The MINUTE Damon got that hit, you knew he was coming in to score.
The Phillies are obviously done. They'll win Game Five quite possibly, but there is zero chance of them getting two in a row at Yankee Stadium behind the arms of Pedro and the suddenly shot Cole Hamels.
Kirk, crackers are a family food. Happy families. Maybe single people eat crackers, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know. It's a market we can do without.
Between A-Rod getting his ring, Brett Favre getting his revenge, and Kobe getting his fourth ring, 2009 has cemented itself as the Year of the Douche in sports.
The greatness of Mariano Rivera has never been more illustrated than in this postseason. His impact is almost immeasurable. You cant say that the Yanks have it wrapped up, because anything is possible, but there are certainly worse positions to be in than up 3-1 with the last two games of the series at home.
I have a real hard time believing that Lidge and Ruiz were scared to throw sliders to A-Rod, because of Damon on third. I mean, Ruiz is one of the best at blocking pitches in the dirt. There’s no excuse for serving it up to A-Rod. And by the way, I tip my hat to Damon – that was such great baserunning. The Phillies got burned earlier this year against Toronto, when Marco Scutaro stole second immediately after being walked. I hope this incident refocuses the Phillies.
Originally posted by Big BadThe Phillies are obviously done. They'll win Game Five quite possibly, but there is zero chance of them getting two in a row at Yankee Stadium behind the arms of Pedro and the suddenly shot Cole Hamels.
I know that right now, it’s one game at a time, baby steps, anything can happen, don’t look ahead, etc., etc. But I can’t help myself from looking ahead...and becoming instantly depressed. Game 5 is not a sure thing by any means, but it is winnable. Game 6, same thing. But then what the HELL do the Phillies do in Game 7? Do you actually start THIS guy…
Originally posted by Cole HamelsI can't wait for it to end. It's been mentally draining. At year's end, you just can't wait for a fresh start.
How can you possibly allow him to throw another inning (if you have the luxury of making that decision)?
If this makes it to Game 7, then (a) that’s a victory in itself and (b) it would redefine the phrase “all hands on deck”. You have Happ. And Thursday is Cliff Lee’s bullpen day. I don’t know. Anything CAN happen, then.
Originally posted by It's FalseBetween A-Rod getting his ring, Brett Favre getting his revenge, and Kobe getting his fourth ring, 2009 has cemented itself as the Year of the Douche in sports.
Post of the Year.
Michigan against the SEC: 20-5-1 (7-3 in bowl games)
I think it's really safe to say that the Yankees are back to where they were a decade ago, where you'd feel like it would take nothing short of fire and holy water to keep them down. They're back to the days where they just won't die and you ALMOST thought they'd come back and tie it in the 9th.
A lot of talk is circulating about Cole Hamels's comments after Game 4 and whether he'll be mentally fit to start a Game 7. But Andy Pettite's given us no reason to believe this series will make it that far. He's quietly become the master of shutting the door in series-clinchers. This one should end on Wednesday.
Win or lose, the World Series MVP has to go to Chase Utley at this point. None of the Yankees have particularly stood out and the numbers Utley's putting up this series are absolutely bonkers.
Burnett's going to catch a lot of hell in the New York media tomorrow. But seriously, who expected him to pitch on three days' rest and have that go well?
Originally posted by It's FalseI think it's really safe to say that the Yankees are back to where they were a decade ago, where you'd feel like it would take nothing short of fire and holy water to keep them down. They're back to the days where they just won't die and you ALMOST thought they'd come back and tie it in the 9th.
Or, the Philly bullpen is just that bad. Just another reason why Rivera is the New York MVP of the last 14 years....Yankees fans haven't been on pins and needles late in games since before the strike.
Fun fact: the only Series MVP from a non-winning team was Bobby Richardson in 1960. Can't believe it wasn't Maz, given that he hit .320 in that Series and hit a frickin' title-winning walkoff.
Kirk, crackers are a family food. Happy families. Maybe single people eat crackers, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know. It's a market we can do without.
Madson could not locate anything consistently. And he waited until the last possible second to throw breaking balls, which was totally unacceptable. Where in the hell were Eyre and Durbin??
A-Rod does not tag up if Victorino is in CF, bad hand and all. Between this and Madson, a loss in this game would be totally on Cholly's head.
As far as I'm concerned, anything more the Phillies do is gravy (I say that now). They won in the last home game of the year and prevented the Yankees from celebrating in their home. There's nothing left to lose - pressure is all on NY.
I hate Johnny Damon, and would like to see him on the Phillies someday.
(edited by Mr Shh on 3.11.09 0042) You askew my mirror. I askew yours.
Originally posted by It's FalseWin or lose, the World Series MVP has to go to Chase Utley at this point. None of the Yankees have particularly stood out and the numbers Utley's putting up this series are absolutely bonkers.
I've been thinking this same thing for two days, who the Yankee MVP is (if they finish it off, that is). Every time Utley comes up, I'm ready for a moonshot. Just sick, and no Yankee is in the same universe. My guess is Mariano, as he (or maybe Sabathia, even without a win, even without being utterly dominant in either game) has been the only sure thing. Logically, if a guy from a crap team could win the regular season League MVP, why not the World Series MVP when there's no one player nearly as dominant?
Texiera, Cano, Cabrera/Gardener, and Swisher have been putrid...as bad as Ryan Howard. For what it's worth, all of them have been simply incredible in the field, but if the Yankees win the series, it will have been in spite of the next-to-zero offensive production from those guys.
Jorge Posada had so many brain-farts this season, that while on the podium, he (understandably) had to concentrate really hard and make sure he remembered to mention The Boss, while *completely* ignoring the question asked of him. We have to make sure that everyone knows that Boss, This Is For You.
I'm happy for Matsui, but the REAL MVP is Damaso Marte. Grace under pressure.
The Yankees deserved to win this series, and the Phillies deserved to lose. Congrats to them.
More small victories (for me):
-Ryan Howard FINALLY connects. -The NY papers (Daily News, specifically) were forced to stop running the stupid anti-Phillies covers on Tuesday, to put un-clutch Texiera on the back with the print "$181M FOR THIS?" -I don't remember Citizens Bank Park being half-empty last year right after the trophy presentations.
-After missing the playoffs, the Yankees amass a yearly payroll never before seen in baseball (so far) -Jeter has a breakout (even for him) season -A-Rod admits to steroids and goes on to have his best postseason ever -Andy Pettite returns to the Bronx and wins the WS clincher. -The Yankees win the World Series, beating the lovable upstart Twins, the constant thorn-on-their-side Angels, and the defending champion Phillies. -The Yankees win the WS clincher by beating Pedro Martinez in the Bronx. -And just to make sure no one has any chance to catch up with them, the Yankees will break the bank (again) on Cuban phenom Aroldis Chapman next year, have an even HIGHER payroll, and probably repeat again, crushing anyone in their way
Seriously, did George Steinbrenner write this script?
Originally posted by Mr ShhI'm happy for Matsui, but the REAL MVP is Damaso Marte. Grace under pressure.
There is no question that Marte was super-clutch, but I have to completely disagree with that statement. If you said "Honorable mention to Marte" I'd agree, but REAL mvp? We definitely are interpreting the World Series a bit differently. Hell, Matsui was really the only other guy besides Jeter that eked out a hit against Cliff Lee in Game 1. He hit a go-ahead home run in Game 2 when the Yankees needed a win. He pinch hits for one at bat in Philly and NAILS another home run. Game 5, while in the end was inconsequential, gets a huge single to create a chance for a big comeback . . . and then has this monster game.
I hate the Yankees but my gaw . . . if that's not "real" MVP, I don't know what is.
As much as people scream about the money the Yankees they spend, they haven't win about a decade. Its all about team chemistry, talent and luck to win the WS. The Phillies had plenty of chances to win this thing as did the Angels. The old guard basically won this thing and yes, I consider Godzilla as the old guard due to his time there. I just had the Steelers and Pens win, now the Yankees. The hat trick has been complete. I wish people would stop screaming about the money since the Yankees give other teams money too and teams like the Pirates just horde it for their own personal use.
Originally posted by lotjxAs much as people scream about the money the Yankees they spend, they haven't win about a decade. Its all about team chemistry, talent and luck to win the WS. The Phillies had plenty of chances to win this thing as did the Angels. The old guard basically won this thing and yes, I consider Godzilla as the old guard due to his time there. I just had the Steelers and Pens win, now the Yankees. The hat trick has been complete. I wish people would stop screaming about the money since the Yankees give other teams money too and teams like the Pirates just horde it for their own personal use.
You've got to be kidding. Yeah, the Yankees go 8 seasons between championships, and they even missed the playoffs once, so that so totally proves that they don't have an unfair advantage. Hey, ANY team could have produced players the quality of Jeter, Rivera, and Posada...and they even might have been able to keep them for a few years. Sure, they couldn't have brought in Sabathia or Texieria...but that probably had nothing to do with the Yankees winning, right? I mean, if the Twins had been able to keep Johan Santana, and the Yankees couldn't have gotten Sabathia or Burnett, that surely wouldn't have made any difference.
The fact is, the system in baseball is broken. And I say that as a fan of a team that benefits from the situation. The current situation ensures that the Yankees will always be competitive and will win frequently; that the other haves such as the Red Sox and the Mets will usually be competitive; and that the have-nots like the Pirates and the Royals will have to find a lucky run just to be competitive for a few years at a time. Of course the Yankees' advantage doesn't guarantee them wins, but it certainly is going to work for them over the long haul.
I don't know the specifics of the Pirates' situation, but the money they're getting is a small fraction of what the Yankees can generate being in the biggest market, and I'd bet my bottom dollar that the Yankees ownership is ending up with a lot more money in their pockets than the Pirates ownership is.
Dunkndollaz: I don't think Matsui should be making plans for a big paycheck just yet. He may be a free agent, but he's a free agent who effectively can't play the field, and who is old in baseball terms. That means he has to find a team that is poised to win now, has money to spend, doesn't have a DH, and doesn't have guys who will need to DH a couple times a week if he's going to be offered big money. And really that's TWO such teams, in order to get some kind of bidding war going. Tough thing to find. Indications are he only wants to play for the Yankees or Mariners, and unless the Yankees just feel they owe him a big contract for the way he played in the Series, they won't want him. They've got an old cather and an old shortstop who could use days DHing, they've got a superstar at third who could use some days DHing because he's been injured, and if they re-sign Damon they'd like to have him DH a lot of the time. If it's down to Seattle, there's no reason for them to give him a big contract.
My team never got money. In fact, they made them travel to another coutnry for their home games at one point.
Pete's right, the system is broken. And look no further than your game six starter for the Phillies to see this.
1994.
We lost all of our players after that year. Most of them went to big clubs for big money, or traded because we knew we would lose them anyway because we could never outbid the big boys.
Gratz to the Yankees and Yankee fans. But as an Expos fan (and now a Cubs fan) I can clearly see from both sides that the playing field is not level by any means.
(edited by El Nastio on 5.11.09 1430) You know, I really don't know what to put here. Close your eyes and thank of something funny!
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Not only was he tall and freaking scary looking, he always had that Mr. Snappy pitch that got away every now and again... nothing like hitting a few people with a fast ball to put the fear into batters.