GPHoya
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Post by GPHoya on Sept 29, 2011 8:17:19 GMT -5
I wish David Halberstam was alive to write a minute-by-minute dissection of the four games last night. Granted, the Cards-Astros would not take up much dramatic space, but hearing Marco Scutaro explain drawing the balk for the second run and then hesitating between 2nd and 3rd on the uncaught line drive in the 8th would be great stuff. So much grist for the debate on whether fate or flaw explains human destiny wrapped within explicating the craft of playing or not playing smart baseball. It is hard to imagine better theater and I am grateful for 2004 and 2007 and for Theo jumping the shark with the Crawford signing so I have emotional distance that I lacked in 78, 86 and 2003.
If there were any true Tampa Bay fans beyond Dick Vitale, I would congratulate them on an incredibly gritty comeback and wish that they make the Yankees pay for failing to step on their necks when they could have. Surely, the emotionally and physically shattered Red Sox would not have posed as much of a threat.
For now, go Tigers and Brewers.
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Sept 29, 2011 8:45:59 GMT -5
Yankee's threw the game to screw the Sox. Of course if the sox could take care of my pesky Orioles over the last month it wouldn't have mattered.
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guru
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Post by guru on Sept 29, 2011 8:50:37 GMT -5
Yankee's threw the game to screw the Sox. Of course if the sox could take care of my pesky Orioles over the last month it wouldn't have mattered. The Orioles haven't played with that type of heart in about 30 years. That was amazing - shows how much they detest the Sox (and Yankees I'm sure). Not sure if you're kidding about the Yankees throwing the game, but I hope so. That was pure drama.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Sept 29, 2011 10:09:57 GMT -5
If there were any true Tampa Bay fans beyond Dick Vitale, I would congratulate them on an incredibly gritty comeback and wish that they make the Yankees pay for failing to step on their necks when they could have. "You people in Tampa are nawt true fans! You cannot compare to the THE LEGENDARY FANS OF FACK THE YANKEES NATION. NO ONE DENIES THIS!" Comments like that are why everyone outside of New England was rooting against the Red Sox.
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guru
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Post by guru on Sept 29, 2011 10:13:52 GMT -5
If there were any true Tampa Bay fans beyond Dick Vitale, I would congratulate them on an incredibly gritty comeback and wish that they make the Yankees pay for failing to step on their necks when they could have. "You people in Tampa are nawt true fans! You cannot compare to the THE LEGENDARY FANS OF FACK THE YANKEES NATION. NO ONE DENIES THIS!" Comments like that are why everyone outside of New England was rooting against the Red Sox. Agreed that that was a petty, thinly veiled shot at Rays fans (and that Sawx fans can be insufferably smug) - but that park was half empty last night for a playoff-deciding final game of the regular season. That's pretty pathetic.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Sept 29, 2011 10:22:30 GMT -5
"You people in Tampa are nawt true fans! You cannot compare to the THE LEGENDARY FANS OF FACK THE YANKEES NATION. NO ONE DENIES THIS!" Comments like that are why everyone outside of New England was rooting against the Red Sox. Agreed that that was a petty, thinly veiled shot at Rays fans (and that Sawx fans can be insufferably smug) - but that park was half empty last night for a playoff-deciding final game of the regular season. That's pretty pathetic. It was a pathetic turn out and Tampa continues to have many problems as a franchise. That being said, it could be worse--they could have missed the playoffs this year. ;D
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Sept 29, 2011 10:33:08 GMT -5
Sad statistic from Bill Simmons: since Aug. 30, the Sox were 2-18 in games where it scored nine or fewer runs.
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Boz
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Post by Boz on Sept 29, 2011 11:20:12 GMT -5
Cheer up, MEditeds.
Hockey season starts next week!
;D
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Sept 29, 2011 11:39:58 GMT -5
Maybe I'm in minority but as a Yankee fan, I actually thought this collapse was very possible for this Yankee team, due to the lack of Starting Pitching and if CC got hurt like Beckett did-who knows? If you have shaky starting pitching--things can fall apart fast and seemed like Sox were in pen by 4th inning about 4-5 times per week. Eventually you wear down and while their offense scored, they started to press a bit which is also going to happen. Things happen-positive/negative and it's hard to stop the positive momentum but also hard to stop negative swoon--as I'm sure any Yankee fan can attest to in '04.
I'm also glad both the Rays/Sox got to share the equal benefit of a trip from the Proctologist (Scott Proctor) who for some odd reason was signed by Yankees and then even more disgusting--recalled from SWB in AAA despite being awful there as well. He pitched 11+ innings and was involved in 5 Yankee walk off losses in September. Quite feat for the man who was "Torre'd" and very interesting that past 2 nights--Former Rays Pitchers gave up the big HR's to the Rays--Soriano and Wade--who Rays released due to having a good faith deal where they'd let him go if another team had interest in him. Cue up the conspiracy theories but when you have Division lead going into month, huge cushion in Wildcard, get what you deserve.
Also--have to give credit to the "Fightin' Showalters" and Showalter himself for calling this out--said at beginning of month the Rays would be in this-and most laughed him off due to them being 9 out, but not only did he call it--his team was the reason why it happened.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Sept 29, 2011 11:45:50 GMT -5
last nights games reminded me of the first day of the ncaa basketball tournament. teams choking, miracle comebacks and game winning heroics. i'm hoping the postseason is half as exciting as last night. anyone but the yankees....please jose reyes is a coward. Don't think you have to worry about Yankees--this might be the 1st time since '95 I've honestly felt they accomplished something by simply making the Postseason. This is a very flawed team and still trying to figure out how the hell they won the Division with Burnett, Colon, Garcia, and Hughes making up the rotation. I've got Tigers in 4. Echo what you said about Reyes. That was about as gutless as it gets--and on day Ted Williams went 6 for 8 in a DH when he entered hitting .400. Very symbolic of the heart of the Mets. Might have been more fitting if he faked an injury because with Reyes--that is more then believable.
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Post by HometownHoya on Sept 29, 2011 12:23:53 GMT -5
Of course RDF is a Yankees fan ;D
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Sept 29, 2011 13:25:30 GMT -5
He must have learned the "leave the game early to protect the batting average" move from Jeter.
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RDF
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Post by RDF on Sept 29, 2011 13:47:36 GMT -5
He must have learned the "leave the game early to protect the batting average" move from Jeter. Don't think you can have that apply-since Jeter was at .300 and had no reason to play in any of the last 3 games but did so and ended up at .297. If you want to criticize Jeter, at least be accurate where he's worried about his errors and won't throw balls on potential DP's, or he loves to bunt the league's leading SB man (Gardner) to 2B in certain situations to avoid hitting into a DP and getting criticized. That's "Jeter-ian". Of course his arm might be sore from groping opposing players when they reach 2B and having a stop and chat--which is why he's Captain Chat.
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hoyainspirit
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Post by hoyainspirit on Sept 29, 2011 13:51:58 GMT -5
Well, I was hoping for a .500 season from the Nats, and they almost made it, going 80 - 81. The future looks bright. Lots of good young arms. One (or more) of them will be trade bait for a good young (defensive?) outfielder. Looking to make some noise next year! Now, Harper to the Fall league.
Go Sox! Oh, wait....
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kchoya
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Post by kchoya on Sept 29, 2011 18:26:57 GMT -5
He must have learned the "leave the game early to protect the batting average" move from Jeter. Don't think you can have that apply-since Jeter was at .300 and had no reason to play in any of the last 3 games but did so and ended up at .297. If you want to criticize Jeter, at least be accurate where he's worried about his errors and won't throw balls on potential DP's, or he loves to bunt the league's leading SB man (Gardner) to 2B in certain situations to avoid hitting into a DP and getting criticized. That's "Jeter-ian". Of course his arm might be sore from groping opposing players when they reach 2B and having a stop and chat--which is why he's Captain Chat. Talking about 2008 when he left in the middle of game to keep from falling below 300.
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Bando
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Post by Bando on Sept 29, 2011 22:30:15 GMT -5
If there were any true Tampa Bay fans beyond Dick Vitale, I would congratulate them on an incredibly gritty comeback and wish that they make the Yankees pay for failing to step on their necks when they could have. "You people in Tampa are nawt true fans! You cannot compare to the THE LEGENDARY FANS OF FACK THE YANKEES NATION. NO ONE DENIES THIS!" Comments like that are why everyone outside of New England was rooting against the Red Sox. Man, I love Tawmmy.
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Sept 30, 2011 11:24:45 GMT -5
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TC
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Post by TC on Sept 30, 2011 13:41:47 GMT -5
Terrible move. Terry Francona wasn't the one who signed John Lackey instead of CC Sabathia, and he definitely wasn't the one who signed Carl Crawford for no reason other than to try to increase NESN ratings. And simply firing him isn't going to suddenly get an entitled clubhouse in line.
If you fire Tito, you need to blow the whole thing up. Let Papi and Papelbon go. Trade some others.
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hoyarooter
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Post by hoyarooter on Sept 30, 2011 14:27:37 GMT -5
Yes, please!!! The only thing I question about the Yankee-Tampa finale, is, were the Yankees in a position to use Mariano that night? If they were, then given the implications of the game and that the Yankees took a one run lead into the ninth, I think they should have used Mariano. Still, you can't give up a home run to a guy hitting .106.
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Post by HometownHoya on Sept 30, 2011 15:53:48 GMT -5
Terrible move. Terry Francona wasn't the one who signed John Lackey instead of CC Sabathia, and he definitely wasn't the one who signed Carl Crawford for no reason other than to try to increase NESN ratings. And simply firing him isn't going to suddenly get an entitled clubhouse in line. If you fire Tito, you need to blow the whole thing up. Let Papi and Papelbon go. Trade some others. I've heard that its Francona leaving on his own more then the Sox asking him to leave. So doing some checking it seems like it is a bit of both: "The team would simply elect not to pick up those options, a decision he would support given his apparent desire to move on and his displeasure with the team's chemistry." The options they are referring to are 2 one year contracts.
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