First!

Is this the complaint thread?  Because I have none tonight.

don’t forget a fully rested bullpen.  if the yankees commit to four innings of hughes and mo, then AJ can shoot for a “quality start”. 

I have a feeling Posada will catch on thursday.

Well, come to think of it, Posada is a god-awful baserunner, and the umpiring continues to be atrocious.

But otherwise, all is good in the world right now.

So now the Yankees have three chances to close this series out, behind A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte (if necessary) and Sabathia on full rest (again if necessary). You have to like their chances, right?

I’m optimistic. But uh, I’m just thinking about the next game, and want nothing to do with any other hypothetical Pettitte or Sabathia game against the Angels.

Angels in 5.

I’m so pleased with CC and even more so with Arod. I can’t believe how timely and how huge all of Arods hits have been. God bless Kate Hudson.

I just keep watching the video of A-Rod’s two run shot.  I have never seen such a beautiful swing.  That swing belongs in the Louvre it is so beautiful.  Mon dieu.

A precision umpiring outing would have yielded a win for the Halos.

I assume the Angels or the douches at HalosHeaven will file an official protest with the league asKing to restart the game from the point of the blown call at 3B.

Also, I too laughed at the girl crying, “taste the happy, Michael. TASTE IT!”

Oh yeah, SG is prescient.  From the pregame analysis in the game thread, lest you all forgot:

Posada may be able to get on base, but if he does he’ll either run the bases horribly enough that he won’t score,

Oh, and CC was Bam Bam Funkhouser good tonight, this series, this postseason, and this season.

From NY1’s post game interviews: Jeter is an awesome interview. If awesome = bland.

My God, I thought Sox fans could be bitter, I’ve been reading through the postings on HaloHeaven (where good Angels go when they get put down) and it feels like one of those flag-burning protests you see in Egypt; just so much hostility, and confusion.  Poor, poor little men.

Maybe most people would take Greinke, King Felix, or Halladay over CC for any given game, but when you have to rely on one starter in a series of games, sometimes on short rest, I think I would take CC.

Thanks B-Man from previous thread. But I guess my question was that as long as Cano stayed on the 3B bag, then no matter what, at worst, it could be one out, right?

Or more simply, it was totally Cano’s fault as he should have just been on base. Assuming it’s normal human error to overrun the base.

HaloHeaven no doubt has analogs in the Yankee Universe, unfortunately.  Thankfully, the Angels fans I’ve known have been pretty laid-back.

Awesome win, even if I’m rooting for both teams so that my head it spinning (Angels won more recently, one of the reasons I’d prefer the Yankees this season).

McLelland in postgame presser: I believed “in my heart” that Swisher left early.

I guess regarding Posada, he should have given up earlier and just got tagged out. Instead of getting back to 3B and risking Cano’s concentration level.

McLelland in postgame presser: I believed “in my heart” that Swisher left early.

I’m thinking that the shot from the tv, most ump would be in similar position and base the leaving early part on “heart” and sound and experience or something. It’d be pretty difficult to look at the catch and the baserunner to see if he left early.

What he did on the none double play at 3B is a totally different matter.

Maybe most people would take Greinke, King Felix, or Halladay over CC for any given game, but when you have to rely on one starter in a series of games, sometimes on short rest, I think I would take CC.

I think I’d agree.  Those guys are all great, but I don’t know how well they would do if asked to pitch three times in a seven game series.  I guess Halladay might be up to the task given his typical efficiency.

Angels in 5.

Not possible.  But Angels in 7 is, and that’s what I’m predicting.

HaloHeaven no doubt has analogs in the Yankee Universe, unfortunately.

Lohud, as far as the comments, for sure.

LoHud:

UPDATE, 12:26 a.m.: Jorge Posada kept his assessment of Alex Rodriguez pretty cut and dry. “I think he’s proven that he’s probably the best player in baseball.”

What was the explanation on the Po/Cano 3B debacle from the umpire? Why wasnt it a DP? Just wondering because according to HalosHeaven the Angels had the Yankees right where they wanted them (behind by 5 runs facing a pitcher who hasnt allowed that in 3 combined starts this postseason) before that blown call lead to zero extra runs.

[23]  The ump said he thought cano’s foot was on the bag when he was first tagged, and then posada was off the bag when he was tagged out, but that replays showed he was wrong about cano.

I almost can’t blame him on that either.  who stands so casually a foot off the bag like that?

[16] I guess you’re right that Cano was more to blame.  Because there’s no earthly reason to advance to 3rd base but then stand inches away from the bag.

And if you look at it again, it’s not like Po’s awesome turbo-charged momentum carried him past 3rd.  He was already slowing down and just sort of drifted aimlessly off the bag.

Man what was that play at third. Has there been an explanation for the actions of Posada, Cano or mcclellen?

Nevermind, I should try reading.

“Who stands so casually a foot off the bag like that?”

Only Robinson Cano. No one else in the history of baseball or the universe.

The ump said he thought cano’s foot was on the bag when he was first tagged

That’s what I guessed, especially as the ump might be slightly blocked. Or he was just going by his “heart” if not blocked.

I don’t want to get too down on the ump. It shouldn’t happen, but whatever the reason, he was having a really bad day. I guess I’m too big of a softy.

But the umps should confer more, or that should be the option before plunging into replay. It’s hard to believe if they gathered together, and the home plate ump said that he was off the bag, fo shizzle, McLelland would have stuck so adamantly to his guns.

Kepner notes all the calls that helped the Yankees.

So I went to a game in May, I want to say.  Sabathia allowed the tying run on an infield hit and Superfan in front of me grabbed his fat little son (wearing his fat little eighth grade football jacket) and said: “That’s it.  We’re outta here.  What a fat fuckin’ lazy disaster.”  The son weighed 180 easy.  And he had his dad’s genes.

That play was awesome in a Meacham-Dale Berra kind of way.

ESPN Deuce replaying Sports Nation from this AM.  The verdict: CC on short rest = foolish.

“Only Robinson Cano. No one else in the history of baseball or the universe.”

This is so true. I can’t think of another player goofy enough to do that.

What’s amazing is that, if the Yanks win Thursday, the ALCS MVP is probably CC, right?

Even with A-Rod hitting like crazy (including the game-saving homer in Game 2).

What an awesome “problem” to have (and hell, one that could be avoided if they just gave ‘em both Co-MVP)!

What’s even more twisted, Brian, is that if Wang were healthy, we wouldn’t be in this position.

“Only Robinson Cano. No one else in the history of baseball or the universe.”

This is so true. I can’t think of another player goofy enough to do that.

And it worked.

It’s Alex’s MVP to squander at this point. I’m guessing it’ll take a game 7 to put CC back over the top, and I rather have no whiff of a game 7.

Wang would have tanked the season if allowed to make more starts, is that what you are getting at John?

[20] Kruk was saying a similar thing on BBTN.  I understand the limitations of human ocular skills, but then doesn’t the if-in-doubt default have to be a safe call on the appeal?  Doesn’t it have to be egregious and unmistakable to ring him up?

“In my heart”, I believe McLelland’s wife went down on the entire Broncos offensive line tonight.

It’s Alex’s MVP to squander at this point.

No, CC gets MVP if Yanks win in 5 or 7.  If 6, it’s A-Rod.

The not touching a base thing has worked before in the postseason (see: Holiday, Matt). So, he is destined to be a Yankee. Full circle.

Am I too late to coin the term “Girardiproof” to mean “a game in which a starter pitches eight innings while the offense builds a five run or greater lead”? The best part of this game was seriously that there was nothing Girardi had to do but let CC go and then let some guy (sorry, Chad) mop up an inning.

I love that when Alex is “not trying to do too much,” he hits moonshots.

Did the Yankees win tonight?  Because I am only hearing and reading about the umpires.

Frog- the Yankees won, but only because they paid off the umpires. Several reputable blogs have indisputably proven that.

Kepner:

Derek Jeter left Angel Stadium tonight holding a bottle of Nyquil. He’s playing pretty well for someone who’s sick, no?

Can we assume Jeter is so awesome that he is not only able to post in the gamechatters here while playing the field, but he is also playing through H1N1?

[46] He looked a little under the weather from the post game.

[46] I noticed him coughing a bit during some at bats and in the on-deck circle.

Keith Law on ESPN radio: Eric Aybar is dumb.

You guys are all so awesome.

Obviously, Jeter caught the monster.

Missed the game, just caught it on the DVR. Wow, this blog is a fucking juggernaut. It is a runaway beer truck rolling downhill with no breaks, out of control.

Also, I too laughed at the girl crying, “taste the happy, Michael. TASTE IT!”

The only thing missing was her wearing a Red Sox shirt. Still, I will always remember it as if she was.

Oh, and CC was Bam Bam Funkhouser good tonight, this series, this postseason, and this season.

I have no idea what this means, but I like it anyway. I like saying and hearing the name “Bam Bam Funkhouser”. Whoever he is.

[115] Was the prediction of the night. Booyah !

One. More.

Via Feinsand: “He wants it; you can tell by the way he’s swinging,” Torii Hunter said. “That guy is a bad guy. I wish he was on my team.”

Wonder if the hubub in Anaheim will be anything like when Alex made similar comments ...

[32] Beat ya to the punch hours ago.

Cold water: Not wanting to take anything away from Bob’s Big Boy outing (for which I praised him), but once the Yankees bid a fond farewell to WOE at 5-0, it was basically easy sailing.

Just sayin’.

Oh yeah, the Angels loom.

I have no idea what this means, but I like it anyway. I like saying and hearing the name “Bam Bam Funkhouser”. Whoever he is.

It’s a she, and she’s awesome.

When this season of Curb Your Enthusiasm comes out on DVD, you should give it a shot. Funny stuff.

No, CC gets MVP if Yanks win in 5 or 7.  If 6, it’s A-Rod.

I think CC is in the lead right now, but ARod could still win it, even if series ends tomorrow.  E.g. Yanks go into top-9 down 3, battle back and ARod hits a 2-out, Grand Slam to put them ahead for the clincher.  Or something not quite as clutch but still historic, like hitting 3 HR in a game.  Honestly, the way he’s playing right now can you discount him from doing something like that?  But if it is a ho-hum game where Yanks take early lead and ARod is just normal (only one HR), it is CC’s award.

I think I will take CC over anyone, perhaps even Halladay. I don’t think Grienke, as good as he is, is as good as he was this year. Felix is good, but he gets to play in one of the biggest ballparks in such a not great league.

CC is life.

On the other hand, he is no Josh Beckett, the VP of playing the game the right way.

Girardiproofed….... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Pin- Re Ms. Funkhouser, think Mom, from Home Alone, batshit crazy, with a side order of slut, after electroshock therapy.
On thorazine.

So who are we rooting for tonight?  I don’t think the WS starts until Wednesday, correct?  So even if it goes 7 I don’t think that will affect who starts game 1 for either team.  Part of me then is rooting for the Phillies; Yanks will win tomorrow so let each team have the same amount of time off to “break the momentum”.  I don’t know if there’s anything to that, but it’s less likely I’ll have to hear about it if both teams have the same amount of time off.  Also if the NLCS and ALCS are both done tomorrow some nice pie in Selig’s face about there being NO baseball for almost a week!

[63] I’d like to see Lidge blow a save because he has been regaining his confidence.

[64] I have a lot of confidence that A-Rod will take Lidge deep at least once if it’s Yankees-Phillies.

So Vicente Padilla goes from being a headhunting punkass bitch in Texas to exactly the guy the Dodgers want on the bump in an elimination game?

Billingsley: did he stop eating his Wheaties?

Man what was that play at third. Has there been an explanation for the actions of Posada, Cano or mcclellen?

After the game The crew chief said, “We’ve been calling guys tagged standing next to third that way all year. Standard neighborhood play.”

Sterling and Waldman (respectively) quotes from the daily news.

“There’s going to be a third out, but I’m not sure why.”
“We saw rallies before the Rally Monkey existed.”

I miss listening to them.  I might have to do the mute-the-tv-listen-to-the-radio thing.

[65]  Hopefully, it will be of the stat-padding variety.

Today’s headline:

“Girardi decision to start Sabathia on short rest backfires as Bombers’ 10-run outburst causes ace starter’s 8 innings to go to waste”

OMGWTF IS UP WITH POSADA!?!?1/1

He nearly cost usp game with stupid playing!!!

Re: Bam Bam Funkhouser, its the new synonym for ‘crazy’ I am trying out.

Catching up with some podcasts and in Bill Simmons mlb play-off preview with former Red Sox and current MLBNetwork dullard, Sean Casey, and predictably Sean was CONVINCED the Red Sox were winning it all. He also predicted the Yankees would lose in the first round. Sometimes baseball makes me so happy.

Yay easy win! 

The umps were awful, though.  They got two calls wrong on Swisher, back to back (maybe the second was a makeup call?).  Then the play at 3rd, which was just ridiculous. 

Posada is a terrible baserunner (Cano’s not all that good either, apparently).  But he also hits doubles and HRs and stuff, so I’ll live with it.

[73] Yeah - You’re watching those two clowns (Posada and Cano) and saying “OK - So Posada will stay in the rundown just long enough to let Cano get to third, and will then allow himself to get tagged out.” Instead, they did what they did.

[73] Maybe Jorge should bat ahead of ARod? I’m 90% certain Jorge could make it home from second safely on a homer.

Ah, so this is the complain thread.

Is [70] from Lombardi?

[76] - Imagined

Does Girardi start Posada on Thursday to see if it’ll ‘work’ for the WS - assuming the Angels blow their obvious advantage in this series?

“OK - So Posada will stay in the rundown just long enough to let Cano get to third, and will then allow himself to get tagged out.”

Well, that’s exactly what he did.  Plus, when he got back to third and realized that Cano wasn’t on the bag and was about to get tagged out, he cleverly over-ran third so that he could screen McClellan.  Brilliant, heads-up play right there.

OK, now how many smiley thingies do I have to insert here to be sure that nobody takes that seriously?

McClelland really blew a bunch of calls. It’s particularly damning when the instant replay of your face makes you look like you were half asleep and certainly not looking at Swisher’s foot on the bag.

I cackle every time I read a recent A-Rod article.

I am actually excited to see how Posada or Cano could possibly top themselves as far as horrible baserunning. They both seem to be on a mission this season to make the biggest baserunning blunder possible and they really took things up a notch last night.

What is left for them? Over-running a runner ahead of them during a walk-off HR? Running to third instead of first after driving a double in the gap? Skipping second base entirely and going first to third by cutting directly across the grass?

Well, that’s exactly what he did.  Plus, when he got back to third and realized that Cano wasn’t on the bag and was about to get tagged out, he cleverly over-ran third so that he could screen McClellan.  Brilliant, heads-up play right there.

But Posada could have not over-ran, got to and stayed on the bag, this way it would have been even less dependent on McClellan’s judgment. Posada was too cavalier there, he gots to make sure all the outs are called before leaving the base.

I am actually excited to see how Posada or Cano could possibly top themselves as far as horrible baserunning.

Please don’t feed the bad base running trolls.

I’m somewhat…perked up…over the idea of a girl named “Bam Bam”.

[82] You forgot hitting a homer, running through first and back into the dugout as if thrown out.

Nah, I’m kidding. That ain’t any more likely to happen then heading to the dugout after strike 2. Oh, wait…

What is left for them?

Hitting a HR, but being deked by Torii Hunter into believing he caught it.  They’re called out because they return to the dugout w/o touching any base.  The most amazing part will be the fact that this happens BACK-TO-BACK.

McClelland really blew a bunch of calls.

On Mike and Mike this morning they were pretty much SCREAMING for instant replay.  They’re right; if ALL of the wrong calls in ONE game last night didn’t point out the fact that they could use replay, I don’t know what will.  Really, what will it take?  I’d almost - almost - like to see a clear-cut, game would be tied (or other team leading), INSTEAD of game over, in a game 7 this year, blown by an ump’s call (kinda like that ball in dirt a few years ago).  Something REALLY blatant.  Almost because since I think the Yanks will win the WS they’ll either be losing on said play, or winning on it and I’d have to hear about it for at least a year.

A-Rod’s career postseason OPS is now .951 (as compared to .965 in the RS).

CC’s career postseason ERA is down to 4.72.

Coolstandngs seems to LOVE the Yankees over the Phillies in the WS.  They currently have the Yankees as 54.7% favorites to win it all vs. 34.1% for Philadelphia.  (The Dodgers and Angels are 5.9% and 5.3% respectively.)

[86] So they’re totally writing the Red Sox off ?

They’re right; if ALL of the wrong calls in ONE game

I’d rather they make greater use of ump conferences, rather than go to instant replay. I’m assuming that would have fixed both of the third place misreads. Or just one of them.

[88]  I’m not sure if it would have fixed ANY of them.  Maybe the home-plate ump didn’t have a clear view of Cano, for example.  Wouldn’t it be even worse if the umps spend 2-3 minutes discussing it, and STILL make the wrong call because no-one had a clear view?  Or because the crew chief was the one who screwed up and even if another ump thought he did, wasn’t willing to embarass him if said umpire wasn’t 100% sure?

I don’t know what the “right” way to implement replay is.  Is it challenge flags with a limited number of challenges?  Is it like hockey w/ a central place reviewing all calls and alerting officials if they want to look at something close?  Replay-only officials at the game w/ that power?  I’m sure the current method isn’t working sufficiently, and I know they can experiment all they want in AAA to try to find the “right” approach.

I think villanx has a point: the home plate ump really should have been able to correct the Cano/Posada call.  He needed to have a conference and then overrule.

The pickoff & tag up plays, on the other hand, are the sort that only replay would help with.

Posada’s running is just a comedy of errors.  First, he fails to score from 2nd on a double (deked by Hunter).  His bad, he says.  Ok.  Then he breaks home on a comebacker (wtf, Jorge?  You’re slow as dirt, you do not go on contact).  Then the play at 3rd that the ump blew.

That’s an absolute clusterfuck, all inside about 3 minutes.

The one thing I can’t get over in the postgame interviews at the desk is that some Yankees have really odd or prominent ears that they keep fiddling with.  Makes me want to check myself for earwax…

Dirt is slow?

[83] Let me repeat: “how many smiley thingies do I have to insert here to be sure that nobody takes that seriously?”

Apparently, a couple more.

Is it challenge flags with a limited number of challenges?

I don’t know much about the right way to use replay, but I know that this is the wrong way.  Why should the outcome of a game or a series hinge on whether a manager has chosen to challenge too many prior close calls?  How is that an improvement over the outcome hinging on an umpire’s mistake?

[94] I should have added ?

[79]  THANKS!!!! I couldn’t see the game because I was teaching, and reading hte descrptions I couldn’t understand what Po thought he was doing.  I mena, he’s a smart guy making a dumb play?

But staying in the rundown and screening the ump, that’s Georgie!!!11!!!11!!!

[91] And wasn’t it all set up by him somehow stealing second? Probably the most bizarre baserunning series of events we will ever see.

[94] Because we could then second guess manager’s instead of umpires? And managers can be fired, whilst umpires, much like the Supreme Court, are apparently appointed for life.

[95] Or three.  Or maybe we both just need to try to be a little, you know, funnier when we’re trying to be funny.

And wasn’t it all set up by him somehow stealing second?

That explains it.  He felt guilty about stealing the base, and didn’t think it would be right for him to score as a result of such an improbable event.

[98]  That’s like the old Woody Allen line from back when he did standup: “Back in little league, I used to steal second base, then I’d feel so guilty I’d go back.”

“Seems like the way the Angels are believing in themselves again that the only way we can get a win out there is to have (1) an 8 inning shut down performance-which is asking a lot or (2) to score early and often and especially late in the game.”

This was my post from yesterday morning. Amazingly, we pretty much got what I had hoped for.  CC was sharp through 8, we scored first and really knocked them out of it with the two homers. I’m a happy camper today.