12/30/24
October 20, 2004
This is it: This is the game that everyone waits for. This is the ultimate. This is why we watch sports. A game 86 years in the making. They got to seven the hard way. Now let's play the game. The Boston Red Sox play the New York Yankees in a game that will decide the fate of the universe.
There's another little gem going on in the NL. Bottom 8th 4-3 Cards.
posted by catfish at 06:19 PM on October 20, 2004
You forgot Houston, McBain.
posted by rocketman at 06:21 PM on October 20, 2004
Houston? Are they still in it?
posted by McBain at 06:22 PM on October 20, 2004
Why is Jeff Bagwell playing dressed as a coal miner?
posted by McBain at 06:24 PM on October 20, 2004
It's comments like those that exemplify why I wish both AL teams could lose tonight.
posted by thewittyname at 06:24 PM on October 20, 2004
Why is there a link to ESPN's home page?
posted by dusted at 06:26 PM on October 20, 2004
C'mon Beltran.
posted by catfish at 06:26 PM on October 20, 2004
YES BAGWELL!
posted by catfish at 06:28 PM on October 20, 2004
holy shit, Houston tied it
posted by McBain at 06:28 PM on October 20, 2004
Fucking Astros. They're not allowed to win.
posted by rocketman at 06:29 PM on October 20, 2004
Game 7! I want another Game 7, goddamnit!
posted by rocketman at 06:30 PM on October 20, 2004
What rocketman said. Bloody Houston.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 06:32 PM on October 20, 2004
By the way, what's the over/under on the number of comments in this thread once all is said and done?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 06:34 PM on October 20, 2004
Once the Sox/Yankees game is over, we can officially declare sports as finished.
posted by Joey Michaels at 06:36 PM on October 20, 2004
Who are these ESPN radio commentators, and why are they mainlining some sort of strange caffeine-Prozac mixture?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 06:42 PM on October 20, 2004
Bottom of the 11th coming up. Watch for a 2-out walkoff homer from Larry Walker.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 06:57 PM on October 20, 2004
Well, maybe next time. I'm off to a local establishment. See y'all later.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 07:06 PM on October 20, 2004
EDMONDS!!! Game 7 is on, muthaf*ckas!!!!
posted by rocketman at 07:17 PM on October 20, 2004
That was great. I really like the Cardinals (at least for now. Tomorrow I hope I have to hate them ;))
posted by jerseygirl at 07:20 PM on October 20, 2004
Damn. Neither the Astros nor the Cardinals look anywhere as near as beat as the Sox and the Yankees. Big trouble for the AL...
posted by Joey Michaels at 07:22 PM on October 20, 2004
Thats probably a bit premature, Joey. Can't tell what Game 7 will be for the NL.
posted by jerseygirl at 07:38 PM on October 20, 2004
I love it when you call me Big Pappi.
posted by McBain at 07:51 PM on October 20, 2004
man I am glad the Yanks took Kevin brown off the Dodgers hands
posted by jasonspaceman at 07:51 PM on October 20, 2004
David Ortiz is amazing. Kevin Brown is not.
posted by dusted at 07:52 PM on October 20, 2004
Christ- Dale Sveum could blow this for us... but Big Pappi makes it happen! Muthah fuckah!
posted by hincandenza at 07:53 PM on October 20, 2004
Should be 3-0... but that doesn't bode well for Brown; he's getting lit up, and it'd be 3-0 with 1 out if Sveum doesn't screw that up. Let's see what Mr. Lowe will do to set the tone...
posted by hincandenza at 07:54 PM on October 20, 2004
Damn. Dale, keep your head in the game. Fight it. Fight it. Okay. I'm back. And holyjeesusgod, that new guy just got a hit. Here comes Robert! Quick access of mental file on the new guy: He's fast! Yeah, real fast! Okay, run! Run, you fleet-footed bastard! I'm waving my arms like I'm batshit loopers because I want you to RUN!
posted by dusted at 07:56 PM on October 20, 2004
Lowe looked composed there- his pitches are snapping, that's a good thing. This is not going to be a slugfest, unless Brown and Lowe tire quickly. On preview: good call, dusted!
posted by hincandenza at 08:03 PM on October 20, 2004
Hey, the spofi-server time is off. Looks like it's 9 minutes fast. Administrator, please hope me!
posted by hincandenza at 08:05 PM on October 20, 2004
Lowe is pitching much better than Brown, Sox could pad this quick.
posted by oicnub4 at 08:09 PM on October 20, 2004
McCarver's off to the races... in the first he said Lowe's pitching instead of Wakefield cuz "Wakefield's thrown 108 pitches the past 3 days, and he's 40." Uh.. Wake was born in '66. That makes him 38. And 108 pitches in three days for a knuckler? Big whoop.
posted by brewdudepa at 08:18 PM on October 20, 2004
Brown done.
posted by jerseygirl at 08:19 PM on October 20, 2004
Hi. I'm new. With that out of the way - how many runs do you Sox fans want to be up by to feel comfortable? I'm thinking atleast 7. Brown's already out, which is great - let's see if they can capitalize.
posted by buddha9090 at 08:19 PM on October 20, 2004
They're pulling Brown. I don't know how I feel about Vazquez- we certainly don't need a repeat of game 3!!!
posted by hincandenza at 08:20 PM on October 20, 2004
Welcome, buddha9090!
posted by rocketman at 08:21 PM on October 20, 2004
That may not have been the best pitching decision ever.
posted by Bryant at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
buddha9090- welcome! Personally, I don't start to relax until we have more runs up than outs left. Call me paranoid. :) On Preview:
HOLY FUCK!!!!
posted by hincandenza at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
JESUS!
posted by jerseygirl at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
OH MY GOD!
posted by McBain at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
HOLY SHIT!!!
posted by rocketman at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
That's a good way to break out of a slump.
posted by dusted at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
With that out of the way - how many runs do you Sox fans want to be up by to feel comfortable? that many!!!!
posted by oicnub4 at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
YES!!!!
posted by buddha9090 at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
HOLY FUCKING CHRIST YES!
posted by McBain at 08:22 PM on October 20, 2004
"that many" was not supposed to be itals. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!
posted by oicnub4 at 08:24 PM on October 20, 2004
So any ideas on how the Red Sox are gonna fuck this up?
posted by gyc at 08:24 PM on October 20, 2004
*faints*
posted by grum@work at 08:24 PM on October 20, 2004
Y'know, a little voice in my head was saying 'grand slam' when Damon stepped up to the plate... How are the Sox gonna fuck this up? I dunno, but it'll involve Ruben Sierra. Or something. how many runs do you Sox fans want to be up by to feel comfortable? that many!!!! ...where 'that many' = 40. Actually, make it 50.
posted by etagloh at 08:27 PM on October 20, 2004
Until I see a 10 run lead with one inning to go, I'm not comfortable with anything. They scored the runs too early. :)
posted by grum@work at 08:30 PM on October 20, 2004
Damon is fully redeemed now. That was f-ing awesome. I'd feel comfortable with ten runs up. Six is still too few, though at least it's better than five, which is what the yankees caught up by in game 7 last year to take it to extra innings.
posted by FlunkedFlank at 08:31 PM on October 20, 2004
Where are the Yankees fans in this thread? We need their mojo, they've been MVPs of this series! :) Damn, I did it again. [chalkboard] I will not tempt fate. I will not tempt fate. I will not tempt fate. I will not tempt fate. I will not tempt fate. I will not tempt fate. I will not tempt fate. I will not tempt fate. I will not tempt fate. [/chalkboard] I'm with grum- that long inning makes me worried- does Lowe benefit from a little longer between innings, or does that decrease his effectiveness?
posted by hincandenza at 08:31 PM on October 20, 2004
Every pitcher is available except for Schilling. 6 is not many, but I like the chances for now.
posted by oicnub4 at 08:33 PM on October 20, 2004
Also new, and gulp. I won't feel comfortable until we're up by double digits.
posted by snickernoodle at 08:33 PM on October 20, 2004
Damn, we're gaining Red Sox fans at the rate of one per minute!
posted by dusted at 08:34 PM on October 20, 2004
The only way this could get more surreal would be if Derek Lowe threw a *mufflemuffle*. For the record, I'm only a Red Sox fan because it's the Yankees and it's the chance for history. I hate the Red Sox and Yankees with an almost equal passion. Let's go Blue Jays! *clap clap clapclapclap*
posted by grum@work at 08:37 PM on October 20, 2004
Would you really do that if you had a private island?
posted by jacknose at 08:38 PM on October 20, 2004
I'm only rooting for the Red Sox because the Tigers make me cry.
posted by snickernoodle at 08:39 PM on October 20, 2004
jacknose: no, I wouldn't. I'd make an imprint of my bloody hand on a volleyball.
posted by FlunkedFlank at 08:42 PM on October 20, 2004
I've never yelled MOTHERFUCKER! so loud as I did just then. What the HELL? Did the Yankees just use up all their runs in game three?!
posted by Jugwine at 08:42 PM on October 20, 2004
i think the Sox will get comfortable once they make it to 19 runs. or maybe 18.
posted by gspm at 08:45 PM on October 20, 2004
did any of you see the superstition about game three? the score was 19-8 .... turn the dash up to get 1918 ... what that actually means, I have no idea.
posted by FlunkedFlank at 08:47 PM on October 20, 2004
I really don't think that hit him!
posted by oicnub4 at 08:50 PM on October 20, 2004
Doesn't mean a damned thing, Flunked. Means the pitching was bad and the Yankees had good bats.
posted by Bryant at 08:51 PM on October 20, 2004
Ugh- I don't need the waterseal to break here... a run here, a run there...
posted by hincandenza at 08:54 PM on October 20, 2004
Thanks for the welcomes. Here come the Yankees - dammit. DP A-rod, DP.
posted by buddha9090 at 08:54 PM on October 20, 2004
If Lowe can get through six and not give up another run, I will fellate him madly!
posted by hincandenza at 08:58 PM on October 20, 2004
Man, here's what I hate about Fox. Mueller makes a heck of a play and they can't be bothered to do a replay, because they might lose a commercial because of it. Bastards.
posted by Bryant at 08:58 PM on October 20, 2004
3 innings of Lowe 3 innings of Wakefield 1 inning of Myers/Leskanic 2 innings of Pedro Fast Knuckler Junk/Curves Fast That's not a bad plan. Man, here's what I hate about Fox. Mueller makes a heck of a play and they can't be bothered to do a replay, because they might lose a commercial because of it. Bastards. And in the hurry to ge the commercials, they'll STILL miss the windup of the first pitch.
posted by grum@work at 08:59 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh, goodbye ball.
posted by etagloh at 09:03 PM on October 20, 2004
INCREDIBLE!
posted by buddha9090 at 09:03 PM on October 20, 2004
FUCK YES!!! DOUBLE REDEMPTION!!
posted by FlunkedFlank at 09:03 PM on October 20, 2004
Johnny "Regression to the Mean" Damon does it again!!!
posted by hincandenza at 09:03 PM on October 20, 2004
Captain CAAAAAAVEMAAAAANNNNN!
posted by etagloh at 09:04 PM on October 20, 2004
UNREAL!
posted by McBain at 09:04 PM on October 20, 2004
We are watching history boys...
posted by sexymofo at 09:05 PM on October 20, 2004
You can hear a "Let's go Red Sox" chant on the radio broadcast!
posted by dusted at 09:05 PM on October 20, 2004
REDEMPTION OF THE BASEBALL JESUS!
posted by grum@work at 09:05 PM on October 20, 2004
OK. Damon just made up for leaving all those runners on base during game 7 last year. :-)
posted by psmealey at 09:06 PM on October 20, 2004
Well, all right. Even after the amazing comeback to 3-3, I'd given up all hope after game 3. Hell if I don't believe again.
posted by Joey Michaels at 09:06 PM on October 20, 2004
Yankee Stadium: silent, except for the Red Sox fans chanting "MVP!" for David Ortiz. But there are six innings left, which is an awfully long time.
posted by Bryant at 09:10 PM on October 20, 2004
Okay, THAT was the loudest I've ever yelled MOTHERFUCKER. I guess now I know how all you Sox fans have felt since, well, since always. Well, at least I can always count on booze to never let me down. Maybe I'll sober up by spring training.
posted by Jugwine at 09:11 PM on October 20, 2004
The Passion of the Damon.
posted by McBain at 09:12 PM on October 20, 2004
Still five innings left, Jugwine.
posted by Joey Michaels at 09:13 PM on October 20, 2004
Jugwine: thanks for understanding. Seriously, you look at some of the teenagers and 20-somethings in Yankee Stadium with sour faces, and wonder exactly what they've not got from their team this past decade... I'm still preparing myself for that 9th-inning 13-run rally.
posted by etagloh at 09:15 PM on October 20, 2004
I'm new to the thread too - have been wanting to join in these discussions but haven't been able to. While I'm a Blue Jays fan firstly (and how hard is it to watch all the ex-1992/93 era Jays playing?) I also love the Red Sox so this has been great. I've never watched baseball so compulsively; I even had class tonight, but made my husband pick me up the minute was over so I could come home and watch, and participate here for a change. Er, after all that - yes! Bases loaded!!
posted by livii at 09:15 PM on October 20, 2004
Glad Johnny Damon finally got to play in this series...don't know what the Sox woulda done without him... Also...what snickerdoodle said about the Tigers...
posted by MeatSaber at 09:18 PM on October 20, 2004
I promise to stop mocking Damon's hair if the Sox pull this out.
posted by snickernoodle at 09:18 PM on October 20, 2004
[off topic, sort of] What amazed me is how fast they interviewed Edmonds after he hit the walk-off homer. It had to be less than 30 seconds after he touched the plate. When are they going to allow an interview while the guy is running the bases?
posted by sexymofo at 09:20 PM on October 20, 2004
Seriously, you look at some of the teenagers and 20-somethings in Yankee Stadium with sour faces, and wonder exactly what they've not got from their team this past decade... See, here's the thing. The Yankees under Joe Torre have become a machine that eats money and craps championships. When the machine breaks down, it just doesn't make sense. It's like when you pay for a bag of potato chips or something out of a vending machine and it gets stuck up in there. You put in your seventy-five cents and dammit you want your snack, even though you just ate lunch.
posted by Jugwine at 09:22 PM on October 20, 2004
Welcome, to all the newcomers! Fair warning, though; most threads aren't quite THIS boisterous!
posted by hincandenza at 09:25 PM on October 20, 2004
#spofi is up and running on irc.metafilter.com.
posted by Prince Valium at 09:26 PM on October 20, 2004
Actually, jugwine, it's more like when you buy a super-expensive car, like a Bentley or a Rolls. You don't expect it to break down, ever, and if it does- well, you don't know what to do. You expect someone will just come and fix it, and it's as shocking to you as the sun not rising.
posted by hincandenza at 09:27 PM on October 20, 2004
Prince Valium: is there a web-based IRC client I can hit in a hurry? Not gonna go install and configure an IRC client during the game. :)
posted by hincandenza at 09:28 PM on October 20, 2004
When are they going to allow an interview while the guy is running the bases? Ultimately, I think tv coverage of MLB changed in 1974 when Hammerin' Hank hit 715. I think the network wags saw those two frizzy haired, corduory wearing dudes chase Henry as he rounded the bases, and thought that they had a new idea for sports coverage. It hasn't "officially" happened yet, but it will.
posted by psmealey at 09:29 PM on October 20, 2004
Holy cow! That just doesn't HAPPEN for the Sox! I'm in the Bizarro universe now! Sports Guy must be peeing himself... why oh why doesn't he have an online chat going?!
posted by hincandenza at 09:31 PM on October 20, 2004
Lowe's pitch count is still only 49; he's averaging 12 per inning. At that rate, he can probably go 7 or even 8 unless he becomes ineffective. It's way too early to start counting outs, but... I'm letting myself relax, a little...
posted by hincandenza at 09:33 PM on October 20, 2004
Thanks, Hal. I actually lurk on SpoFi all the time but have never really had time to join in. I thought this might be a good place to start. :) Argh that they couldn't score any more runs there...I don't think we can write off the Yanks yet...
posted by livii at 09:35 PM on October 20, 2004
Ooh, that was too good an opportunity to let slip away; Ramirez is just terrible this whole Series. He should have worked the count! Take the first pitch, work the count looking for a walk or a hitter's count for a fastball.
posted by hincandenza at 09:35 PM on October 20, 2004
All these mistakes (Damon getting thrown out at home, Bellhorn not able to hit the sacfly this inning) and still, a seven run lead... Is it at all possible that Game Seven of this series gets by without any late inning drama?
posted by buddha9090 at 09:36 PM on October 20, 2004
Holy crap, Lowe looks like he's going to personally run up to home plate and tear out spleens if anyone gets a hit.
posted by Bryant at 09:37 PM on October 20, 2004
I won't rest until I see Ruben Sierra pitching the ninth.
posted by Prince Valium at 09:38 PM on October 20, 2004
McCarver needs to SHUT THE FUCK UP RIGHT NOW about potential starters for the World Series.
posted by etagloh at 09:40 PM on October 20, 2004
Lowe got the strike out and I almost started crying. He's really rising to the occasion. As long as I don't hear the phrase "five outs from the world series," I will be all right.
posted by Joey Michaels at 09:42 PM on October 20, 2004
They are looking awful against Lowe- first pitch swinging at-bats don't help, Yankees. Lowe's on cruise control now, and he gets dominating when he doesn't get his confidence shaken.
posted by hincandenza at 09:42 PM on October 20, 2004
All these mistakes (Damon getting thrown out at home... Don't second guess before it's time to. Besides, Damon was being aggressive. He set the tone for the game by going for it. It's something that previous Red Sox teams have lacked. Look, I have lived in enemy (Yankees) territory for 2/3 of my life. Lesson learned: just be confident. The Sox own this game. We'll hold it. ... but don't tempt the focking fates.
posted by psmealey at 09:42 PM on October 20, 2004
Shut yo' mouth Joey Michaels! Even thinking it is verboten!
posted by hincandenza at 09:42 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh yes, etagloh! I'm knocking wood 'til my knuckles are raw here to try to mitigate all the damn jinxing that's going on! *is very, very superstitious about jinxing*
posted by livii at 09:44 PM on October 20, 2004
I bet the entire city of Boston feels like it's on Whippets right now. What's the over/under of Boston spontaenous combustions?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:44 PM on October 20, 2004
Why is Martinez up in the pen?
posted by psmealey at 09:45 PM on October 20, 2004
McCarver and Buck are living examples of the phrase "A thin line between love and hate." They've gone from Jeter-fellating Yankee fans to just tearing them down bit by bit as this game goes on. The comment about "$25million in pitching giving up 8 runs" was the most spiteful thing I've heard them say about the Yankees in years. I'm half-expecting them to mock Jeter and his "lack of clutch" sometime in the 8th inning...
posted by grum@work at 09:45 PM on October 20, 2004
It's Pedro's normal day to throw apparently.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:47 PM on October 20, 2004
"A thin line between love and hate" is too kind. They're like weather vanes, they switch sides when the wind blows.
posted by dusted at 09:48 PM on October 20, 2004
I think Fracona should hop out and pitch the ninth.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:48 PM on October 20, 2004
You can mock Jeetah for a bunch of things, but not for his lack of clutch (even last night). I hate Jeter as much as anyone, but he's tough and he has heart. Now, A-Rod... that guy is contemptible. Jeter grounds out to short... man, Cabrera is so nifty with the leather.... I don't miss Nomar at all.
posted by psmealey at 09:51 PM on October 20, 2004
I also think Pedro throwing may have been a bit of mind games too, like when Schilling went out to the pen in Game 5.
posted by jerseygirl at 09:52 PM on October 20, 2004
Be careful, those mind games could distract Lowe.
posted by dusted at 09:54 PM on October 20, 2004
Although he looks locked in.
posted by dusted at 09:55 PM on October 20, 2004
Man, there ain't enough booze in the world. Nor enough pie. The plus side is that it will be fun to watch Steinbrenner flip out if the Yankees don't come back. What's the over/under on front office firings?
posted by Jugwine at 09:55 PM on October 20, 2004
Hasn't through 6! But I can see where that helps- Martinez gets his off-day throwing in, and god forbid, if it should happen... well, he'll be loose if this becomes a close game. Too many Sox teams have been burnt by not taking every precaution. Myers was up just in case Matsui appeared, because at that point Matsui would represent a 3rd or 4th run. [mindfucking the fates] The sox are going to blow this, they're gonna let the Yankees back in, and it'll be horrible. [/mindfucking the fates] Why on earth would Lowe not go another inning?! He's pitched 6 beautiful innings, and the Yankees haven't touched them?! Jeezus, that's inSANE!
posted by hincandenza at 09:58 PM on October 20, 2004
I do not like putting Pedro in. If that's what Francona has in mind. Doesn't make sense with this kind of lead.
posted by Bryant at 09:58 PM on October 20, 2004
Ok, I'm literally throwing tofu in the microwave and eating that for dinner. And drinking orange juice straight out of the container. Damn this game.
posted by snickernoodle at 09:59 PM on October 20, 2004
Lowe's got at least another 2 in him, if not a CG. No way he comes out.
posted by psmealey at 10:01 PM on October 20, 2004
Lowe didn't look done to me. Would putting Pedro in be some sort of redemption thing?
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:02 PM on October 20, 2004
Lowe pitched two days ago, and it would he hugely impolite to make him blow out his arm. I'm OK with bringing Lowe out. Just I dunno about putting Pedro in.
posted by Bryant at 10:03 PM on October 20, 2004
Doesn't matter what Francona does now. Torre put Heredia in.
posted by Jugwine at 10:04 PM on October 20, 2004
Argh again! I really, really want a few more runs! I can't decide about the pitching change.
posted by livii at 10:05 PM on October 20, 2004
Hey, maybe I should insult the rest of the Yankee bullpen -- that didn't turn out nearly as bad as I thought it would.
posted by Jugwine at 10:06 PM on October 20, 2004
Hmm..... I've got a bad feeeling about this. Yankees seem to be ready to go nuts.
posted by Stan Chin at 10:06 PM on October 20, 2004
Makes no sense at all- if anyone should be warming, it would be Wakefield; he gives the Yankees fits, and I find it hard to believe he wouldn't be able to give 2 innings if Lowe goes 7. And there's no reason Lowe doesn't go 7 unless he said to Francona, "I'm gassed". Especially now that the Sox are up 8-1 with two on and the lineup turning over. If Lowe went to him and said "I'm gassed" isn't Wakefield the guy you bring in? If Pedro isn't sitting soon... oh fuck. What is Francona doing? Does he realize this isn't the World Series?
posted by hincandenza at 10:06 PM on October 20, 2004
God, I fucking hate Captain JugEars.
posted by hincandenza at 10:07 PM on October 20, 2004
Wakefield pitched a lot and you want him to be able to start if you make the World Series. The right move here is probably either Mendoza or Leskanic. Timlin and Embree get you through the rest of it. Pedro is available in case of serious trouble.
posted by Bryant at 10:07 PM on October 20, 2004
Have I mentioned that I'm sick of "God Bless America?"
posted by dusted at 10:07 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh damn! It is Pedro.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:10 PM on October 20, 2004
Pedro's in. Here comes the drama...
posted by buddha9090 at 10:10 PM on October 20, 2004
Lowe pitches 6, 1 H, 1 ER. Comes out. Wha???
posted by psmealey at 10:10 PM on October 20, 2004
I think I shall have a pre-emptive Pepto-Bismol now. I'm going to just fucking die if this happens.... Fan-fucking-tastic Francona. Fan-fucking-tastic. What is it with Red Sox managers and pitching Pedro?!
posted by hincandenza at 10:11 PM on October 20, 2004
You can mock Jeetah for a bunch of things, but not for his lack of clutch (even last night). Yes, I can. In his entire post-season career, a total of 99 games [up to and including 2003 post season] spread over eight seasons, Derek Jeter is a .210/.355/.306 hitter with runners in scoring position and a .245/.345/.329 hitter with men on base. That ain't "clutch".
posted by grum@work at 10:12 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh my god. My stomach just dropped three feet.
posted by snickernoodle at 10:12 PM on October 20, 2004
What the fuck.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:12 PM on October 20, 2004
Tonight I will mainly be drinking Sam Adams Octoberfest... but Pedro? Tempting fucking fate, Terry.
posted by etagloh at 10:13 PM on October 20, 2004
What the fuck are they fucking thinking? It's like they are inviting fate to beat them down.
posted by McBain at 10:13 PM on October 20, 2004
Heeeere we go.
posted by Stan Chin at 10:13 PM on October 20, 2004
pull him NOW!
posted by oicnub4 at 10:13 PM on October 20, 2004
Do they want him to shrug off the "Who's your daddy?" stuff? BECAUSE IT ISN'T FUCKING WORKING!
posted by grum@work at 10:14 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh bloody hell. This series wil give me ulcers yet. I think it's time for a beer - 11pm be damned.
posted by livii at 10:14 PM on October 20, 2004
Well, so much for Pedro's infinite ERA for this game. I was kind of hoping that would be my consolation prize.
posted by Jugwine at 10:15 PM on October 20, 2004
He wants to make sure that they aren't his daddy.
posted by Prince Valium at 10:15 PM on October 20, 2004
WHAT. THE. FUCK. FRANCONA.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:15 PM on October 20, 2004
They say you have to be stupid to take the job of Red Sox manager - guess they're right. Wtf?
posted by kokaku at 10:16 PM on October 20, 2004
NO REALLY, WHAT THE FUCK.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:16 PM on October 20, 2004
If this goes south... If this turns into a Boston nightmare... Francona better find out where Steve Bartman's hiding, because he'll be the most hunted man in New England...
posted by grum@work at 10:16 PM on October 20, 2004
Francona signing up for the Grady Little retirement program
posted by kokaku at 10:17 PM on October 20, 2004
Whatever about Pedro and this whole "daddy" business. Why do you bring a starter in to pitch late relief, ever? Is everyone in the bullpen out of gas? I'm pretty sure Pedro will settle down and the Sox will win, but I don't remember when this kind of move has ever resulted in a positive result (when it didn't involve Randy Johnson).
posted by psmealey at 10:18 PM on October 20, 2004
Shorter Francona: 'You know, I really need to wake up this crowd and make the game competitive again.' WHAT THE FUCK?
posted by etagloh at 10:18 PM on October 20, 2004
FWIW, Yankees fans now back in the game.
posted by psmealey at 10:18 PM on October 20, 2004
jinx
posted by psmealey at 10:19 PM on October 20, 2004
Yes. The Yankees are his daddy. We have confirmed it by paternity and DNA tests. TAKE HIM OUT NOW.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:19 PM on October 20, 2004
Well, at least it's gotten interesting again. Can't really cement that "best series" ever thing without a riveting game 7.
posted by Stan Chin at 10:20 PM on October 20, 2004
On the other hand, he's throwing 97 MPH fastballs, and he hasn't done that for years. So I think I'm just kind of nervously weirded out.
posted by Bryant at 10:21 PM on October 20, 2004
Maybe they're grooming Pedro for a closer role later in his career, à la Dennis Eckersley. I'm in favor of that, but WHY NOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT MARCH to do it?
posted by psmealey at 10:21 PM on October 20, 2004
Apparently, Francona wants a new job.
posted by snickernoodle at 10:22 PM on October 20, 2004
Dear Terry, borrowing a page from the Pats? Can't make it easy on us? Jackass!
posted by kokaku at 10:22 PM on October 20, 2004
MOTHERFUCKER.
posted by Jugwine at 10:23 PM on October 20, 2004
Can't really cement that "best series" ever thing without a riveting game 7. Sod that. Give me a blowout. And sit Pedro down in the dugout.
posted by etagloh at 10:23 PM on October 20, 2004
BTW, I hate this commercial. This 40 yo dude has a hot wife and STILL can't get it up. I think maybe he needs some help that Viagra can't provide. Get those arteries checked, buddy, could be something else!
posted by psmealey at 10:23 PM on October 20, 2004
I am baffled and incensed. People are probably gathering pitchforks and torches in Beantown right now.
posted by hincandenza at 10:23 PM on October 20, 2004
No, for real, WTF Francona. Lowe still had the stuff.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:24 PM on October 20, 2004
ok, jeesus, as mind-blowingly stupid as that was, they came out with limited damage. but if he pitches in the eigth I will shoot myself on the spot.
posted by FlunkedFlank at 10:24 PM on October 20, 2004
At least we can use the commercial break to test out that at-home defibrillator.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:25 PM on October 20, 2004
5 runs is nothing. The Sox better put at least two on the board and make this a big lead- nothing would make me feel comfortable. Holy fuck. I don't care if Lowe was tired- Schilling just pitched with his fucking tendon stapled to his ankle; Lowe can tough out another inning, and couldn't look any worse than that. Fuckin' a.
posted by hincandenza at 10:25 PM on October 20, 2004
In the days since I became a "Red Sox fan" (by default), I wondered if I could possibly build up the defeatist-pessimistic attitude that they seem to have. I think I'm getting the hang of it because, as God as my witness, I thought for SURE that Cairo fly ball was going to go over the wall. *faints*
posted by grum@work at 10:25 PM on October 20, 2004
GONE Maffakas! Got one back!
posted by psmealey at 10:26 PM on October 20, 2004
A few more runs against Gordon would make me feel a lot better. On preview - YES BELLHORN!
posted by buddha9090 at 10:26 PM on October 20, 2004
THANK YOU GOD.
posted by FlunkedFlank at 10:26 PM on October 20, 2004
OH THANK YOU.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:26 PM on October 20, 2004
YAY!!!!
posted by livii at 10:26 PM on October 20, 2004
There is a defense of taking Lowe out, I should say- if he'd fallen apart, he would have fallen fast, and it would have put huge pressure on the reliever coming in mid-inning to put out the flames; never be playing defensively in a situation like that. But that still reinforces the "Why not Leskanic" or Wakefield, or... fuckin' a. I mean... fuck.
posted by hincandenza at 10:26 PM on October 20, 2004
Ding-dong Bellhorn! That's what Francona was doing. Get them excited, then knock them down again. (Yeah, right.)
posted by etagloh at 10:27 PM on October 20, 2004
Aw, shucks. Gordon doesn't have much left in that tank of his... No. No, I can't do that; I love Tom Gordon more than I thought I was capable of loving anyone who used to play for the Sox and now plays for the Yankees. So I won't mock him. But really, he should have signed with a team that wouldn't misuse him.
posted by Bryant at 10:27 PM on October 20, 2004
Well, there you go.
posted by dusted at 10:27 PM on October 20, 2004
Please give me two more runs so I can leave the room and go to the bathroom without fear.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:28 PM on October 20, 2004
Man, the foul pole just couldn't move a few inches to the left, could it? Is that too much to ask?
posted by Jugwine at 10:28 PM on October 20, 2004
Hal's right: when Lowe tires, he leaves the ball up, and anything well hit is leaving the park tonight. But it was so not Pedro time.
posted by etagloh at 10:29 PM on October 20, 2004
So Jeter caught the damn ball. Just make out already.
posted by snickernoodle at 10:29 PM on October 20, 2004
Questions for Yankee fans who need some distraction: Has Derek Jeter ever done anything as bush league as A-Rod's ball-slap in game 6? Would he? A-Rod's fiddling with his nostrils a lot lately. Cold or coke?
posted by rcade at 10:29 PM on October 20, 2004
Joey - was just thinking the same sort of thing... Loved the sound that hr made when it went down the pole, btw. Too cool.
posted by livii at 10:30 PM on October 20, 2004
So Jeter caught the damn ball. Just make out already. Actually, that's a pretty good catch. I did that once in softball. And then fell to the ground in agony as I pull/strained my back leaning like that (and twisting). I was laid up for two days and taking muscle-relaxants the size of cellphones.
posted by grum@work at 10:32 PM on October 20, 2004
Timlin in. Feeling better.
posted by psmealey at 10:34 PM on October 20, 2004
Mike Timlin: we couldn't give a shit who his daddy is.
posted by etagloh at 10:34 PM on October 20, 2004
rcade: Not that I can remember. The worst thing that Jeter does is his overdramatic dodging of inside strikes and overdramatic lunging at outside strikes.
posted by Jugwine at 10:35 PM on October 20, 2004
Bah. Jeter went to high school near me. Hated him ever since.
posted by snickernoodle at 10:36 PM on October 20, 2004
A question I was going to ask last night... Is there any greater individual low as a baseball player than being pinch run for by a guy named "Pokey"?
posted by MeatSaber at 10:36 PM on October 20, 2004
MIENTKIEWICZ!
posted by jerseygirl at 10:37 PM on October 20, 2004
That may be the last we see of Jeter at the plate.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:37 PM on October 20, 2004
What a play by Mientkjldkfjsonisnd!
posted by grum@work at 10:38 PM on October 20, 2004
That may be the last we see of Jeter at the plate. Ever? Please? /joking
posted by grum@work at 10:38 PM on October 20, 2004
I really, really enjoy seeing Arod strike out now for some reason. More so than before.
posted by Stan Chin at 10:39 PM on October 20, 2004
Hey, betcha five bucks Francona does something REALLY DISTURBING in the ninth inning... And it works out.
posted by Bryant at 10:39 PM on October 20, 2004
oh neat , now fox has bar cams.
posted by oicnub4 at 10:40 PM on October 20, 2004
grum: sox fans just call him "Eyechart". 3 outs... Now I'll count them. Must remember to breathe.
posted by hincandenza at 10:40 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh Shit. I can't take a full breath.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:41 PM on October 20, 2004
grum: sox fans just call him "Eyechart". I've been calling him Malphabet for a couple of years.
posted by grum@work at 10:41 PM on October 20, 2004
Pardon all my profanity.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:42 PM on October 20, 2004
LOL. The Sox bench is what's made such a difference this time around. (That and the bullpen, of course.) But the quality of the bench players as pinch-runners, or defensive swaps who can actually hit... And as Cabrera gets another clockwork out, I think -- well, Nomar, your greatest contribution to the Sox might just have been who you got traded for.
posted by etagloh at 10:42 PM on October 20, 2004
So anyone think Pedro specifically asked to face the Yankees one last time as a part of the Red Sox? 1,2,3 inning - excellent stuff.
posted by buddha9090 at 10:42 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh, stop jinxing, stop jinxing! I can't take this; won't relax until it's OVER.
posted by livii at 10:43 PM on October 20, 2004
We're dogging Fox a lot, but one thing I like is their heavy use of crowd closeups in tense moments. Especially when it's not celebrities. I've always thought the crowd should be seen more in an edge-of-your-seat game in any sport.
posted by rcade at 10:45 PM on October 20, 2004
The only thing that would make me happier than a Red Sox win against the Yankees would be a Mariners win against the Yankees. The whole city of Seattle is cheering the Sox. I saw people in the grocery store watching the game and there was no question -- they weren't Yankee fans. (I'm not lilnemo, I'm litlnemo -- I rarely post here, but I lurk)
posted by litlnemo at 10:45 PM on October 20, 2004
I suspect Pedro might have- but then why not the 9th inning, to close it out? If Timlin pitches like that, Pedro could be pitching the 9th with the comfort of 9-1. That's the only time to rub salt in the wounds. It's conceivable the Sox could blow it: wouldn't that be just the way: set the Yankees up for the greatest choke in baseball history, only to turn around and in the bottom of the 9th eclipse them with an even greater choke
posted by hincandenza at 10:45 PM on October 20, 2004
*fingers crossed*
posted by drezdn at 10:45 PM on October 20, 2004
Do they really sell beer in glass bottles at Yankee Stadium, or is it just for Sox games?
posted by rcade at 10:48 PM on October 20, 2004
That's fucking RIGHT! Put on pressure, put another couple on the board right here! Just drive the fucking stake in!!! Timlin got through the heart of the order; it drops off pretty fucking fast for the 9th. But it ain't over till it's over...
posted by hincandenza at 10:48 PM on October 20, 2004
Ya know...looking at Gordon with his cap pulled tight over his eyes...since Michael Jackson made Moonwalker, does anyone consider that look intimidating?
posted by MeatSaber at 10:48 PM on October 20, 2004
I'm saying it right now. Boston wins the World Series by beating Roger Clemens in game 7. It has to be this way. It would be the ultimate parable of modern sports. Of course, only if they win this game.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:49 PM on October 20, 2004
they dont sell glass bottles at fenway.
posted by jerseygirl at 10:49 PM on October 20, 2004
You mean... You aren't intimidated by Gordon's porn moustache?
posted by jerseygirl at 10:49 PM on October 20, 2004
McCarver: "What will Steinbrenner do this off-season?" My take: sign Carlos Beltran to a 7-year $115million contract.
posted by grum@work at 10:50 PM on October 20, 2004
Has anyone talked about the Curse of Alex Rodriguez? He leaves the M's, they win 116 games (alas, no World Series). He leaves the Rangers, and they come within a few games of winning the AL West, after an abysmal series. He goes to the Yankees, and the Yankees are on the verge of the greatest collapse in post-season history. The only thing that could hurt the Sox now is walks. Throw friggin' strikes!!!!
posted by hincandenza at 10:51 PM on October 20, 2004
10! Yes!
posted by livii at 10:53 PM on October 20, 2004
'Enter Sandman' sounds just a bit pathetic, doesn't it? Enter Save-Blower, more like it.
posted by etagloh at 10:53 PM on October 20, 2004
All is forgiven for Saturday night, boys.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:53 PM on October 20, 2004
three outs . . .three outs . . three outs
posted by jeremias at 10:54 PM on October 20, 2004
If (big if) this game ends in a Sox victory, all you Sox fans should call that number behind the plate and ask what the availability of World Series tickets is...
posted by MeatSaber at 10:58 PM on October 20, 2004
I'm firing up Europe's "The Final Countdown" now...
posted by grum@work at 10:58 PM on October 20, 2004
omg omg omg. Here we go. I am not sure I will live through this.
posted by litlnemo at 10:59 PM on October 20, 2004
All right, I used the bathroom.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:59 PM on October 20, 2004
(otherwise, there would have been potential big problems no matter what happens this inning)
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:59 PM on October 20, 2004
I assume the lack of posting is because we've got our exclamatory posts loaded up in preview mode and ready to go. :)
posted by hincandenza at 11:00 PM on October 20, 2004
Nah, it's more that I can't breathe at the moment.
posted by Bryant at 11:02 PM on October 20, 2004
Great effort guys, great game and all that - Now finish them off!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:03 PM on October 20, 2004
My cat wants to know why I'm whimpering. Also, he wants to post.
posted by snickernoodle at 11:03 PM on October 20, 2004
I just spit beer all over my monitor when they showed that Johnny Damon lookalike in the stands...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:04 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh. My. God. My Tivo just caught up. How can you people stand this???? I'm pausing and going outside for a smoke.
posted by BigVACub at 11:05 PM on October 20, 2004
That was awesome. That is so my Hallowe'en costume.
posted by psmealey at 11:05 PM on October 20, 2004
THAT'S ONE!
posted by grum@work at 11:05 PM on October 20, 2004
ONE OUT AWAY!!!!!!
posted by psmealey at 11:05 PM on October 20, 2004
1 more out
posted by McBain at 11:05 PM on October 20, 2004
one out, just one more out!
posted by oicnub4 at 11:05 PM on October 20, 2004
Up by seven, one out to go. Anyone relaxed yet?
posted by buddha9090 at 11:06 PM on October 20, 2004
This is fun.
posted by rocketman at 11:06 PM on October 20, 2004
I can't breathe. My heart stopped. And we're going to the World Series and I am crying.
posted by jerseygirl at 11:06 PM on October 20, 2004
Not even slightly relaxed.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:07 PM on October 20, 2004
here comes embree
posted by jeremias at 11:08 PM on October 20, 2004
The die-hard Sox fans are having an out of body experience right now and I envy them greatly. This must feel like a victory above them all. So good.... Take it home, uh, Tim.... McCarver....(sigh).
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:08 PM on October 20, 2004
I can't breathe, and I don't even like the Sox...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:08 PM on October 20, 2004
When we come back from commercial, I want to see Jesse Orosco on the mound.
posted by Prince Valium at 11:08 PM on October 20, 2004
Just groove fastballs down the pipe to EVERY HITTER! ONE of the next 9 guys is going to pop it up. BUT JUST STOP WALKING THEM!
posted by grum@work at 11:08 PM on October 20, 2004
FAWWWWWKINGGGG YEAH!!!!!
posted by psmealey at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
THE RED SOX WIN THE PENNANT! THE RED SOX WIN THE PENNANT! THE RED SOX WIN THE PENNANT!
posted by etagloh at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
posted by hincandenza at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
Player of the game, Johny Damon. Series MVP: Ortiz Most dramatic performance of the series: Schilling game 6
posted by oicnub4 at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
THE BOSTON RED SOX HAVE WON THE PENNANT!
posted by Bryant at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
YES!!!!!!!!
posted by jeremias at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
History.
posted by jacknose at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
YESYESYESYESYESYES!
posted by litlnemo at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
GREATEST COMEBACK/MELTDOWN IN SPORTS HISTORY!!!!!!!
posted by buddha9090 at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
Dude, A-Rod was so crying....
posted by hincandenza at 11:11 PM on October 20, 2004
wow.
posted by Prince Valium at 11:12 PM on October 20, 2004
YEAH!!!
posted by livii at 11:12 PM on October 20, 2004
I am crying, too. See you all at the World Series.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:13 PM on October 20, 2004
Remember...the US still has to play Finland in the gold medal game...
posted by MeatSaber at 11:13 PM on October 20, 2004
I've been stuck at work all night. I hate you guys.
posted by hootch at 11:13 PM on October 20, 2004
Thanks for the fun, btw - hope to be back on Saturday.
posted by livii at 11:15 PM on October 20, 2004
So fucking sweet. I'm speechless.
posted by psmealey at 11:16 PM on October 20, 2004
Fuck. I just realized that I'll be sleepless for the next two weeks. Fuck!! (so much for speechless)
posted by psmealey at 11:18 PM on October 20, 2004
Oh man. That was unreal. I was bawling in my living room, my neighbors must think someone was dying in here. Oh man. I'm gonna go hit the bar and buy everyone a round!
posted by hincandenza at 11:19 PM on October 20, 2004
posted by grum@work at 11:20 PM on October 20, 2004
<Milhouse>We're through the looking glass here, people.</Milhouse> Note to Maine cable operators: please do not EVER fucking run a test of the emergency broadcast system during a Game 7 ever again unless you want an actual emergency. It went to blue screen while Timlin was facing Lofton and the game was at commercial when we came back. Couldn't figure out WTF happened. goddam and l_b_b, sorry.
posted by yerfatma at 11:21 PM on October 20, 2004
Yeah, hey -- thanks to the Yankees fans among us for being completely classy. You guys rock.
posted by Bryant at 11:23 PM on October 20, 2004
Sleep is overrated PSMealey. Congrats to the Sox though I must admit I've had enough of these games and watched last night's Daily Show and Smallville. I forsee much crapping by birds on Yankee Stadium, and George making that latest Visa commercial come true when he whips out that checkbook faster than a speeding bullet.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:25 PM on October 20, 2004
Seconded, Bryant. The Yankees fans here are all class. You can laugh at Sox fans again soon enough.
posted by etagloh at 11:25 PM on October 20, 2004
Holy shit, how long has Nike had that commercial waiting??!?
posted by Stan Chin at 11:32 PM on October 20, 2004
What's the commercial? I swapped over to NESN.
posted by Bryant at 11:35 PM on October 20, 2004
Wish Nomar was here to enjoy it. Anyone catch Kapler on ESPN talking to Gammons? "Don't perpetrate like you're not a Red Sox fan tonight." I missed the Nike commercial, but my SO says it was actually halfway decent. How long til there's a torrent of the Yankees win version?
posted by yerfatma at 11:36 PM on October 20, 2004
There's a shot of a couple of young Boston fans watching a game in the stands. The years tick by on the bottom, just heart break after heartbreak. The Boston fans get older and older.... until finally, they're a bunch of geezers. The year says 2004, and the Sox just won. The geezers are in complete disbelief. "Just Do It"
posted by Stan Chin at 11:37 PM on October 20, 2004
please do not EVER fucking run a test of the emergency broadcast system during a Game 7 ever again What the fuck was that. Over under on calls to Comcast of NH? 35,000? There's so much post game coverage I can't flip fast enough or pick a spot to land. ...but Millar just called out Harold Reynolds on NESN for saying they couldn't come back. I can't believe this.
posted by YukonGold at 11:38 PM on October 20, 2004
Just about this time last year, I was also crying. The tears feel so much better this year. :)
posted by jerseygirl at 11:43 PM on October 20, 2004
I'm back! I missed you guys! Not so much that I'm not going to collapse right now, though. I'm exhausted. What a series.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:48 PM on October 20, 2004
From within the heart of enemy territory in southeastern Connecticut, I tip my hat to the Yanks fans on SpoFi as well. Pure class. But, what a great feeling. After the long off season to think about Boone's homer, and a whole season to get back here and not know if it was going to happen again (compounded by personal memories from my childhood in 1975 and the bitter disappointment of my late adolescence in 1986)... it still feels 5x as sweet.
posted by psmealey at 11:52 PM on October 20, 2004
posted by kokaku at 12:10 AM on October 21, 2004
!
posted by drezdn at 12:13 AM on October 21, 2004
anyone have an mp3 file of John Sterling during the moment of the loss? MAN I wanna hear that. "Yankees lose! The-eh-eh-eh-eh Yankees lose!"
posted by FlunkedFlank at 12:17 AM on October 21, 2004
Will there be video? Oh, and YEAH SOX! It's nice to read this thread after watching the game. interesting to see the flow and the bizzarre pulling fo Lowe. Lovin' it SpoFi. See you in the Series!
posted by Dick Paris at 12:28 AM on October 21, 2004
- Both championship series went to Game 7, and whoever wins the NLCS tomorrow goes into Boston with two days rest on Saturday
- Roger Clemons has pitched for three of the four teams in the championship series
posted by kirkaracha at 12:32 AM on October 21, 2004
The lights are out at Yankee Stadium and every Red Sox player has a blood alcohol content of 3.0, and I still feel like the Yankees are going to come back and win. Guess there's a bone missing in my head since last year. Like when Bowe knocked out Tyson, I just sat there in stunned silence. A lot of spotlights on Johnny D, but D. Lowe gets my props. 6 innings of 1 hit ball? Never in my (his) wildest dreams did this ever play out. My life has been that Nike Commercial. 4 more wins to go...
posted by DirkDiggler at 12:34 AM on October 21, 2004
Mike Timlin: we couldn't give a shit who his daddy is. Funniest post EVER. Thanks etagloh
posted by DirkDiggler at 12:44 AM on October 21, 2004
Congrats jerseygirl and the BoSox. A-may-zing!
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:55 AM on October 21, 2004
made it home in one piece. (well, physically anyway) forgive me if i ramble a bit and get all dramatic or whatever. if you don't want to hear a yankee fan ramble on about the game just skip this post. first off, congrats to the bosox and their fans (but not to the fans sitting in our section cause you guys were obnoxious fuckers). actually, just make that congrats to the bosox fans on this site (well, most of yous anyway:-). things looked bad from the start. brown looked horrible on his walk to the fucking bullpen for warmups. my mom just kept saying that he didn't look right. she could tell his back was bothering him. i kept telling her to shut up cause her negativity wasn't helping. lot of good that did. (here's mom in happier times before the game.) having bucky dent throw out the first pitch was a bad move too. sure, at one time or another we all said hey, wouldn't it be cool if bucky threw out the first pitch. but seeing him out there made me think we were tempting fate. (at least they had my favorite yankee out there too) the first couple innings were brutal. i couldn't get warm or comfortable. my back was killing me (sympathy pains for brown maybe?). and i couldn't think straight. in fact i was like that through most of the day at work. then by about the 5th or 6th inning the pain went away and i stopped shivering. and my mind started to clear. i guess it's kind of like when someone is dying and they're fighting to hold on and at some point they realize it's over and they let go. it's not that i didn't hold out hope that the yanks could do something, but i accepted the fact that it probably wasn't gonna happen tonight. from then on i just tried to make the best of it. trying to convince myself that even though the season ended on the downer of all downers, i was still fortunate enough to see a lot of really good games this year. i'm not really patriotic and i know everyone at home is sick of god bless america. but there's something about 55,000 baseball fans (yankees, red sox and others) singing it together that's really cool. i guess i'm just a sap like that though. so by the 8th i was in a bit of a stupor and was sort of at peace with the situation. it was still hard to stomach the sox fans cheering in the ninth, but we did manage to stay for the last out. saw a few yankee fans that stayed shaking hands and congratulating the less annoying sox fans, which was kind of weird but kind of nice to see. i knew this was going to happen one day. didn't really want it to happen this year. and i didn't think i could handle witnessing it, but i'm glad i did. there were a good amount of sox fans in our section (sec. 11 upper deck, 1st base side). two of the more obnoxious ones got the mooks behind us riled up fairly quickly. i think the first beer was thrown at them before the 2nd inning. they laughed it off. by the 5th another beer was thrown but this time the cops came up. funny thing was the crowd managed get the 2 sox fans thrown out. so my mom and i were content in knowing there were 2 sox fans who wouldn't get the see the end of the game in the stadium (hey, we had to take whatever small victory we could get tonight). as i'm sure you saw on tv, most of the yankee fans left well before the final out. there were surprisingly few altercations outside the stadium. although i'm sure if we stuck around long enough we would've seen something. but there were waaaaaay too many cops there for much to happen. driving home i took an alternate route to the bridge down 181st. when i got to the first light i remembered that this street will take me through manny's old neighborhood. well, 2 seconds after that there are cars coming up behind me beeping their horns, guys getting out of cars and running around waving manny shirts and dominican flags. i was tempted to open my car door as one of them ran by, cause while i'll give props to the boston and shit, i can still be a cunting fuck and i don't like seeing sox fans celebrating in ny streets:-) if i find any more pics worth posting i will do so. well, at least now i can go to the soccer game saturday night without worrying about missing any of game 1 (go metrostars!)
posted by goddam at 01:55 AM on October 21, 2004
Thanks, goddam. That was a great update. As others have said, our Yankee fans have been very classy here. You rock.
posted by Joey Michaels at 03:57 AM on October 21, 2004
I am just so happy for all you SpoFi Sox fans. :) Commiserations to the Yankees fans too, but it was about time.
posted by squealy at 06:20 AM on October 21, 2004
So far, I'm loving the morning after (other than the 4 hours of sleep part). People are smiling at each other like we all just robbed a bank together in a '70s heist movie (the Don Siegel variety). Anyone know what the Sox rotation will look like in the Series, besides banged up?
posted by yerfatma at 06:45 AM on October 21, 2004
I would like to report that the second greatest miracle this week is that I am not hungover this morning.
posted by tieguy at 07:22 AM on October 21, 2004
I think the Sox rotation should be OK. According to Jerry Remy, the Red Sox planned on having Pedro pitch today for one inning, representing his side session. So: Pedro goes in game one. Schilling goes in game two, if he can; otherwise it's Lowe. Then Arroyo, then Wakefield. If Schilling misses game two you slot him in wherever you can.
posted by Bryant at 07:29 AM on October 21, 2004
Thanks for the update goddam. Congratulations to all the Red Sox fans, and thanks Yankee fans for being good sports all season long. So, I ask you, Sox people: who do you prefer: Cards or Astros?
posted by rocketman at 07:57 AM on October 21, 2004
Does it really matter? The Cards have the best record in baseball and a scary middle of the lineup. The Astros are on a scary tear and have a great middle of the lineup. I can't see a difference. If you were Fox and purely interested in storylines, you'd want Houston for the Clemens angle. Otherwise you have to collect all the footage from 1946 you can find.
posted by yerfatma at 08:04 AM on October 21, 2004
The Post Curse lives! Two years and counting.
posted by staggernation at 08:22 AM on October 21, 2004
Congrats, Sox fans -- yer team did the deed. Now take a leaf from the Bible of Belichik (new series, everybody's back to zero) and you'll be okay. The thing that has most impressed me about the Sox in this series was the pitching. Not in the traditional sense, but in the way that they broke just about every single convention about who you can use when. As far as I know, the starters paraded into the bullpen without a single whine (at least not a public one) -- they readjusted and did what their team needed, when it needed them. It was most impressive, it was most effective, and dare I hope it means good things for the game of baseball? I can't wait to see today's Boston Globe, which I'm sure will make me both laugh and seethe, and for the exact same reason. See, after Game 3, when the Sox went down 19-8 in the wee hours, Globe columnists produced two or three blame-ridden suicide notes whose most frequent phrase was, "It's all over." Because of the lateness of the hour, those articles did not make it into at least some of the Globe editions (they've got a west edition, which I read; also north, south, etc.). Instead, they ran canned series features that were written before that game. So the wailing and gnashing of teeth was only on the website, as far as I know -- and that is a damn shame, because it sure would be nice to have such a shining example, in hardcopy, of what not to do as a sportswriter. One of these articles, I believe, is still on the Globe website, but they want money for it. Still, for anyone so inclined, here's the link
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:32 AM on October 21, 2004
posted by Jugwine at 08:47 AM on October 21, 2004
I can't see a difference. yerfatma, I know both lineups are dangerous. I was thinking specifically about pitching, since that's probably going to make the difference. The Cardinals would *appear* to have the more dangerous bats, but damn if Houston doesn't look like they've got the pitching to shut down whoever is foolish enough to face them. And you're right, they're on quite a tear.
posted by rocketman at 09:01 AM on October 21, 2004
I would only say, "Familiarity breeds contempt." You've watched or listened to the Sox and Yanks wail on each other for 7 games like prize fighters and both left the ring bloodied and beaten. Doesn't mean they're not dangerous. I have a healthy respect for both NL teams, but I'm not ready to award them the Series title just yet. the starters paraded into the bullpen without a single whine (at least not a public one) Ironically the one exception is Lowe, Derek. He stands in stark contrast to Tim Wakefield who gave up his start to mop up in Game 3. They both made a huge difference in the outcome.
posted by yerfatma at 10:15 AM on October 21, 2004
Hal Incandenza: If Lowe can get through six and not give up another run, I will fellate him madly! Will we see pictures?
posted by qbert72 at 10:23 AM on October 21, 2004
I'm hungover. I'm speechless. Holy shit. I'm actually happy! It felt like New Year's Eve in the bar where I watched the game.
posted by trox at 10:47 AM on October 21, 2004
When I'm (glub, glub) finished, qbert, when I'm finished! Kudos seconded, or thirded, to NYY fans like goddam and lbb et al, for being a far classier set of fans than I've come to expect from New York! You took winning gracefully for the first 3, and were gracious in your congratulations as well. Cheers!
posted by hincandenza at 11:06 AM on October 21, 2004
But wait, there's more. We don't have to watch another World Series at Yankee stadium or hear Ronan Tynan belt out his version of GBA while the media paints pictures of the kind, wonderful, heart-of-America media favorite NY fans. Instead, we get to watch it at beer drinking, loud, obnoxious Fenway Park. Those are my peeps. How fucking cool is that?
posted by DirkDiggler at 11:06 AM on October 21, 2004
but in the way that they broke just about every single convention about who you can use when There was a funny little concept called "Closer by Comittee" last year and was deemed a failure. But I have to think this implementation is how Bill James wrote it up in his head...Foulke in the 7th...Arroyo in the 10th....whatever it takes to get the out at the critical juncture put the best guy out there regardless of what you should do. Francona and staff did an amazing job putting the players in the position to win games.
posted by YukonGold at 11:12 AM on October 21, 2004
I have a healthy respect for both NL teams, but I'm not ready to award them the Series title just yet. Nor am I. After what the Sox just pulled, I'm not sure who could stop them.
posted by rocketman at 11:22 AM on October 21, 2004
Kids! Don't miss Greg Storey's desktop wallpaper and t-shirts commemorating the slam.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:54 PM on October 21, 2004
goddam, thanks for the update. Condolences to you and your posse. 
posted by chicobangs at 12:54 PM on October 21, 2004
Can somebody explain to me why Francona put on Pedro, though? I'm still shaking my head about that.
posted by Joey Michaels at 01:02 PM on October 21, 2004
Maybe to lower Pedro's market value? Gotta keep one eye on the off-season, right?
posted by DrJohnEvans at 01:16 PM on October 21, 2004
It's been suggested in a couple places that under normal circumstances, pedro would throw 30-40 pitches full speed at this point in his rotation cycle, I guess to keep from going totally cold between starts, and that this was merely a way for him to get his regular between-game workout and at the same time give the bullpen one more inning of rest. Still doesn't explain why he pitched the seventh and not the eighth, though, given how Lowe was pitching. That was, by the way, the most incredible mood change I've ever seen in a crowd- the bar I was at played Sweet Caroline between top and bottom of the seventh (as is appropriate), and people were standing on tables and singing at the tops of their lungs. I hate that song and I was singing it loud and clear. Within five minutes the room was silent because of the runs off Pedro :/ We rallied, though. ;)
posted by tieguy at 01:23 PM on October 21, 2004
That bullpen had to be completely spent. You've got to count Foulke out except for emergencies and someone needed to essentially replace him. I understand why you would question it with an 8-1 lead (it certainly seemed uneccessary), but someone was going to need to pitch. I'll take Pedro. After listening to all the post game coverage I could take, it seemed that this was predetermined (Pedro in the 7th). According to Francona, Lowe was on a 50 pitch count...he threw 70. The crowd roared to life and that overemphasized the couple hits he gave up. But I mean, c'mon...anytime a manager makes a pitching change in a deciding game he's asking for second guessing. Plus, Pedro hit 97mph on the gun.
posted by YukonGold at 01:34 PM on October 21, 2004
I hate that song and I was singing it loud and clear. Please say you're at least a fan of "Dirty Water".
posted by YukonGold at 01:42 PM on October 21, 2004
Terence Mann: "What did you say to him?" Ray Kinsella: "I said I couldn't respect a man who didn't like Neil Diamond."
posted by yerfatma at 02:03 PM on October 21, 2004
According to Francona, Lowe was on a 50 pitch count...he threw 70. The crowd roared to life and that overemphasized the couple hits he gave up. But I mean, c'mon...anytime a manager makes a pitching change in a deciding game he's asking for second guessing. Plus, Pedro hit 97mph on the gun. Finally some one got it right. Replace an erratic (in the last month) Lowe with a Pedro that can bring the heat for 30 pitches. Lowe could have broght NY back into it with 3 pitches, which is why Pedro was warming up. Once warm, why wait for the 3 pitch meltdown? I applaud Francona for his decisions last night. We won, didn't we?
posted by DirkDiggler at 02:03 PM on October 21, 2004
I'm just trying to understand the strategy. If Francona is going to be giving me heart attacks in the World Series, I want to understand his logic.
posted by Joey Michaels at 02:31 PM on October 21, 2004
chico: Billy Ray Cyrus plays for the BoSox? I guess "achy breaky heart" is an appropriate song to play for the Yanks right now. Ha!
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:49 PM on October 21, 2004
btw, I think you guys broke the record for # of comments in a SpoFi thread.
posted by worldcup2002 at 02:55 PM on October 21, 2004
I'm just trying to understand the strategy. If Francona is going to be giving me heart attacks in the World Series, I want to understand his logic. Actually it's easy for me to applaud a decision like that with a 7 run lead (which quickly became 5). Thank God Pedro found a different gear and squashed the rally. If it were a 2 run lead I would have had to go down there...
posted by DirkDiggler at 03:12 PM on October 21, 2004
Lowe was pitching on two days rest; you'd be insane to give him more innings. I probably would have felt better about putting in Mendoza, but then again, Mendoza might not have recovered and put out the last two batters.
posted by Bryant at 04:27 PM on October 21, 2004
I'm just trying to understand the strategy. If Francona is going to be giving me heart attacks in the World Series, I want to understand his logic. It's like I heard somewhere: The Yankees always won because Torre doesn't react to the situation- he acts before the meltdown (usually). On the other end of the spectrum, the BoSox just react to what is happening which is usually takes too long (think Pedro a year ago).
posted by jmd82 at 04:37 PM on October 21, 2004
wc2k2: Perhaps "Achy Breaky Foot" is more appropriate moving forward. Although you just know Billy Ray Cyrus is following the Astros, a team that if they played in the NFL would consist of the long-suffering Bagwell & Biggio surrounded by 17 Kurt Warners and one Randy Moss. They might score well, but all they need is one good smack across the snout and they'll run mewling home to their mommies, their stylists, their bibles and their sycophants, and drop the pretense of sportsmanship. The Cards can beat the Red Sox, but if the Astros get in, it could get gleefully, gloriously, historically ugly. Even more than we've seen this week. (It's a shame "Cowboy Up" was wasted on last year. It seems more appropriate this year somehow.)
posted by chicobangs at 04:45 PM on October 21, 2004
I love it when every pitcher is available. I understand that there needs to be a rotation and roles for every player, but there's just something exciting about Pedro or Schilling coming in from the bullpen.
posted by dusted at 04:56 PM on October 21, 2004
Peter Gammons was on 'EEI and had some interesting comments. He said Buck Showalter called him today to ask if Peter now understood why Tejas couldn't stand A-Rod. And Gammons stated no one in the Yankee clubhouse has said a word in defense of the Arroyo slap incident. Apparently there's been some discontent with A-Rod since mid-season.
posted by yerfatma at 05:21 PM on October 21, 2004
i have nothing to say in response to your post but i'm using it as an excuse to post a pic from last night of gammons and dan patrick. and dan patrick with lupica and some other guy that i know i've seen but i can't remember his name.
posted by goddam at 05:32 PM on October 21, 2004
Peter Gammons is a gossipy little bitch. I can't understand why people pay him any attention.
posted by dusted at 05:41 PM on October 21, 2004
Apparently there's been some discontent with A-Rod since mid-season. I'd be astonished if there wasn't some discontent with him since day one. Not necessarily because of anything he'd done, but he had an awful lot of hype to live up to, and an awful lot of money to earn. My dad, who was a lifetime Yankees fan and my mentor in Yankee fandom, died shortly after the season started. He lived long enough to see the two games in Japan, so the last baseball game he saw was of his team winning, for which I will always be grateful (especially to Hideki Matsui). I do remember, though, in one of the last conversations we had, he shook his head and said, "I just don't know about this A-Rod character." He's shaped up some, Pop, but the jury's still out.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:03 PM on October 21, 2004
Looks like we have another comment record, folks! Damn! I watched the game at work last night and I was so psyched to see the Damnyankees get punked out by the Sox! The song that went through my mind at the time was REM's "The End of the World (as we know it)", and I felt very fine indeed! Let the dark age for the Evil Empire begin! Muhahahaha!
posted by jasonbondshow at 06:10 PM on October 21, 2004
For the record, Hideki Matsui scares me like nobody's business. I remember laughing with my friend in Hideki's first year when he was slightly below Ricky Ledee's career OPS. I can't remember the joke anymore.
posted by yerfatma at 06:59 PM on October 21, 2004
so, 331 comments is pretty good. by way of comparison what are some meaty MeFi comment totals like? and i am thinking of real discussion threads rather than the screw aroundy ones
posted by gspm at 09:44 PM on October 21, 2004
gspm, they've gone much longer, probably double or more.
posted by billsaysthis at 12:09 AM on October 22, 2004
Yeah, the MeFi threads can get outrageously long. They usually start with a FPP like "It's obvious that all good Christians should vote for Bush, and here is why". The baseball equivalent to that would be "Derek Jeter is the greatest baseball player of all-time, and here is why". Heavily opinionated posts with controversial central figures will always bring out the ranting and/or raving. How does one find out what the longest threads are on SpoFi? Is there something in the search engine that helps find this info?
posted by grum@work at 07:36 AM on October 22, 2004
I would imagine, of course, the long MeFi threads are indeed much longer than this one what with their membership being 1400% larger and the opinions over there being fieryer. This one is a piece of work though. Just wondering if 300+ comments approaches long MeFi thread territory. DrJohnEvans never got any responses to his question about an over/under on the final thread count of this thread but I don't think I would have guessed it to be quite so high. Not to derail the baseball talk.
posted by gspm at 11:15 AM on October 22, 2004
By having the best record, I just assumed the Series would start in St Louis, totally forgetting home field advantage is tied to the All Star Game. That is huge for the Sox.
posted by usfbull at 11:30 AM on October 22, 2004
so do the sox sit millar in st. louis and have ortiz play first?
posted by goddam at 11:45 AM on October 22, 2004
Yes.
posted by yerfatma at 12:10 PM on October 22, 2004
Yes. Ortiz has played plenty of first base. Where "plenty" is defined as "not as much as I'd like, damn it, and do they replace him with Minky in late innings?"
posted by Bryant at 01:04 PM on October 22, 2004
Just wondering if 300+ comments approaches long MeFi thread territory. Yes. Regular threads on the mothership rarely reach the 300 barrier (although more frequently than here), but the average thread there generally has quite a few more comments than the average spofi post.
posted by LionIndex at 02:42 PM on October 22, 2004
i miss hockey.
posted by goddam at 08:13 PM on October 22, 2004
i miss hockey. What is this game for which you speak?
posted by DirkDiggler at 10:13 PM on October 22, 2004
posted by billsaysthis at 11:33 PM on October 22, 2004
thanks bill!
posted by goddam at 11:46 PM on October 22, 2004
i can't tell who that is turtling. is it roenick?
posted by gspm at 04:42 PM on October 23, 2004
I wish I'd heard something about this game. Is it tonight? Gosh! The playoffs have started already? Who's playing? (I have my own reasons for not going that have nothing to do with not having tickets, but I'm still jealous of goddam for wangling her way into Games 6 and 7. Elvis Christ on a Stick. Get back safe, sweetie.)