That got me thinking, what does the wild card runner-up wind up with for wins?  I’m going to say 91 wins.

“Since that is not possible given the rules of MLB”

Can they change the rules mid-season, or would that take a meta-change?

Can they change the rules mid-season, or would that take a meta-change?

Selig’s essentially a totalitarian dictator who can use his ‘best interests of the game’ clause to institute the sports version of martial law, so I assume they could.  Whether they would is of course an entirely different question.

wasn’t review for home runs implemented mid-season?  I don’t know if that really counts as a rule change though.

Oh snap, the games are important again.

It would be nice if AJ starts to become so predictably good that it almost becomes boring.

Ugh.

Somehow Moose never achieved that last year. He was just plain enjoyable to watch.

Are the YES broadcasters dead? Is there a problem with the mics in the booth? Are they doing this on purpose? Whatever reason, this is delightful. I wish they’d do it for the radio, too.

Ugh.

Great pickoff.

Yay pickoff

Not a bad inning there for AJ.

Matsui with an infield hit!

As slows as Molina is, should he really be eating during a game?

Cano continues to hit with RISP, but Matsui is too slow to score (and the ball got to the LFer quickly).

RISP Cano hit!

[16] Matsui on third - does that count as RISP ? I mean, without putting on the hit&run.

[18] Judges?

Can anybody pull up Cano’s pitches/PA w/w/o RISP?  I’ve wondered if he’s trying to be overly patient w/RISP.  Here he hit the first pitch as he seems often to do.

Gardner with a two out hit with RISP!

This is entertainment!  I heartily approve of the clutchness all-around.

I wonder where the Gardner/Melky platoon ranks in terms of producing from CF in the AL.

“if he’s trying to be overly patient”

... if he’s being overly ...

Where was strike one to Jeter?

did Gardner really just steal on a pitchout?

I was about to ask why Gardner doesn’t steal more, but if they’re going to pitch out then ok.  Wait, he stole on the pitchout?

“did Gardner really just steal on a pitchout?”

Actually not the first time this season iirc.

[26] yeah, the throw almost went to the outfield, but it woulda been close on a good throw, too.

Player A: .264/.364/.422, 18 SB, 3 hr, 20 bb in 174 AB
Player B:  .303./.352/.410, 30 sb, 5 hr, 22 bb in 317 AB

Singleton on Jeter: “His range has really improved, particularly to his left.”

That’s why Singleton is good at his job, unlike the radio voices, who think Jeter has always been great defensively and that anyone who says that he isn’t doesn’t watch the games.

Apparently the strategy against Burnett is to bounce choppers off the plate.

WTF was that bunny hop that Swisher just did ?

Twins must lead the league in 5-letter names in a starting lineup.

[30] A looks like Gardner with a lower BA.  Dunno about B.

Player B has 36 SB.

I know only outs are important, but for those watching - any evident reason for AJ having no strikeouts at all yet?

Walking Harris is pretty darn stupid.

[37 I think he’s having trouble commanding his curve.

You don’t agree with pitching around Harris to get to Mauer?  Weird.

player A is Gardner but you’ve put a typo in his BA to confuse us?

Another wild pitch? Seriously, Burnett?

That looked blockable.

early season bad AJ gives up the 3 run jack right here…

OK, now that’s just farnsing little league.  Enough with the control issues.  Throw the ball over the damn plate.

he missed the target by 3 feet. it was not blockable.  the changeup he should have blocked.

Damon is comically bad at fielding now.

A.J. basically asked the Twins to score there.

[47] His offensive has gotten better with age, his defense has become awful.

A - BG
B - Jacoby?

Gardner with another chance…is another clutch hit too much to ask in one night??

Yanks with a lot of warning track power in this series.

Crawford?

Wow Johnny. What a jokester out there.

AJ certainly being economical.
Eventually, Joba will learn this lesson.
Please, Joba - learn this lesson!

I’ll settle for Joba being good again.

I don’t think I would have even laughed had Johnny fell on his ass on that play.  I pretty much would expect such tomfoolery.

One of these days Swisher is gonna be out in the field with a 20oz cup of beer hidden in his glove.

One of these days Swisher is gonna be out in the field with a 20oz cup of beer hidden in his glove.

I’d be impressed.

A-Rod HR right here.

Clutchness.

Base hit works for me…

Nice Alex, we’ll take it. Is that Johnny Damon throwing out there in left?

Matsui HR right here.

Not a home run? Choker.

What is it about Gardenhire that annoys me so much ? I can’t put a finger on it, I just know it’s there.

Posado can still hit for the cycle.

The bases-loaded situation will seek out Caño.

Posado can still hit for the cycle.

Way to jinx it.

Cano counts bases in his sleep; whenever he gets to three, he wakes up sweating…

Walking Punto = fairly idiotic.

I know what it is. Looking at Gardenhire is like seeing a flash forward to Kevin Youklis ca. 2029.

Cano let that ball play him. Coulda been two.

Cano let that ball play him. Coulda been two.

I can’t blame him there.  Charging that chopper would have meant having to spin completely around to get the out at second.  He made the safe choice.

The Dancing Douchebag in to close it at Fenway. Come on A’s, do it for Billy!

I wouldn’t let Morneau beat me.

how bout the first K of the game, AJ?

Where was that 2-1?!?!?!

God dammit AJ.

Time for Scott Hairston to have his true A’s moment.

On the black according to gameday.

[77] Gameday had it a strike.

Great pitch sequence.

A-K !

A.J. sending love to oscar.

That was a good time for a K.

oh FUCK…stupid NESN cameras, I though Scott Hairston had just hit a game tying wallball. But it died on the track.

1 run in, 1 out, man on first.

A’s making it interesting cutting the Sox lead to 5-4

Burnett struck him out twice there. the 0-1 was a clear strike, sez gameday.

oh FUCK…stupid NESN cameras, I though Scott Hairston had just hit a game tying wallball. But it died on the track. 

Yeah, from the way they showed it I thought it was gone.

Thought this was an interesting write-up on Gardner in the field.

Does AJ really only have 1 K?  Wow.

A’s make it more interesting…tying runner on 2nd now, go ahead at first, two out.

Uh…did I fart and clear the room?

Come on Cust!!

Swish played that like a goalie.

[93] blame [90]. Reading.

That was not the true outcome from Cust I was hoping for.

That save aside, are the Sox worried about Papelbon?  I know he’s 22/24 on saves and has a sub-2 ERA, but he rarely seems to get an easy save.

Blast.  Wonder how jazzed up Paps got with that K.

“Yesssss!  I got out of my own mess!”

poops