Let’s go Yankees.

With all the focus on how Alex is slaying his post-season demons, a development that has gone largely unnoticed (at least by the MSM) is that Posada is slaying his as well, given that his career post-season splits are: .243/.358/.396/.754.

Yay Yankees!

[2] I’ve certainly noticed.  Jorge’s playoff performances prior to this year were pretty bad.  I’m a big Jorge fan.  Jorge is now hitting (though the baserunning, forgetting how many outs there are… yikes!) and I’m loving it.

I think my favorite playoff moment (non-WS championship edition) is Jorge standing on 2nd base, fists clenched, screaming in primal joy after his game-tying bloop against Pedro.

I would very much enjoy seeing a stake driven through the Angels this evening.  Good AJ, with backup from the offense.  Pretty please.

Yes, I can complain (about the guys who haven’t shown up yet).  And I can also notice that while we have 3 of the top 10, Phillies have 4.

I’m sensing a “Teixeira goes bonkers”-type game tonight.

Damon’s low on this list, but he’s had a solid ALCS.

And I can also notice that while we have 3 of the top 10, Phillies have 4.

The Angels > the Dodgers

Two of the guys of the bottom 4 (Damon and Teixeira), despite the fact they have been hitting poorly overall have also each had a few big hits in the post-season.  Some of them game-changers (obviously Tex’s walk-off).  Not saying “clutch” tops overall hitting, or we shouldn’t hope/ask for more.  Just that when reviewing how the offense has done we need to keep that in mind.  Swisher/Cano…not so much.  Though we should note that Cano has twice as many walks as Damon!

I do like how the Yankees have the only offense AND the only pitching/defense that has been a positive in the AL playoffs so far.  Of course, that obviously goes together (somewhat) since the Yankee offense is a big reason other team’s run-prevention has sucked, and Yankee pitching (notably CC) is a big reason other team’s offense hasn’t done much.

[4 & 7] Quick math, Yankees top 3 have been 14 bRAA, Phillies top 4 have been 13 bRAA.

These stats don’t account for the fact that A-Rod and Sabathia don’t have the ability to go to the World Series.  They have an undeniable negative impact when their teams are one game away from the WS.  Verducci told me so.  A-Rod and Sabathia’s teams: 0-7 with a chance to clinch the pennant.  Imagine what they can do with their forces combined.

You know what’d be tight? If our number three hitter hit better than our backup catcher going forward.

Both backup catchers, actually.  Damn.

If the Yankees miraculously pull off an ALCS win, I think Teixeira will do well going forward in both the bandbox or the wind tunnel.

If the Yankees miraculously pull off an ALCS win, I think Teixeira will do well going forward in both the bandbox or the wind tunnel.

IMHO, Teixeira looked a lot better on Tuesday.  Seemed to be staying back on the ball better, and hit some good line-drives, some of which were foul.

our backup catcher

Jorge Poada?

*s*

So, the Red Sox are -9 runs hitting and -7 runs pitching.  Can we get an update on their odds of winning the World Series?

For those interested in how Yankee players are doing in the Fall and Winter leagues, Chad Jennings has an update, and I also found this on the SWB Yankees site.  IPK appears to be doing well; based on his numbers I’d guess the ERA is do to a clumping of hits in an inning.

Also nice article on Burnett.  He seems like an all-around good guy.  While I’ll take talent over how nice a person is, I’m sure most of us here, appreciate when players on the team are likeable.  I was originally against his signing, worried about the money/years, and how likely it was he would break down physically.  But he’s been healthy, a solid #2, and even if he’s overpaid it wasn’t by much.  Add in he seems to bring solid character to the team…I’m sold.

Are we still allowed to complain about the offense if they’ve been better than anyone else in the AL?

Only on the complaint thread.

A-Rod and Sabathia’s teams: 0-7 with a chance to clinch the pennant.  Imagine what they can do with their forces combined.

It’s simple math.  Over the next three games: 0-49.

[16] Add in he seems to bring solid character to the team…I’m sold.

If he wins tonight, and I would probably agree.

[16]If signing Burnett meant not getting locked into Lowe for 4 years, then I have no problems with it.

[17] Is this the complaint thread? I know the last thread was the Steve Phillips/Bam Bam Hundleyhouser thread. The thread before was the praise Kate Hudson/Goldie and MacReady thread. So, this MUST be the complaint thread.

Also, that was some biblical math at the end there Frog.

Biblical math?  So, is that in cubits or spans?

The lone comment at LoHud says “the bullpen better be rested.”  That would be the bullpen that Joe G micromanaged so that no one faced more than four batters on Monday and that had Tues off except for Gaudin’s 1-2-3 9th, and had an off day yesterday, and that if they win today get almost a week off.

Yeah, they might be locked and loaded.

So you’re saying they’re going to be rusty?

He’s saying we need extra complaint threads, just in case.

So, the Red Sox are -9 runs hitting and -7 runs pitching.  Can we get an update on their odds of winning the World Series?

According to Peter Gammons, about 87%.

I guess when you have 12 aces, you can make up having been eliminated from the playoffs for 2 weeks.

It’s never over.  Just remember that.

Sox are stoked at the prospects of playing some home games in the World Series.  They’ve fired and replaced their groundskeepers, which should allow Pedroia to handle grounders on a properly groomed field.  I’d hate to be the Phillies right now.  The Sox will probably sweep.

Apparently beating up on people’s grand predictions for the Sox is never over, yes.

The Sox were a good team.  They got beat, but damn, if somebody picked them to win it wasn’t crazy.

Gammons is a senile fool, and I actually feel a bit bad for him.  Picking on him almost isn’t fair…

For all the ridicule we’ve directed at Halos Heaven, this is pretty damn funny, especially the part about the blown Posado/Cano call.

I heartily approve of that post.  Top quality stuff.

Teixeira comes alive tonight. Just like Frampton.

Is it me, or does it seem like there are just too many people in the MM writing in Yankees - Phillies? Lackey got screwed by his defense in game 1, and AJ, even when he looks dominant, can lose it for an inning or two. A game 6 won’t surprise me. Hope I’m wrong though.

[2] Posada’s clenched fist an primal scream: totally an iconic image.  Also Paulie slapping the RF wall at Atlanta after snaring Polonia’s liner to save G5 ‘96 WS.

See this is the reason I still go to ESPN:

arthur ((south philly))

Keith, ryan howard added another trophy to his impressive collection last night, if you still think adrian gonzalez is a better player then him, you must be on crack

Klaw (1:18 PM)

I suppose Philly residents would be experts on crack…

Just to clarify, the Sporting News’ Manager of the Year is not the official Manager of the Year, right?

Mike Scioscia can’t win the actual Manager of the Year, can he?

The Sox were a good team.  They got beat, but damn, if somebody picked them to win it wasn’t crazy.

I think the issue was less w/ the Sox being picked, as it was with the attitude of the selectors.  For example, when Kruk wrote an article on ESPN a couple of weeks before the season started, and he noted that EVERY team had issues heading into the post-season, EXCEPT the Red Sox.  I think anyone that picked the Sox and gave a rational reason based on matchups, etc, would have been fine.  It was those that fawned over the Sox like it was destiny or something.

Just to clarify, the Sporting News’ Manager of the Year is not the official Manager of the Year, right?

No, it looks like there is a BBWAA award that is the “official” one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manager_of_the_Year_Award.

Why couldn’t Scioscia win it?  Besides the fact he probably doesn’t deserve it of course?

I notice that whining cartoon excludes swisher getting called out on that ridiculous tag-up play. Or kazmir letting 10 guys on base in 4 ip.

[38] That guy seems to have a bit of a sense of humor about it. Maybe I’m wrong, but it seems like he’s poking a bit of fun at the other author. I was amused either way.

Teixeira comes alive tonight. Just like <strike>Frampton</strike> Franklin.

Fixed.

Or kazmir letting 10 guys on base in 4 ip.

If you would have been properly following HalosHeaven and the shocking conspiracy they have unearthed, you would have realized Kazmir ONLY struggled because the umpire was squeezing the strike zone on him. Without that it would have been a 1-1 pitchers duel with him and CC, and who knows what happens from there.

This may be the greatest post ever on halosheaven. It is staggeringly… something. I don’t even have a word to express how I feel about it.

Is it game time yet?

In Keith Law’s chat, someone asked him about MLB going away from fixed-schedule playoffs to a more flexible schedule.  Law’s response (don’t feel like looking it up) was that someone from MLB told him they wouldn’t change it becaue of all the scheduling (hotels, flights, etc) that needs to take place, they NEED the fixed schedule. 

I don’t get that; if the ALCS goes until Sunday night, they have two days (and a little more) to book hotels and all for game 1 of the World Series.  How is that any different than the series is over tonight and they start Sunday instead?

And yes I know the real reason is “TV”, but still!

Who is managing for the Yankees tonight, or Girardi ain’t fired?

[43] That seems like bullshit to me. For XC (at least in DIII) the regional races determine who goes to Nationals. The list is released the Monday after regionals and Nationals is on Saturday. This gives approximately 600 people about 3-4 days to book travel and rooms. I’m pretty sure baseball, with considerably more money and sway can manage booking flights for 40-50 people on short notice.

A lot of teams prebook hotels assuming they will make it, but still.

[44] It seems rather silly that so many baseball people are so unwilling to admit this.

I don’t get that; if the ALCS goes until Sunday night, they have two days (and a little more) to book hotels and all for game 1 of the World Series.  How is that any different than the series is over tonight and they start Sunday instead?

The difference is that everything is already booked for all possible locations for the pre-scheduled start date.  It’s easy to cancel the reservations you won’t need.  It’s damned hard to scramble to get somewhere on a couple of days notice.  One of the LoHud guys talked about this after the ALDS.  Couldn’t get any kind of decently direct flight out of Minny when the series ended after three games.

I’m pretty sure baseball, with considerably more money and sway can manage booking flights for 40-50 people on short notice.

It’s not about 40-50 people from MLB, it’s about literally thousands of media people.

[46] As a former minor sport NCAA D 1 athlete, no offense, but the World Series is a much bigger money event than DIII XC Champs.  There’s about a million and a half foreign reporters, etc.  And fans who’ve paid several thousands of dollars for hospitality suites want to at least have the security of having to keep one night open rather than several. 

Now, TV is obviously a major driver.  But there’s tremendous money in so many places tied into this event that I think it goes well beyond the logistical ability to house players and team personnel

I thought I’d strategized nicely in having this be the one game I missed.  But it’s going to be nerveracking sitting through a lecture until 10 PM tonight.

[50] I am at work until 11 tonight, however I can check updates online and may even be able to leave the office a little early if all goes well.

I’m somewhat impressed with the ability to get it all together as fast as they do.  Imagine if the Super Bowl city were determined by the teams playing.

Now, TV is obviously a major driver.  But there’s tremendous money in so many places tied into this event that I think it goes well beyond the logistical ability to house players and team personnel

I just hope the counter argument about unnecessarily dragging out a series, and possibly losing whatever MOMENTUM by the teams and fan interest, is at least also a significant factor. It’ll probably cost more to be flexible, but the extra cost could be viewed as an investment too.

It’s one of the reason why I don’t follow the NBA playoffs as much. Lots of dissipated drama.

from Halo Heaven post: SO OUR team lost 2 games, that is why it’s a 7 game series and not a 3 game series.

That’s so damned unfair.  You mean if OUR team had lost two it would have been a three-game series???

[50] and [51], I get all the pitching changes now, it’s for all the people working late. The business side of things!

[53] Of course, momentum is killed just as much when a team sweeps and has to wait while its prospective opponents battle it out in a series that goes the distance.  And all the made-for-TV extra off days hurt momentum and fan interest as much as a long layoff for a team that wraps up a series quickly.  But that’s really a separate issue from the pre-set inflexible schedule.  I’d think that MLB could lose the former easily enough at a cost of only money.  Except that they do come in handy if it rains.

LOL!

Right, and to the left
Right, and to the left

That is well done.  Bravo to HH.

Oh man, why did I click on Clay’s link?  That post is… something, alright.

so yes, this is FAR and AWAY the most STACKED team in the league, by about 80 million dollars!!!  That being said, Baseball is about momentum and chemistry, that is why this Yankee team still lost 57 games this year despite being stuffed to the neck with cash.

Momentum and chemistry, folks.  That’s what baseball is about.  And remember, the Angels players are uncompensated.  That’s right, folks, they play for the LOVE OF THE GAME!!111!

That was my favorite part too.

[58]  He actually makes a pretty good point, though.  With their Payroll, the Yanks definitely should have gone 147-15.

[58] He actually makes a pretty good point, though.  With their Payroll, the Yanks definitely should have gone 147-15.

I’m glad they didn’t, it’d make getting swept by the Mighty Duck Angels here on out that much more frustrating.

I might be too harsh, but I didn’t get the feeling that it was a joke. It would fit in very well with that site if they actually believed there was some massive conspiracy.

[62] I got that feeling because they put it into comic book form using frames from JFK. If I were all serious about a conspiracy I’d simply write some sort of illogical rambling and incoherent paper/post rather than taking all the time to put it into a strange medium.

Can the grittiest of the grittiest Angels be last in offense? Surely you forgot to include Grit?