, IT IS........A FOUL BALL.

-Sterling

[Quake1028]

OH ALEX YOU ARE FUCKING MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!i

[starman9000]

Fucking A, don't take Blackburn out. Our relievers have an "inherited runners aren't my problem" mindset.

[wirefan]

I wondered if they'd get to him the 3rd time around, this seems like a good move by Gardy to get him out - you can see even as they are taking pitches they are right on him.

[starman9000]

Well, his Harris move worked, so I hope he's right here.

[starman9000]

Nice game Blackie, too bad, just like your last 2 big game starts, the rest of the team failed to pick you up.

[wirefan]

Why pull AJ?

[Quake1028]

Didn't they pull Molina? If so, maybe that's why.

[Quake1028]

Ouch, that fucking hurt....

[starman9000]

He was all over the place and had 95 pitches?

[starman9000]

Nevermind about Gardy being smart with the Harris move, I guess Tolbert got hurt.

[wirefan]

He was all over the place and had 95 pitches?

95 pitches is not much for AJ - his stuff was good and you could see by the # of swings and misses. I would have at least let him pitch to the first 2 batters who were 0-5 off of him.

[starman9000]

Kubel having the series of a lifetime.

[starman9000]

95 pitches is not much for AJ - his stuff was good and you could see by the # of swings and misses. I would have at least let him pitch to the first 2 batters who were 0-5 off of him.

I wouldn't get too excited about Twins hacking at the ball. If he pitches like this against LAA he'll get lit up.

[wirefan]

This umps been all over the place - likes the high strike.
Rauch doesn't exactly seem to be fooling anyone - better hope this is his only inning.

[starman9000]

This umps been all over the place - likes the high strike.

Yeah, it's been weird, but even some high stuff hasn't been called. I don't like having the pitchtrax thing up there all the time either, it seems misleading.

[starman9000]

Twins need to take notes from Jeter. Tie game and he looks like they are right where they want to be. Meanwhile the Twins look like they are just waiting for the other shoe to drop (like me ;) )

[Quake1028]

Fucking walks.

[wirefan]

See this makes no sense - why bring Rivera in here? If this games goes extras, Girardi's burned through all of his good bullpen arms...

If he's willing to bring Rivera in in the 8th down 1, why not bring him in when it was tied? Do managers just brain lock in the post season when it comes to the bullpen?

EDIT - and on cue... dumb move.....

[JumpCutz]

No way the Twins win this game if they don't score at least 3 runs.

[Red Dog]

See this makes no sense - why bring Rivera in here? If this games goes extras, Girardi's burned through all of his good bullpen arms...

If he's willing to bring Rivera in in the 8th down 1, why not bring him in when it was tied? Do managers just brain lock in the post season when it comes to the bullpen?

Even better. :lol:

[wirefan]

Nice strike zone... guess he's calling it wide now...

Gardy's a genius for injuring Tolbert! :)

[starman9000]

Setting up perfectly for another heartbreaking walk-off.

[wirefan]

While it worked out in this specific case - why were the Twins playing a no-double defense up by 2.... I'd think you'd want to play normally and get to as much as you can.

[Red Dog]

This pitcher is scared.

[KingSmoth]

I don't want to see the Yanks walk off yet again...

[starman9000]

Only the Twins can right all wrongs for the Yankees.

[wirefan]

OK, ESPN is now officially banned from talking about any AROD post season struggles!

[Red Dog]

The fickle fans love A-Rod now.

[bunkaroo]

Ouch.

[raven56706]

Yahhhoooooooo

[starman9000]

I'm shocked.

Oh wait, not I'm not.

[huh?]

Is Nathan the Anti-Mariano?

[huh?]

Chip Carey... It just makes you wonder if the Ghosts have crossed the street...

[wirefan]

Wow - that was a hanger to Matsui... Nathan's fortunate he's still pitching.

[starman9000]

Is Nathan the Anti-Mariano?

He's the Ron Gardenhire of post-season baseball. Brutal.

[starman9000]

Wow - that was a hanger to Matsui... The Yankees are fortunate he's still pitching.

Fixed.

[huh?]

Nathan wants to be somewhere else

[wirefan]

^^:) Well he fooled Swisher and popped him up! :)

[huh?]

Wow that was right down the middle.

[huh?]

How long can Mariano pitch? Is he done?

[starman9000]

Twins might win a game this series if they get a 0-0 game in the bottom of the 9th at the dome, no time for the Yanks to come back then.

[wirefan]

Hmmm.... might have been nice to bring Joba in now where he could pitch 2 or 3 innings or stretch Mariano a 2nd inning...

Oh wait Girardi completely botched the 7th and 8th innings so it's Aceves time with Robertson and Gaudin backing him up - who could've seen that coming...

[starman9000]

I'm just glad Gomez's base running skillz haven't come back to haunt them yet.

[Mad Dawg]

I tuned in just in time for ARod and pretty much saw what I expected. Scary team.

[huh?]

God the Red Sox look dead... maybe the shouldn't have dialed in the last 10 games of the season.

[starman9000]

Twins in the dugout crying again...in a tie game.

[huh?]

Can't get Punto out...

[Quake1028]

OH ALEX YOU ARE FUCKING MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!i

:up:

[starman9000]

No worries, the Twins are magic this year.

[wirefan]

Wow - except for Arod the Yankees are having a hard time getting quality AB's on Nathan

[Tommy Ceez]

Stolen base guranteed

WHITE LIGHTNING!

[Tommy Ceez]

Who's catching now?!?!?!?

[huh?]

Who's catching now?!?!?!?

Doesn't matter, this is the last inning.

[wirefan]

Cervelli. (I think Swisher is the emergency catcher after that)

EDIT - I'd like to see him keep going to 3rd here

[Tommy Ceez]

Gardner can score from second on an infield single

[Tommy Ceez]

I havnt paid attention, they took cervelli to the postseason?

[huh?]

:lol: Nathan

[wirefan]

I havnt paid attention, they took cervelli to the postseason?

I believe so - CBS sportsline has him in the gamecenter on the bench.

[dsa_shea]

Everytime I watch Nathan pitch I think I'm watching the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake.

[Tommy Ceez]

2 catchers all year and 3 in the playoffs?!?!

[huh?]

chip carey: "old stadium or new stadium, mistakes kill ya"...

how does this guy have a job...

[Tommy Ceez]

I fucking love brett gardner

I saw him at the Bronx Zoo...FUCK his wife is HOT!!!!!!!!!!!

[huh?]

2 catchers all year and 3 in the playoffs?!?!

Its pretty standard to take 3 catchers into the playoffs. For games like this...

[cardsfan111]

chip carey: "old stadium or new stadium, mistakes kill ya"...

how does this guy have a job...

Thanks for the reminder...that is one good thing about not having TBS and being able to watch these games.

[JumpCutz]

:eek: Nathanized.

[Tommy Ceez]

Ron Darling is excelent however

[wirefan]

Squeeze! Wouldn't that be awesome?

EDIT: Haven't seen a lot of Twins games, does Mijares' contract require him to pitch in every game?

[huh?]

Darling is good. I agree. He must constantly fight the urge to punch Chip in the face.

[Tommy Ceez]

Texiera is a DP machine

[Tommy Ceez]

Gardner is 2009's Homer Bush

But Brett can hit

[huh?]

Did not see that coming.

[Tommy Ceez]

Contact Play

[raven56706]

Wow!

[wirefan]

should've squeezed... I'm just saying.... :)
Contact play means if it's on the ground....

[huh?]

I think Mike Lowell is dead. This postseason is like Weekend at Bernie's.

[wirefan]

Marte? What is Girardi thinking!?!?

[huh?]

Jesus how many pitchers have the Yankees used?

[huh?]

Wow, that was a horrible call.

[wirefan]

How did the ump miss that?

[wildcatlh]

The ump was standing right there. Ridiculously bad call.

[huh?]

He deserved that hit.

[lysander]

Cuzzy you bitch. That was fair

[Red Dog]

Playoff outfield umpires in Yankee Stadium. -rolleyes- Was that Rich Garcia?

[BravesMG]

That's nearly an all-time terrible call right there. He couldn't have been 15 feet away and staring right down the damn line.

[huh?]

So whats the point of putting a guy right there if he can't see 15 feet in front of him.

[dsa_shea]

This is why questionable calls should be reviewed in the playoffs and not just homeruns. At least he ended up on base but he still didn't get the double that he deserved.

[lysander]

Cmon Kubel. don't strike out again

[huh?]

Jesus, another pitcher? How many do the have left?

[lysander]

How many baserunners have the Twins stranded tonight? 15?

[Red Dog]

So whats the point of putting a guy right there if he can't see 15 feet in front of him.

Ask Rich Garcia. He was standing 10 feet from Jeffrey Maier hanging over the outfield wall in 1996.

If the Yanks don't allow runs here, they'll probably give that ump's family box seats to their next home game.

[starman9000]

17 lob

[huh?]

orlando cabrerra saying it was two feet fair... ok, lets calm down a bit...

[wirefan]

Again, Marte? Girardi has mismanaged this bullpen at least 4 times tonight:
- Pulled Burnett early
- Pulls Joba after 2/3 of an inning with a guy on 1st
- Pulls Hughes after he had already given up a run and put Rivera in with 2 out in the 8th (which means Rivera couldn't pitch the 10th)
- Pulls out one of his only reliable long relief guys in Aceves to pitch to Mauer who hits lefties well.

And now Gaudin is the only arm left in the bullpen after Robertson.

Yeah Aceves starting this inning would have been much worse than being a slave to the lefty/lefty matchup.
Can we get a rule change and let Nathan come back in when the Twins score here?

[lysander]

too bad Mauer couldn't get in

[huh?]

Giardi is not a good manager of his pitchers. He manages like he's playing a video game while drunk...

[huh?]

Nice play by Tex

[lysander]

shoot

[whotony]

what did Joe tell Hughes, make him hit a line drive/

[huh?]

Oh boy, Gomez... this guy is a trainwreck.

[lysander]

dammit!

[BravesMG]

Damn Twinkies, this is getting ridiculous.

[starman9000]

Giardi doesn't need to manage well when he's facing Carlos Gomez.

[huh?]

Too bad that double didn't count...

[whotony]

weak.

[Red Dog]

Ask Rich Garcia. He was standing 10 feet from Jeffrey Maier hanging over the outfield wall in 1996.

If the Yanks don't allow runs here, they'll probably give that ump's family box seats to their next home game.

Knew that was going to happen. Here comes the Yankee win in the 11th.

[huh?]

lame. should be 4-3

[lysander]

I can't believe this

[raven56706]

wow..... bases loaded no one out... o runs

[Quake1028]

Great pitching to get out of that, but the Twins got screwed.

[starman9000]

At least that bad call didn't come back to haunt them.

[wirefan]

Too bad that double didn't count...

Yeah.... because the inning would've played out the same exact way, right? (not just directed at you but all of the comments)

[bunkaroo]

That's just terrible - that blown call is going to cost them this game.

[lysander]

way to go Nathan

[JumpCutz]

:lol: Never mind the blown call.


That was beyond horrid. :eek:

[Quake1028]

That's just terrible - that blown call is going to cost them this game.

Let's not get carried away here :lol:. The Yankees have come back already in this game, who is to say they wouldn't have done it again?

[Red Dog]

Fuck revenue sharing and a salary cap. MLB needs to get glasses for umps in Yankee Stadium in October.

[huh?]

This ump doesn't like the low strike.

[starman9000]

What? The Twinkies have shown time and time again that they can shut it down when necessary against the Yanks! ;)

[Quake1028]

FUCK YES TEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1i

[Red Dog]

And there it is. Such bullshit. :lol:

[starman9000]

Ball looked about 12 feet foul to me.

[Quake1028]

That ball was a fucking MISSLE.

[edclem]

God, I hate the fricking Yankees

[lysander]

of course

[Tommy Ceez]

Pieface!

[Red Dog]

Ball looked about 12 feet foul to me.

It would have been had the Twins hit it.

[starman9000]

Screw the Yankees and screw the Twins. Bunch of panzies.

[Red Dog]

Twins fans - welcome to my world, circa 1996.

[Quake1028]

AJ :lol:.

[lysander]

Screw the Yankees and screw the Twins. Bunch of panzies.

I second that

[Quake1028]

Twins fans - welcome to my world, circa 1996.

Orioles wouldn't have won that series and the Twins wouldn't have won this one if they would have taken a 4-3 lead, which is a big if :p.

[wirefan]

Let's be clear folks - the foul call (assuming the inning played out the same way) would only have meant Tex hit the tying HR with ARod hitting the GW HR... this just saved Sterling's Abomb call. :)

[Quake1028]

I have mucho man love for Tex.

[tofferman]

The last couple of innings for the Twins have been inept to say the least. How can two consecutive Twin's players swing at the first pitch with bases loaded...and no outs?

[Quake1028]

How sweet it would be to close it out with a shellacking of Pavano.

[starman9000]

Worst part is, now the Twins can blame the umps and the pay roll instead of just sacking up. 10 more years of Gardy and post season failure in the works.

Also, Yankee stadium is a bullshit park that's too easy for everyone but us to hit homeruns in.

Oh well, we won the hit battle again. Twins up 2-0.

[dsa_shea]

Sucks to lose like that. I only have to think back to yesterday to bring back painful memories of Holliday making an error and "having a snack" that ultimately cost the Caridnals the game and most likely the series. Thanks a fucking lot Holliday.

[Quake1028]

Red Sox up 1-0.

[Red Dog]

Apparently the Yanks are so cash rich, they can buy extra helpers in the field.

[dsa_shea]

Red Sox up 1-0.

Hope the Angels blow them out.

[starman9000]

The last couple of innings for the Twins have been inept to say the least. How can two consecutive Twin's players swing at the first pitch with bases loaded...and no outs?

Gomez is among the worst players in the league. He's fast though, so he's considered an awesome fielder.

Dumbshit cost us the game.

[Quake1028]

Sucks to lose like that. I only have to think back to yesterday to bring back painful memories of Holliday making an error and "having a snack" that ultimately cost the Caridnals the game and most likely the series. Thanks a fucking lot Holliday.

Again, they didn't "lose" anything like that. As said, even if the inning played out the same way, which it might not have, the Tex HR would have tied the game up. So the Twins didn't win or lose the game on that call.

[raven56706]

http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/user_pictures/0012/7179/yankees_evil_empire_1_profile_page.jpg

[nickdawgy]

Sounds like Fenway Park out there. The Angels fans need to get a bit louder.

[Red Dog]

Again, they didn't "lose" anything like that. As said, even if the inning played out the same way, which it might not have, the Tex HR would have tied the game up. So the Twins didn't win or lose the game on that call.

Please spare us. They got robbed. You'd be bitching up a storm if the roles were reversed and you know it.

[dsa_shea]

Again, they didn't "lose" anything like that. As said, even if the inning played out the same way, which it might not have, the Tex HR would have tied the game up. So the Twins didn't win or lose the game on that call.

Had Holliday caught the ball the game would have been over. Simple as that. No heartbreak. No second guessing. No Ryan Franklin sucking with every batter he faced from that point on.

[bunkaroo]

Let's not get carried away here :lol:. The Yankees have come back already in this game, who is to say they wouldn't have done it again?

Well it can certainly mess with their mindset. Hey I'm not saying the Yanks wouldn't have come back but I just hate that an easy call was blown - it affects the game and it shouldn't have.

And I'm not a Twins fan - I just hate bad umping. :)

[starman9000]

http://cdn.bleacherreport.com/images_root/user_pictures/0012/7179/yankees_evil_empire_1_profile_page.jpg

You have to get struck first.

[raven56706]

17 men stranded on base.... yep the blown call really cost them the game..

[dsa_shea]

Sounds like Fenway Park out there. The Angels fans need to get a bit louder.

That's the new Red Sox nation that has emerged in the past few years.

[nickdawgy]

Twins will win game 3, but that's it.

[starman9000]

Call was bad, but you can't get two hits with guys on and not score, and then fail to get a guy in with the bases juiced and nobody out. That's a completely epic and expected fail, bad call or not.

[nickdawgy]

That's the new Red Sox nation that has emerged in the past few years.

It's like that when the Yankees come to town, too, just not as much since the Angels usually dominate them.

[Red Dog]

17 men stranded on base.... yep the blown call really cost them the game..

Both cost them the game. Just because the former happened doesn't mean the blown call didn't cost them.

[dsa_shea]

Twins will win game 3, but that's it.

At least you have hope they win. I'm quite sure the Cardinals don't win game 3 although I'm hoping against hope.

[Tommy Ceez]

It was a bad call but you cant say that if he was on second instead of first that the inning would have played out the same...

BUT, no matter what happened, you HAVE to score bases loaded no out

And either way, Tex ties it

[nickdawgy]

At least you have hope they win. I'm quite sure the Cardinals don't win game 3 although I'm hoping against hope.

I think the Cards win game 3 as well.

[nickdawgy]

What happened to Ortiz? Was it really a drug issue or is he just fading like Vlad is? I used to get scared when Papi came to the plate, and now he just swings and misses. Same with Vlad.

[Tommy Ceez]

And for those who dont know

AJ Burnett has done the pie-in-the-face to every Yankee with a walk off hit during the postgame interview this season

[Quake1028]

Please spare us. They got robbed. You'd be bitching up a storm if the roles were reversed and you know it.

Didn't say I wouldn't, but that didn't cost or lose the Twins the game.

[raven56706]

Both cost them the game. Just because the former happened doesn't mean the blown call didn't cost them.

say what you want but the chance was laid out bases loaded with no outs... again. The blown call happened but it wasnt like it was an out.. it was just a single and then still no outs. Too many chances.. sorry..

YANKEES take the lead 2-0.

[wirefan]

Well it can certainly mess with their mindset. Hey I'm not saying the Yanks wouldn't have come back but I just hate that an easy call was blown - it affects the game and it shouldn't have.

And I'm not a Twins fan - I just hate bad umping. :)

The problem here is the assumption that the inning plays out the same way too... the approach with a runner on 2nd vs a runner on 1st changes how you pitch the next batter, how the batter approached the atbat and whether Gardy bunts (unlikely with his cleanup guy). It would've made a huge difference if Mauer had not gotten on - but it's hard to say how it plays out with a runner on 2nd vs a runner on 1st.

Still a terrible call though. I thought initially that Melky's leg may have blocked the view, but clearly it didn't - the switch for Gardner was key though as Damon would have been nowhere near the ball and it would've been a more ovbvious call (if that's possible).

But if you're going to assume Mauer would have scored, you have to also assume Tex still hits the homerun and they're still playing right? :)

[starman9000]

It was a bad call but you cant say that if he was on second instead of first that the inning would have played out the same...

BUT, no matter what happened, you HAVE to score bases loaded no out

And either way, Tex ties it

I love it, either way you don't know what would happen, but Tex would hit the homer for sure. :lol:

[cardsfan111]

At least you have hope they win. I'm quite sure the Cardinals don't win game 3 although I'm hoping against hope.

I'm certain St. Louis will win Game 3. Though, it is the same feeling I had before Game 2.

[Red Dog]

say what you want but the chance was laid out bases loaded with no outs... again. The blown call happened but it wasnt like it was an out.. it was just a single and then still no outs. Too many chances.. sorry..

YANKEES take the lead 2-0.

A single? :hscratch: It would have been a double.

I understand how Yankee fans react the way they do. They've never seen their team on the bad side of a terrible call in a playoff game.

[wirefan]

What happened to Ortiz? Was it really a drug issue or is he just fading like Vlad is? I used to get scared when Papi came to the plate, and now he just swings and misses. Same with Vlad.

I think he cheats on the fastball and unless he's ahead in the count that's not a good approach.

[wirefan]

A single? :hscratch: It would have been a double.

I understand how Yankee fans react the way they do. They've never seen their team on the bad side of a terrible call in a playoff game.

Again... runner on 2nd vs runner on 1st... it's not like they got one less out. You're assuming the inning plays out the same way and that's a ridiculous assumption. If he had made an out instead, it would've been a huge deal - the way it played out it was just an insanely bad call.

[raven56706]

A single? :hscratch: It would have been a double.

I understand how Yankee fans react the way they do. They've never seen their team on the bad side of a terrible call in a playoff game.

i meant instead of the double, he still got a single afterwards... its not like it was an out. Dont matter.

2-0

plus is it me or was this ump off his rocker. The TBS pitching box thingy had balls going into the red box. Isnt that usually the strike zone area?

[huh?]

Twins beat themselves, no doubt. That ump is still a moron though.

[starman9000]

Like I said, the biggest ramification is the bad call give Nathan, Gomez, and Gardy all free passes for pissing their pants when it matters.

[nickdawgy]

Wow, Lowell with some leather.

[wirefan]

I love it, either way you don't know what would happen, but Tex would hit the homer for sure. :lol:

That's my point... if you're going to assume the next batter would've been pitched the same exact way with a runner on 2nd vs a runner on 1st... why not just assume Tex would've homered too.... why is one assumption funny, but the other isn't

For the record - they're both ridiculous assumptions, and that was kind of my point....

[starman9000]

i meant instead of the double, he still got a single afterwards... its not like it was an out. Dont matter.

2-0

plus is it me or was this ump off his rocker. The TBS pitching box thingy had balls going into the red box. Isnt that usually the strike zone area?

Pitching was uneven but the pitchtrax thing is garbage. Balls right down the pipe would show the same as balls off high and in.

This guy did seem to call a lot of strikes high or outside to the right, I couldn't tell if the camera angle was deceiving on that though.

[zuffy]

Very bad call by the ump. Beside, if the ump called the ball fair, good chance Girardi would have changed pitcher there and the outcome most likely would have changed. Maybe the Twins would have scored or maybe not. They have the bases are loaded with no out and they fucked that up. No one to blame but themself on that. Also, Girardi really managed his pitchers badly tonight. It's like he's trying to lose the game.

[Tommy Ceez]

I love it, either way you don't know what would happen, but Tex would hit the homer for sure. :lol:

Why does what happens in the top of the 11th change how you pitch the leadoff man and cleanup hitter in the bottom?!?!?

And you are more likely to throw him strikes with the lead

[starman9000]

That's my point... if you're going to assume the next batter would've been pitched the same exact way with a runner on 2nd vs a runner on 1st... why not just assume Tex would've homered too.... why is one assumption funny, but the other isn't

For the record - they're both ridiculous assumptions, and that was kind of my point....

Why does what happens in the top of the 11th change how you pitch the leadoff man and cleanup hitter in the bottom?!?!?

And you are more likely to throw him strikes with the lead

I said the Twins shit the bed and have complained about the excuse in multiple posts, but it's asinine to say Tex would have tied it anyway when explaining away the bad call because things wouldn't go down the same.

[nickdawgy]

K-Mo with a sac fly, 1-1 now.

[Red Dog]

The fact is Yankee fans wouldn't be making the explanations they are making now if the roles were reversed.

Believe me, I've gone through this argument many times before.

[starman9000]

The fact is Yankee fans wouldn't be making the explanations they are making now if the roles were reversed.

I'm a Yankee defender, but they make it hard sometimes.

The defense always boils down to "scoreboard!"

[Tommy Ceez]

The fact is Yankee fans wouldn't be making the explanations they are making now if the roles were reversed.

To say the Yankees have never been a victim of a bad call in the postseason is nuts, or do you not remember the 5 year stretch where if David Ortiz did not swing, it OBVIOUSLY could not be a strike

[Red Dog]

Ball-strike calls are one thing....blatent missed calls on extra base hits in late/extra innings are quite another. When you get robbed by an outfield ump (who has 2 jobs - to call the line or home run interference) like in '96 or tonight, then get back to me.

[wirefan]

I said the Twins shit the bed and have complained about the excuse in multiple posts, but it's asinine to say Tex would have tied it anyway when explaining away the bad call because things wouldn't go down the same.

Again you missed the hyperbole and the :)... assuming Tex would've tied it anyway is absurd... that was my point.... Assuming the inning plays out the same way with Mauer on 2nd base vs Mauer on 1st base is also absurd.

I agree it is asinine...as asinine as assuming the top of the 11th would've played out the same way with a leadoff double vs a leadoff single. Unless it was the last play of the inning there's no way of knowing what would've happened, when you couple it with him getting on anyway - it's tough to say that it cost them a run with any certainty.

[starman9000]

If we agree to trade Mauer to NY in the offseason, will you tank the next 3 games, that might be our best shot?

[raven56706]

The fact is Yankee fans wouldn't be making the explanations they are making now if the roles were reversed.

Believe me, I've gone through this argument many times before.

http://cornerstork.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/crying_baby.jpg

[Red Dog]

Easy to post that pic since you've never felt that feeling. Must be nice.

[Goat3001]

The fact is Yankee fans wouldn't be making the explanations they are making now if the roles were reversed.

Believe me, I've gone through this argument many times before.

That's ridiculous. There is no doubt that was a horrible call and probably cost the Twins the game but still, if the same call happened against the Yankees, we would be pissed but I'd be more pissed if my team didn't score with the bases chucked and no one out. Any logical fan would say the same thing. You're just making a judgement call on Yankee fans you know and you're overall dislike for the Yankees.

But that was not even close. I can't believe the ump missed that play. That's the reason they add umps to the outfield during the postseason, this call should have been made.

Almost feels like the 96 ALDS all over again. Bad call goes the Yankees way and they take advantage.

[starman9000]

Again you missed the hyperbole and the :)... assuming Tex would've tied it anyway is absurd... that was my point.... Assuming the inning plays out the same way with Mauer on 2nd base vs Mauer on 1st base is also absurd.

I agree it is asinine...as asinine as assuming the top of the 11th would've played out the same way with a leadoff double vs a leadoff single. Unless it was the last play of the inning there's no way of knowing what would've happened, when you couple it with him getting on anyway - it's tough to say that it cost them a run with any certainty.

Luckily my post wasn't quoting you, as I just noticed. :) I have no problem with the way you worded your earlier post about If Mauer scored than Tex would have too.

[dsa_shea]

http://cornerstork.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/crying_baby.jpg

Is that Holliday's kid?

[zekeburger1979]

If you ask me, that blown call was karmic payback for Brandon Inge not getting the HBP call with the bases loaded in the tie-breaker game. ;)

[starman9000]

If you ask me, that blown call was karmic payback for Brandon Inge not getting the HBP call with the bases loaded in the tie-breaker game. ;)

Which is exactly why I can't cry...too much anyways ;)

[raven56706]

Easy to post that pic since you've never felt that feeling. Must be nice.

http://www.noozhawk.com/images/uploads/Richard_Tognetti-540.jpg

i still love ya red dog

[Red Dog]

I'm a Yankee defender, but they make it hard sometimes.

The defense always boils down to "scoreboard!"

They certainly do. They got the cash. They got the players. They got the umps when they need them.

[dsa_shea]

Both the Tigers and the Cardinals blew their loads the last few weeks and really don't deserve to be in the playoffs or advance. The Cardinals especially limp dicked their way through the last two weeks of the season. I would be surprised if they would have beat half of the high school teams in the state of Oklahoma with the way they played the last 15 or so games.

[raven56706]

They certainly do. They got the cash. They got the players. They got the umps when they need them.

not just any cash... lots of cash

[wirefan]

Luckily my post wasn't quoting you, as I just noticed. :) I have no problem with the way you worded your earlier post about If Mauer scored than Tex would have too.

Oops my bad - My apologies...

Tough loss, but I still say the series ain't over.

And unfortunately Girardi will be left off the hook for his absurd bullpen management thanks to the ridiculously bad blown call, the Twins not driving in a run, and Arod's clutch (can I use that word?) hitting.

EDIT: of course if Tolbert didn't get injured the Twins would've lost in 9.... Like you I made the mistake of thinking it was a brilliant Gardy move!-wink-

[Red Dog]

Tough loss, but I still say the series ain't over.


It's over. You don't come back from a loss like that. I'm taking odds on the Yankees winning it all after this round is over. This is clearly their year.

[raven56706]

It's over. You don't come back from a loss like that. I'm taking odds on the Yankees winning it all after this round is over. This is clearly their year.

the sweetest thing you said this evening.. awwwww

[starman9000]

And unfortunately Girardi will be left off the hook for his absurd bullpen management thanks to the ridiculously bad blown call, the Twins not driving in a run, and Arod's clutch (can I use that word?) hitting.


I hear that, I hate Gardy continued to be bailed out. His best two moves this year have been Morneau getting hurt and then Tolbert getting hurt tonight. I guess we needed one more injury to take it.

He'll probably get Manager of the year though, so what do I know?

[Red Dog]

the sweetest thing you said this evening.. awwwww

With the way I've been running lately, it shouldn't be sweet from your perspective. :lol:

[zuffy]

Can't believe A-Rod is actually relevant in the postseason so far.

[raven56706]

Can't believe A-Rod is actually relevant in the postseason so far.

i know... honestly, i thought this was going to be another postseason with him shitting again... so far he has 5 rbis in this series

[starman9000]

It's over. You don't come back from a loss like that. I'm taking odds on the Yankees winning it all after this round is over. This is clearly their year.

The rest of the league must hate the Twins, we got the Yanks rolling this year in NY when Tex was struggling with 3 straight walk-off wins.

Now we fixed A-rod and CC's playoff struggles. ;)

[wirefan]

It's over. You don't come back from a loss like that. I'm taking odds on the Yankees winning it all after this round is over. This is clearly their year.

It's not over - they pull out 2 home games (beating Pettitte isn't a stretch, obviously CC will be tough but it's not a certainty he'll pitch like he did in game 1).... Then you have a game 5 with the headcase Burnett and the media overplaying the whole Molina/Posada angle all over again.

I'm not saying it's likely, because the Yankees will probably have one high scoring game and the Twins will need to outscore them, but it's not a certainty. If they win game 3 the pressure starts shifting back on NY for game 4 as they would have their ace on the mound and not want to go to a game 5 where anything can happen.

Same thing with the Cards - if they can pull out game 3 with Pinero (sp?), you have Carpenter at home on short rest and Wainwright, who was absolutely dominant, on full rest.

[starman9000]

Just for fun, in case nobody knows, Gardy has now won 2 of his last 17 playoff games and is like 14-46 against NY in his career. HOF numbers right there.

[zuffy]

It's never over till it's over. I have learned from the '95 ALDS, '01 WS and the '04 ALCS. That was fucking painful to watch.

[starman9000]

Neither of those series were against the Twins. There's a reason we celebrated so hard on Tuesday.

[wirefan]

I hear that, I hate Gardy continued to be bailed out. His best two moves this year have been Morneau getting hurt and then Tolbert getting hurt tonight. I guess we needed one more injury to take it.

He'll probably get Manager of the year though, so what do I know?

I've always though Gardy was a bit sketchy, and I get tired of hearing "playing the game the right way" and "fundamentally sound"... those phrases are like the description "clutch"... it always gets reinforced when something positive happens and gets overlooked conveniently when something bad happens. (Like bad baserunning, a failed pickoff at 2nd - and quite a few things in game 163).

[rant on] It's a lot like the 1st to 3rd shit you hear about the Angels... they have a lot of fast runners and slap hitters - that as much a reason for it as the whole "aggressive philosophy" aspect and what happens is it gets mentioned every time you have a 1st to 3rd and overlooked when you have a runner thrown out at 3rd or one that stops at 2nd. You can't simply count how many times they've gone 1st to 3rd, you have to look at the % of times they do it on singles vs other teams. [/rant off]

[coli]

i know... honestly, i thought this was going to be another postseason with him shitting again... so far he has 5 rbis in this series

I have to say I get a chuckle at the Yanks fan all of the sudden in love with A-Rod. I am friends with a Yankees fan and all I can say is he is 'on the bandwagon' that A-Rod is one of the best hitters in the league after this season. The Yanks were a .500 team until A-Rod came of the DL, and they have been a .600+ team since.

If I were A-Rod tonight, I would have done a Ted Williams, and not taken the curtain call because these fans have been shitting over you since you got here in 2004.


As for the LF Umpire tonight, he should be gone for the playoffs, as there is no excuse for a call like that. These Umps bitch about replay, but when they ruin an outcome of a game like that, it may just happen someday in Baseball.

[mgbfan]

That's nearly an all-time terrible call right there. He couldn't have been 15 feet away and staring right down the damn line.

Add one to the already bloated Yankee payroll. Not sure how else to explain this.

The Twins have a tall enough task dealing with the Yankees. What are they supposed to do when the fix is in?

[cardsfan111]

Regarding the missed call...it would have been interesting had the ball not bounced into the stands. The Yanks left fielder probably would have immediately been chasing after the ball oblivious to the ump calling it foul.

[nickdawgy]

2-1 Angels now after Izzy drives in Kendrick.

[RoyalTea]

I wonder what would have happened if the ump didn't blow the call. The Twins could have had bases loaded and nobody out.

[nickdawgy]

Aybar with a two run triple, 4-1 now.

[zuffy]

I can't believe I am rooting for the Sox to win. Where are the Sox fans anyway?

[nickdawgy]

There's plenty of them at the stadium.

[chrisih8u]

Tito blew this game. Beckett was cooked.

[nickdawgy]

Wow, I would have left Weaver in, he was dealing.

Great pitching tonight.

[nickdawgy]

Tito blew this game. Beckett was cooked.

He pitched well, just had a bad inning. I would have had him start game 1 and Lester game 2. But that's why I am not the manager of the Red Sox :lol:

[Mad Dawg]

I can't believe I am rooting for the Sox to win. Where are the Sox fans anyway?

Watching a really suffering offense meet good pitching, sadly.

[wirefan]

Wow, I would have left Weaver in, he was dealing.

Great pitching tonight.

Well after the called 3rd strike to start the 8th, it looked like he was really losing it. -rolleyes-

Managing in playoffs = being a slave to matchups = use bullpen to avoid 2nd guessing

[nickdawgy]

Watching a really suffering offense meet good pitching, sadly.

I thought it'd be the Angels failing to get to Boston's pitching. They have surprised me so far in the series.

But it's not over, not by a long shot.

[nickdawgy]

Well after the called 3rd strike to start the 8th, it looked like he was really losing it. -rolleyes-

Managing in playoffs = being a slave to matchups = use bullpen to avoid 2nd guessing

It's called playing the percentages, man!

[Setzer]

But it's not over, not by a long shot.

Nope, not with Fuentes coming in for the 9th.

[nickdawgy]

Abreu is on base again. For the 6th time in two games.

[nickdawgy]

Nope, not with Fuentes coming in for the 9th.

Yeah, especially when he has to face VMart, Youk, and Papi.

[CRM114]

The Yankees were a bit overzealous in their post game celebration.

[dsa_shea]

I still think all series should be 7 games. I know there might be more drama in a 5 game series but the season is too long to possibly only get to play 3 postseason games.

[nickdawgy]

Fuentes is ridiculous, and I mean that in a very negative way.

[Red Dog]

Well at least the Sox lost again. I've hated them as much as the Yanks in recent years. Well, until earlier tonight. ;)

[zuffy]

Have you ever seen a walkoff win that is NOT overzealous in celebration?

[nickdawgy]

Angels up 2-0 in the series :up:

[Setzer]

2-0!!!! Not gonna get too excited yet, though. lol

[nickdawgy]

2-0!!!! Not gonna get too excited yet, though. lol

Me either. Until they advance, I won't count Boston out.

[KingSmoth]

The Twins got robbed, and the Yankees took advantage. That's the same thing that any other team tries to do throughout the season on bad calls.
I told some Yankees fans at work last week that I felt this would (unfortunately) be the Yankees year, and the time that A-Rod would finally shine in the postseason. I was not surprised to see him launch that bomb. I just felt like his first swing of the season was a precursor of things to come this year.
I have hated the Yankees with a passion since the 90's. Unfortunately I have had to give them so many props on their '09 season that I've been mistaken for a Yanks fan at work, ugh. I would like nothing more than seeing the Yankees get knocked off in the World Series, but I don't think there is an NL team that can handle them.

[Goat3001]

I have hated the Yankees with a passion since the 90's. Unfortunately I have had to give them so many props on their '09 season that I've been mistaken for a Yanks fan at work, ugh. I would like nothing more than seeing the Yankees get knocked off in the World Series, but I don't think there is an NL team that can handle them.

First of all, the Yankees aren't there yet. They still need to beat a fiesty Twins team and then they need to get past a team they've always struggled with OR they need to pass their arch rivals that is always a good series. So let's not count chickens...

But second, don't kick yourself for giving props to the Yankees. Just enjoy it. Take it all in. Take a deep breath.... and exhale. Let yourself enjoy Yankee baseball. It feels good, doesn't it? You can lie to me... but more importantly, don't lie to yourself. Welcome aboard, my friend.... welcome aboard. ;)

[SonOfAStu]

:lol: at the whiners that think that blown call cost the Twins the game.

It takes a "special" kind of fan to make those assumptions. And even more special to hold onto it for 13 years. Wow.

[cardsfan111]

I still retain some bitterness over the 1985 World Series. Guess I'm special. :)

[coli]

Classic game, regardless of the awful call on Mauer. I would love to audit the Yanks payroll and see how much that 205 million went to that umpire;)