World Series Bound -- literally

[Judy G. Russell]

Not just the Yankees. Me too. I may be stark raving mad... but I'm pushing 60, I've been a Yankees fan all my life, I have no idea when the team might make the World Series again, and it probably won't be with the likes of Jeter and Rivera when they do... so I did it. I got me a ticket for Game 1. Outrageously expensive and I really don't care. Bring on the Phillies!!!

[ndebord]

Not just the Yankees. Me too. I may be stark raving mad... but I'm pushing 60, I've been a Yankees fan all my life, I have no idea when the team might make the World Series again, and it probably won't be with the likes of Jeter and Rivera when they do... so I did it. I got me a ticket for Game 1. Outrageously expensive and I really don't care. Bring on the Phillies!!!

Judy,

Nope... you're not crazy. I wanted badly to go to the Tigers World Series in 1968, but I was sitting in a foxhole. <sigh>

Good for you.

[Mike Landi]

Not just the Yankees. Me too. I may be stark raving mad... but I'm pushing 60, I've been a Yankees fan all my life, I have no idea when the team might make the World Series again, and it probably won't be with the likes of Jeter and Rivera when they do... so I did it. I got me a ticket for Game 1. Outrageously expensive and I really don't care. Bring on the Phillies!!!
Good for you!! Take lots of pix and root for CC and the Yanks for all of us!

[Judy G. Russell]

Nope... you're not crazy. Of course, going to the World Series and being crazy aren't mutually exclusive...

I wanted badly to go to the Tigers World Series in 1968, but I was sitting in a foxhole. <sigh> Good for you.Thanks. I'm trying to get somebody to cover my class for me, but will cancel if need be.

[Judy G. Russell]

Good for you!! Take lots of pix and root for CC and the Yanks for all of us!I'll do my best! Now keep your fingers crossed for good weather.

[Mike Landi]

I'll do my best! Now keep your fingers crossed for good weather.
That's scary....the 28th of October in NY could be dicey.

[ndebord]

Of course, going to the World Series and being crazy aren't mutually exclusive...



Judy,

Nolo contendere, your Honor.

[Judy G. Russell]

That's scary....the 28th of October in NY could be dicey.As of tonight, they're saying we could have "a few showers" for the start of the game. That would be okay. But I don't care when that game is played: I'll be there.

[Judy G. Russell]

Nolo contendere, your Honor.Watch it, buster....

[Mike]

Congrats, yip!

[ndebord]

As of tonight, they're saying we could have "a few showers" for the start of the game. That would be okay. But I don't care when that game is played: I'll be there.

Judy,

FWIW

http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/mlb/gameforecast/10451?eventid=314399&epc=be

[Mike Landi]

As of tonight, they're saying we could have "a few showers" for the start of the game. That would be okay. But I don't care when that game is played: I'll be there.
Cheer on CC and company. I'll be watching!

[Judy G. Russell]

Cheer on CC and company. I'll be watching!I cheered and cheered... and whimpered... and whined. It sure wasn't the game I'd HOPED to see... Our pitching (the walks in particular) killed us defensively, their pitching killed us offensively. I have to say I have rarely seen as dominating a pitching performance as Cliff Lee's -- and he made it look so totally absolutely effortless.

It was still great fun to go and be there and soak it all in.

But it would have been even more fun if the result had been different.

[ndebord]

I cheered and cheered... and whimpered... and whined. It sure wasn't the game I'd HOPED to see... Our pitching (the walks in particular) killed us defensively, their pitching killed us offensively. I have to say I have rarely seen as dominating a pitching performance as Cliff Lee's -- and he made it look so totally absolutely effortless.

It was still great fun to go and be there and soak it all in.

But it would have been even more fun if the result had been different.

Judy,

Glad you had fun being there. As you said, this may be the last chance to see the four horseman from 96 play in a series together.

Did Hughes look as bad in person as he did on TV? I couldn't believe Girardi put him in when they were only two runs down... at times, Girardi seems almost mechanical. I know I sound like a broken record, but my GOD, it's the Series and a good manager plays the HOT HAND... In this case, that is most definitely not Hughes (playoff era over 9!!!).

Lee was on top of his game and on top of the Yankees for sure. As for Girardi, he had better straighten up and fly right, or he'll have to change his uniform number to 26 2/3. (FWIW, Manuel wore a hitting glove (he was formelry a hitting coach) and talked about how he had gotten the strongest (mentally) pitching coach he could find to handle that side of the game for him. Worked for him last night or perhaps it was just Lee...

[Mike Landi]

I cheered and cheered... and whimpered... and whined. It sure wasn't the game I'd HOPED to see... Our pitching (the walks in particular) killed us defensively, their pitching killed us offensively. I have to say I have rarely seen as dominating a pitching performance as Cliff Lee's -- and he made it look so totally absolutely effortless.

It was still great fun to go and be there and soak it all in.

But it would have been even more fun if the result had been different.
I was thinking about you as I watched Cliff Lee wipe us off the field. I wondered how cold and wet you were. CC was not at 100%, but Lee was fantastic. We were beat by a great pitcher.

Now, I'm worried. AJ needs to be on his best game tonight or we're dead.

[ndebord]

I was thinking about you as I watched Cliff Lee wipe us off the field. I wondered how cold and wet you were. CC was not at 100%, but Lee was fantastic. We were beat by a great pitcher.

Now, I'm worried. AJ needs to be on his best game tonight or we're dead.

Mike,

And you are right, he needed to be on his best and AJ was magnificient, as was Mo... Tex got a home run. Godzilla got a home run. And best of all, we beat "Your Daddy" one more time!

<g>

[Mike Landi]

Mike,

And you are right, he needed to be on his best and AJ was magnificient, as was Mo... Tex got a home run. Godzilla got a home run. And best of all, we beat "Your Daddy" one more time!

<g>
I loved watching Pedro walk off the mound losing 3-1. I should be happy that the Yanks won, but I just wanted to see Pedro get the loss. My boys were laughing at the chants of "Who's Your Daddy?" from the crowd.

AJ was up to the task, and got better as the night went on. When he has his confidence, he can deal! Now we are tied and need a good game out of Andy. I hope Cole Hammels is not the Cole Hammels from last year.

[ndebord]

I loved watching Pedro walk off the mound losing 3-1. I should be happy that the Yanks won, but I just wanted to see Pedro get the loss. My boys were laughing at the chants of "Who's Your Daddy?" from the crowd.

AJ was up to the task, and got better as the night went on. When he has his confidence, he can deal! Now we are tied and need a good game out of Andy. I hope Cole Hammels is not the Cole Hammels from last year.

Mike,

Manuel channeled his inner Grady Little and let Martinez pitch the 7th innning. He forgot the first rule of managing... never trust the pitcher's word in these things. They are, by nature, delusional about their ability to do just one more inning.

Pedro should have left after 6 innings, down 2-1 and been credited with a great outing, just a run short of necessity as the other guy was younger and stronger and pitched better on that night.

Cole is not he pitcher he was. His control sucks this year and Andy can be Dandy and I sure hope so tomorrow!!!

[Judy G. Russell]

Did Hughes look as bad in person as he did on TV?Yep, sure did... Sigh...

[Judy G. Russell]

I loved watching Pedro walk off the mound losing 3-1. I should be happy that the Yanks won, but I just wanted to see Pedro get the loss. My boys were laughing at the chants of "Who's Your Daddy?" from the crowd.Wasn't that just too sweet?

AJ was up to the task, and got better as the night went on.Every bit as good as Cliff Lee on Wednesday. Thank heavens.

[Mike Landi]

Mike,

Manuel channeled his inner Grady Little and let Martinez pitch the 7th innning. He forgot the first rule of managing... never trust the pitcher's word in these things. They are, by nature, delusional about their ability to do just one more inning.

Pedro should have left after 6 innings, down 2-1 and been credited with a great outing, just a run short of necessity as the other guy was younger and stronger and pitched better on that night.

Cole is not he pitcher he was. His control sucks this year and Andy can be Dandy and I sure hope so tomorrow!!!
I was thinking about Grady Little when I saw Pedro go out for the seventh. He should not have been out there. On the other hand, AJ should have gone out for the eighth until someone got on base. I fear we are overusing Mo and that will bite us later in the Series.

[ndebord]

I was thinking about Grady Little when I saw Pedro go out for the seventh. He should not have been out there. On the other hand, AJ should have gone out for the eighth until someone got on base. I fear we are overusing Mo and that will bite us later in the Series.

Mike,

I sure hope not, but then last night, Mo got through the 9th inning with just FIVE pitches. "Go Mo!"

Andy was Dodgy, then Dandy and the Bomber bats awoke. Another home run from A-Rod to bring the Yankees back from 3 down with a 2 run shot off a camera to right!

And Joba pitched a perfect 7th, Marte a pefect 8th, Hughes a home run, then Mo just being 'Mo Better!

[ndebord]

Judy & Mike,

What a game! What grit by Damon and brains too. That 9th inning single after (what?) 9 hacks before he got the single; then he ran on the first pitch to 2nd base and the 2nd baseman lets him get by him and he runs all the way to third where Lidge wasn't (he forgot to cover the base). WOW. Then A-Rod and Jorge and instead of a 4-4 tie, it is 7-4 Yankees and Mo comes in and just efficiently goes right through them 1-2-3!

<VBG>

Yankees up 3-1!

[Mike Landi]

Judy & Mike,

What a game! What grit by Damon and brains too. That 9th inning single after (what?) 9 hacks before he got the single; then he ran on the first pitch to 2nd base and the 2nd baseman lets him get by him and he runs all the way to third where Lidge wasn't (he forgot to cover the base). WOW. Then A-Rod and Jorge and instead of a 4-4 tie, it is 7-4 Yankees and Mo comes in and just efficiently goes right through them 1-2-3!

<VBG>

Yankees up 3-1!
That nine inning was a study in smart, disciplined teamwork baseball. Damon fouling off all those pitches and then the steal of third. Heads up, clever and timely. Damon knew that if he was on third, Lidge would avoid throwing his best pitch. And then ARod, Mr. Clutch this year. He went up to the plate with a relaxed posture and his swing was not a swing for the seats. It was a line drive and it was the deciding hit.

Did you see Posada comforting Joba after the Yanks took the lead. Joba looked like he had just accidentally killed is puppy and Posada was telling him that all is okay. I think that moment may have given Joba a ton of confidence.

Now tonight....Cliff Lee. If he is anywhere what he was last Wednesday we're heading to NY.

[Judy G. Russell]

What a game! What grit by Damon and brains too. That 9th inning single after (what?) 9 hacks before he got the single; then he ran on the first pitch to 2nd base and the 2nd baseman lets him get by him and he runs all the way to third where Lidge wasn't (he forgot to cover the base). WOW. Then A-Rod and Jorge and instead of a 4-4 tie, it is 7-4 Yankees and Mo comes in and just efficiently goes right through them 1-2-3!That was overall about the most exciting game I've ever seen. What a ninthy inning!!!And yeah Damon's heads-up play made the difference, for sure. Terrific smart base-running.

[Judy G. Russell]

Now tonight....Cliff Lee. If he is anywhere what he was last Wednesday we're heading to NY.Yeah, I think we have to count on that. But at least it puts us in a position where we'd only have to win ONE here; they'd have to win TWO. And without Cliff Lee.

[ndebord]

Yeah, I think we have to count on that. But at least it puts us in a position where we'd only have to win ONE here; they'd have to win TWO. And without Cliff Lee.

Judy,

IF they win this one, then it's Andy vs Pedro!

[Mike Landi]

That was overall about the most exciting game I've ever seen. What a ninthy inning!!!And yeah Damon's heads-up play made the difference, for sure. Terrific smart base-running.
That game and the Red Sox game that ended with Boone's walk off HR.

[Mike Landi]

Yeah, I think we have to count on that. But at least it puts us in a position where we'd only have to win ONE here; they'd have to win TWO. And without Cliff Lee.
I hate to say this, but I'd love to see them win at home. The problem is that means they would need to lose tonight.

[Mike Landi]

Judy,

IF they win this one, then it's Andy vs Pedro!
Wouldn't we love to see the Yanks beat Pedro to win it all?!! (Wouldn't we hate to see Pedro beat us at home when we could have won it all?)

[ndebord]

Wouldn't we love to see the Yanks beat Pedro to win it all?!! (Wouldn't we hate to see Pedro beat us at home when we could have won it all?)

Mike,

Don't even thunk it... BUT Andy's not gone on 3 days rest in 4 years... I think we're about to find if Gaudin can do 3 innings of good relief work, Joba and Marte, then Mo.

And, no, I don't want to see CC on a 2nd straight stint on 3 days rest.

[Mike Landi]

Mike,

Don't even thunk it... BUT Andy's not gone on 3 days rest in 4 years... I think we're about to find if Gaudin can do 3 innings of good relief work, Joba and Marte, then Mo.

And, no, I don't want to see CC on a 2nd straight stint on 3 days rest.
Tomorrow is the day. I'm hoping Andy can be good for five innings. Pedro has a bad habit of sticking around too long. Maybe we can work his pitch count and get him to stay too long and give up some hits. I like our 'pen better than the Phillies. AJ would probably be used as a reliever for Andy. How much do you think he wants to get back out there?

No game seven I hope...<shudder>

(These Phillies are a good team! G*ddam*it!)

[ndebord]

Tomorrow is the day. I'm hoping Andy can be good for five innings. Pedro has a bad habit of sticking around too long. Maybe we can work his pitch count and get him to stay too long and give up some hits. I like our 'pen better than the Phillies. AJ would probably be used as a reliever for Andy. How much do you think he wants to get back out there?

No game seven I hope...<shudder>

(These Phillies are a good team! G*ddam*it!)

Mike,

Five innings would be stretching it for Andy I'm afraid. AJ looked bad on 3 days rest, so I think he's out of the mix tonight. Let's hope that Hughes can be good and even more important, that Girardi can get it through his thick skull that Robertson was good, is good and will be good once again.

Otherwise, it looks like Gaudin, Marte and Joba for the pen and hope for a lead after 7 innings.

[Mike Landi]

Mike,

Five innings would be stretching it for Andy I'm afraid. AJ looked bad on 3 days rest, so I think he's out of the mix tonight. Let's hope that Hughes can be good and even more important, that Girardi can get it through his thick skull that Robertson was good, is good and will be good once again.

Otherwise, it looks like Gaudin, Marte and Joba for the pen and hope for a lead after 7 innings.
I don't think we will see Hughes. He seems to have chocked on the playoffs pressure. Marte and Joba are probably the go-to guys...Guadin in case Andy fails very early in the game.

I would not be surprised to see Andy throw a good game. He has done well under pressure before and we are at home.

[ndebord]

I don't think we will see Hughes. He seems to have chocked on the playoffs pressure. Marte and Joba are probably the go-to guys...Guadin in case Andy fails very early in the game.

I would not be surprised to see Andy throw a good game. He has done well under pressure before and we are at home.

Mike,

I doubt he makes it past 3 or maybe, with luck, 4 innings. After his last start, he told everybody who would listen that he was gassed before the start and had "nothing."

[Mike Landi]

Mike,

I doubt he makes it past 3 or maybe, with luck, 4 innings. After his last start, he told everybody who would listen that he was gassed before the start and had "nothing."
I guess our analysis was a bit off! :)

[ndebord]

I guess our analysis was a bit off! :)

Mike,

You mean MY analysis was off. What grit. He went 5 2/3's innings and was on according to Posada. Velocity was down, but location was spot on. But our guesses on the middle relief was good. Joba, then Marte and finally the one, the only... Mo Rivera!

(Been offline ever since the game with a nasty worm attack... had to fdisk/format as all other attempts failed miserably.)

[Mike Landi]

Mike,

You mean MY analysis was off. What grit. He went 5 2/3's innings and was on according to Posada. Velocity was down, but location was spot on. But our guesses on the middle relief was good. Joba, then Marte and finally the one, the only... Mo Rivera!

(Been offline ever since the game with a nasty worm attack... had to fdisk/format as all other attempts failed miserably.)
I've been off camping so I'm just catching up. Andy certainly has had a great career. I hope he can do one more year.

[Judy G. Russell]

I hope he can do one more year.Wouldn't that be nice...

[Judy G. Russell]

(Been offline ever since the game with a nasty worm attack... had to fdisk/format as all other attempts failed miserably.)Ick. Sorry to hear that, Nick!

[ndebord]

Ick. Sorry to hear that, Nick!

Judy,

Well, took the chance to install that newer hard drive into my ThinkPad. Funny that. Tried to use the rescue disks from IBM and that flopped.... don't know why. Then went for an XP PRO SP1 disk I had laying around. That worked famously well. Upgrades redux later and I'm running fine. (Never was able to recover the IBM partition though. It just doesn't show at all except in the Bios where I have it disabled, as that is what they say you have to do.) No biggie as I have a new hd that is 20 gigs bigger than before and everything running well. I now am using AVAST Home and MalwareBytes after some experimentation that didn't work particularly well.

As for the Yankees. Winter should be fun. We'll see if they go for speed in the outfield, e.g., Gardner, Melky and Austin up from AAA or pay the bucks for somebody new. Will they keep Godzilla and/or Damon? Will they go with the ptichers they have and stretch out Hughes? The fact that he choked in the playoffs I don't hold against him, as he is a rookie and was only slightly off in his mechanics, rushing his delivery... just enough to mess him up.

As for Joba, he totally redeemed himself and I think should go back to being a relief pitcher. But if not, then Robertson is very, very good. That sneaky fastball, superb curve and improved change. Three good pitches.

As for the Giants? What's up with them. Do they miss Spags that much? And Plax too??


P.S. This from a 2008 article: "He doesn't throw anything straight," Trenton pitching coach Scott Aldred said of Robertson's arsenal, which includes a cut fastball, curve and circle change. "And when you have movement, and when you have an above-average out pitch, it goes a long way. The fastball is 90-92 with a four-six inch cut. That separates him from a lot of guys, and he's got an above-average major league curve. The change is in a development phase, but its still solid."