11/23/24
October 05, 2006
Raingate?: In the wake of last night's rainout of Game Two of the American League Division Series, some of the Detroit Tigers are wondering whether the New York Yankees were given an unfair advantage in being told first the contest was cancelled.
Homefield advantage.
posted by gradys_kitchen at 11:59 AM on October 05, 2006
I don't care what the weather is like in New York, Mr. Rosenberg, you'd better have a story on my desk by 3am. I think that about says it. You can't be in New York, covering the Yankees, and not find something to write about. It just doesn't happen. If there's no legitimate story, create one! Honestly, though, it would have been much worse if the game would have started, then been stopped a few hours later. OK, Verlander warmed up for nothing. But if he would have warmed up, pitched four innings in crappy weather, then had the game stopped anyways, he (and the Tigers) would have been much more upset. I'm not sure what the rest of the evening did, weather-wise, in the Bronx, but I live further west in New York state, and if they got the weather we had earlier in the day, it was absolutely terrible. I've got a feeling everyone will be just fine for today's game.
posted by dyams at 12:11 PM on October 05, 2006
Well, the problem was that Verlander & the Tigers started warming up while the Yankees didn't. Like they knew what was going to happen. Yeah, well, whatever fires 'em up in the clubhouse. Is it a non-story? Sure. But this is the playoffs, where non-stories find the front page every day. We'll be seeing lots more of these as the stomach turns as the games progress.
posted by chicobangs at 12:29 PM on October 05, 2006
Bonnie Bernstein tells us that Cashman was in the groundskeepers' office watching the radar. The Tigers were in their clubhouse and their main contact was MLB. When Cashman saw Verlander warming up he had a groundskeeper go tell him to cool it since the radar didn't look happy. Makes sense. By the way, Rodriguez just struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the first. Jeter has a throwing error and popped out to the catcher trying to bunt.
posted by SummersEve at 12:37 PM on October 05, 2006
They're clearly rustier than the Tigers from the layoff. Probably due to not warming up last night.
posted by BullpenPro at 12:46 PM on October 05, 2006
By the way, Rodriguez just struck out looking with the bases loaded to end the first. Jeter has a throwing error and popped out to the catcher trying to bunt. Which was after Mags struck out swinging on a pitch out of the strike zone with a man on.
posted by dyams at 12:47 PM on October 05, 2006
That was a ridiculous AB. Swung at and missed two 101 mph fastballs, watched a deadly curve slice right down the middle.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:47 PM on October 05, 2006
I was under the impression that the home team's manager made the call to start the game, and thereafter it was in the hands of the umpires. At least, that's what the rule book says. If that's correct, then of course the Yankees knew first.
posted by rocketman at 01:31 PM on October 05, 2006
In the playoffs the rainout rules change. I believe it's completely up to MLB and the umps.
posted by Bernreuther at 01:38 PM on October 05, 2006
I suppose this is as good a place as any to self link my MBL (sic) Playoff Overview. I'm not proud, but its all I got.
posted by Joey Michaels at 02:54 PM on October 05, 2006
Tigers win! Yeah!
posted by Bill Lumbergh at 03:34 PM on October 05, 2006
Cool, put away the brooms. Jersey, you out there? I guess you were right...now..about that #.
posted by sydney2006 at 03:56 PM on October 05, 2006
Living about 30 miles south of Boston, it hadn't started to rain when they called the game off until today. But I'm glad they did. Tigers just won about a half hour ago. Go Tigers. Detroit in 5. Love that look on Jeters face when they lose.
posted by Ghastly1 at 04:02 PM on October 05, 2006
tsk.
posted by jerseygirl at 04:06 PM on October 05, 2006
Yeah, Tigers in 5. They aren't as tough at home, but maybe they can just wrap it up there and then have some time to contemplate the A's.
posted by sydney2006 at 04:16 PM on October 05, 2006
So who is going to break the news to sydney? (Or smack him for being vaguely creepy. Either way.)
posted by tieguy at 04:44 PM on October 05, 2006
Go Tigers. Detroit in 5. Love that look on Jeters face when they lose. Are you anything but a hater, Ghastly1?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:51 PM on October 05, 2006
Wow, baseball playoffs are on? The Tigers made the Playoffs?? My hope for a Bengals/Saints super bowl is still alive then.
posted by LostInDaJungle at 04:51 PM on October 05, 2006
How do the Yankees ever lose with that line-up? They should be scoring 10+ runs a game.
posted by LA-4-Life at 04:56 PM on October 05, 2006
A: Superior Tigers pitching.
posted by gradys_kitchen at 05:11 PM on October 05, 2006
B: Joel Zumaya throwing the ball 103 MPH. By the way, these ESPN guys seem quite biased to me.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 07:00 PM on October 05, 2006
By the way, these ESPN guys seem quite biased to me. The hell you say!
posted by jerseygirl at 07:26 PM on October 05, 2006
Sad but true, jersey, like Lakers v Pistons in '04.
posted by sydney2006 at 09:15 PM on October 05, 2006
Are you anything but a hater, Ghastly1? Apparently not, he also wished Terrell Owens had tried a little harder, and actually killed himself!
posted by tommybiden at 10:02 PM on October 05, 2006
That was sarcasm, Syd.
posted by jerseygirl at 07:25 AM on October 06, 2006
C: Heart. Not that the Yankees are lacking it, but it does count, but I-Rod has it to spare, and the Tiger's aren't gonna roll over...
posted by mjkredliner at 08:13 AM on October 06, 2006
Jersey, I like your style! Keep it up! Anyway, the Motor City Bad Boys in olde english D have something to prove, especially after an awful performance like the one they had v KC. Yikes!!
posted by sydney2006 at 08:24 AM on October 06, 2006
Motor City Bad Boys in olde english D What a conundrum: Bill Lambier and Rick Mahorn v. the Yankees. Who to root for?
posted by yerfatma at 09:16 AM on October 06, 2006
Rodman can't hit the curve.
posted by mjkredliner at 09:21 AM on October 06, 2006
At least one of these series will go four games. Say what you will about the Yankees, but so many (I know, not all) of their playoff series in recent history either go the distance or contain a great deal of dramatics. While the Padres, for example, fade off into the sunset without a wimper, we can hopefully enjoy a 5-game series that will entertain and keep us excited.
posted by dyams at 09:28 AM on October 06, 2006
C: Heart. Oh, please. I've seen a lot of teams win with heart. Yesterday was not one of them. It was the underdog pulling off one game in a five-game series. Pudge is zero for eight in this series, and has made some big outs at times when the team really needed him. Don't mistake a steady stream of 100-mile-per-hour fastballs for heart.
posted by BullpenPro at 10:12 AM on October 06, 2006
Ok, y'all got it wrong. I wasn't talking about the original bad boys of basketball days of yesteryear. I'm talking about the present day, fellas. Don't be so literal, alright? Anyway, the sluggers from Motown will crush the Bronx Bombers, Guarenteed 'Sheed.
posted by sydney2006 at 10:15 AM on October 06, 2006
Hey Pro, don't mistake the $$$ for heart...the Yanks are the by far the best team $$$ can buy, & Mr. $ has a lot of heart.
posted by sydney2006 at 10:18 AM on October 06, 2006
I'm still not sure that the kitties can take two more from the Yanks, but they've given me hope. NY has been their biggest stumbling block all year, so I like their chances if they get past this round. Go 'Gers! I'd predicted that their season was done, but I hope they make me eat my words. Anyone know if red or white wine is appropriate with that?
posted by ctal1999 at 10:33 AM on October 06, 2006
Hey sydney, don't mistake an observation that one team's victory wasn't necessarily the result of heart with a claim that the team on the other side has heart. I didn't say a single thing about the Yankees in my comment. But I will say that a high payroll does not preclude the presence of heart. Just look across town. The Mets have had their first two choices for Game-One-starter go down for the whole post-season, but they're not hanging their heads. They're grinding out wins.
posted by BullpenPro at 10:43 AM on October 06, 2006
Hey, stop starting posts with hey ... go Tigers.
posted by gradys_kitchen at 10:59 AM on October 06, 2006
BullpenPro, thought the Tigers displayed heart in game1 by not folding after being down 5-0, and I will bet I-Rod makes some noise before this series is over. Either way, the Tigers staff vs. the Yankees bats is an interesting matchup, we'll see if The Gambler can step up today, I fully expect Johnson to.
posted by mjkredliner at 11:01 AM on October 06, 2006
Jeter has a throwing error and popped out to the catcher trying to bunt. For the love of all that is holy in baseball, please explain to me why either Torre or Jeter decided to bunt in the 1st inning? We are talking about a .34something hitter during the season, and a guy who went 5-for-5 the night before. There is no logical reason to have Jeter bunt the man over to 2nd base. You decrease your chances of scoring a run (1st base, 0 out to 2nd base, 1 out), and you take the bat out of the hands of someone who obviously knows what he's doing. Let him swing away and have a chance to jump all over a young pitcher in the first inning. Either Torre is a fool for being a robotic-follower-of-out-of-touch-baseball-theories, or Jeter is a fool for thinking his appeal to the smallball crowd is going to make him even more beloved by the broadcasting crew.
posted by grum@work at 11:28 AM on October 06, 2006
Jeter did exactly the same thing against Josh Beckett in a game against the Sox earlier this year, a play that also raised eyebrows. I have a hard time explaining it. Both Beckett and Verlander are power pitchers, but I don't know why that would factor into it. I was inclined to right the first incident off to Jeter's thumb hurting and his being unable to turn on a good fastball, but he didn't look too sore on Tuesday. I do know Jeter had never faced Verlander previously. I don't know -- it's a weird play, especially against a young pitcher in his first post-season.
posted by BullpenPro at 12:28 PM on October 06, 2006
mjk: I dunno. I'll give you Robertson, who didn't totally collapse after giving up six straight hits and five runs to start off the third inning and managed to last into the sixth. It's just that the term "heart" gets thrown at any team that's an underdog in a series, or is from a "small market" and "overachieving" in the playoffs (the Tigers are not the former, perhaps the latter). The '86 Mets had great heart. The '88 Dodgers. The '04 Red Sox. These Tigers don't strike me as a club excessively rich in heart. They're a club rich in pretty darn good pitching. Sean Casey and Magglio Ordonez are very good players, but they don't exactly make me weep at the sheer strength of human will. I expect The Gambler to underscore my point about the depth of the club's heart tonight with his usual post-season wilt. If I'm wrong, flay me.
posted by BullpenPro at 12:51 PM on October 06, 2006
I was inclined to right the first incident off to Jeter's thumb hurting Ugh. Right is wrong. Write is right. I'm starting to write off my ability to write right. Sorry for the triple post -- that's a lot of writing. And wronging.
posted by BullpenPro at 01:05 PM on October 06, 2006
Pro, you make some good points and I'll hand it to ya about the Met's cuz it is true, but the Dodgers are not the power line-up that the Yanks are and the Met's are just better. With that said, your'e right about Rogers, we'll just have to see which Kenny shows up. My bet: First half, all-star Gambler-man. Reason: Home turf and heart.
posted by sydney2006 at 01:13 PM on October 06, 2006
How do the Yankees ever lose with that line-up? They should be scoring 10+ runs a game. That's the beauty of baseball. No matter the talent or payroll a good pitcher that pitches well can shut down an offense. The question is does any team have enough pitching to overcome the yankee allstars. I don't have the answer, but it would seem there's a better chance in a 5 game series than a 7.
posted by justgary at 07:06 PM on October 06, 2006
Uh oh. Tige's won game 3. I'd be smiling, but I can't get my foot out of my mouth. Damn, I hate the taste of shoe leather.
posted by ctal1999 at 10:32 PM on October 06, 2006
'99, I think red would go best with shoe leather. By the way, I won my bet: Gambler pitched the game of his life. Reason: Home turf and heart...A lot of it. Nay sayers beware, the cat's are on the prowl.
posted by sydney2006 at 11:02 PM on October 06, 2006
Thanks Syd. I like red better anyway. Man, the cats are up 2-1 on NY and the Twinkies got swept. Who'da thunk it?
posted by ctal1999 at 11:10 PM on October 06, 2006
Not many, for sure. I'm still holding my breathe, though, until the last out, man. The BB's are stil dangerous and their backs are up against the wall, so we'll see.
posted by sydney2006 at 11:13 PM on October 06, 2006
Okay, I'm here to take my crow. Kenny Rogers showed more heart tonight than any man who ever took the mound. After nine dismal, complete and utter failures in the post-season I'm glad that he will have this gem-from-the-heavens to take with him for the rest of his life. He certainly deserves it after everything he has given to the game. Tigers in 4. The Yanks haven't had success with their backs up against the wall since 2003.
posted by BullpenPro at 12:51 AM on October 07, 2006
I haven't followed rogers enough to know much about him, except his hate for camera men, but on every site I read, yankee and non, this was treated as a gimme win for ny. How RJ pitched didn't matter, because NY owned rogers (and they have). So I gotta feel good for the guy. I'd say it was karma if I believed in such a thing.
posted by justgary at 02:33 AM on October 07, 2006
Karma, nothing. I can't believe they went for that same stupid breaking ball, over and over and over. BTW, I'm getting to hate the ESPN commentators almost as much as the Foxtards. Phil Rizzuto wishing a happy birthday to Irma Dinky-dau was better than listening to these idiots talk for ten minutes about the same minor event without having anything new to say about it. "Yeah, that ball was fair...see, it hit the line." "Yeah, you can see the chalk fly up." "Now, wait a minute...they use chalk in the infield, but in the outfield, I believe they use paint." "I believe you're right." "Well, let's look at that again, because I could swear I saw something fly up when that ball hit." "Maybe it was the grass." "Yeah...yeah, you can see on the closeup..." Kill kill kill.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:35 AM on October 07, 2006
I can't believe they went for that same stupid breaking ball, over and over and over. I can't believe they went for that same stupid fantastic breaking ball, over and over and over. It was a thing of beauty.
posted by justgary at 08:46 AM on October 07, 2006
Re-reading it this morning, the sarcasm in my previous comment was pretty thickly veiled. I really, really hate Kenny Rogers in a totally unnatural, I-really-should-see-somebody-about-this kind of way. It is only from an appreciation for the craft that I am able to admire what he did last night.
posted by BullpenPro at 09:51 AM on October 07, 2006
l_b_b, you usually make very reasoned arguments, but the breaking ball crack isn't up to your usual level. Think about it for a minute. What makes a good breaking ball is that it looks like a strike, then makes a crazy move that makes it nearly unhittable. It fools the hitter into seeing a strike, then slips out of reach. If the BBs could have seen his stuff and known where it was going or been able to get a bat on it, it wouldn't have been praiseworthy because they'd have eaten him alive. As it was, he fooled a great offensive lineup time after time, and most of those pitches moved a ton and still clipped the strike zone. The Yanks had two choices. Either stand there and go down looking, or try to hit the damned thing. Last night, they couldn't touch it, but it was better than leaving the bat on their collective shoulder, wasn't it?
posted by ctal1999 at 10:08 AM on October 07, 2006
Even though I still can't get past his incredibly immature and asinine conduct against the dingbat camerman back in Texas, I must say, The Gambler did a heck of a job last night. Before we begin the canonization of a new baseball saint, though, let's try a little levelheadedness. After all, like any other breaking ball picther, the plate ump figures in a lot. If he gives you an extra inch or two in the strike zone, you've got it made. If not, you have to dial it in or start relying more on sliders and fastballs, and you get blitzed. Rogers is a crafty old fart, and once he got some calls early last night, he knew what side his bread was gonna be buttered on, and he kept dropping those big, looping bombs on the Yanks' lineup all night. An impresive performance against a team that's owned him for years, but it's not like he just invented the damn curveball last night.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 01:47 PM on October 07, 2006
I don't care what the weather is like in New York, Mr. Rosenberg, you'd better have a story on my desk by 3am.