October 13, 2004

BOS/NYY Game 2, and HOU/STL 1, thread post. Chat away: Also, for those who've never used it, the Gamecast applet is a useful way to "watch" the game when you can't get a video/audio feed or live broadcast. It shows pitch-by-pitch updates, or summary view, and has the full game log and running box score, as well as player profiles, nicely embedded in an easy layout.

posted by hincandenza to baseball at 08:03 PM - 37 comments

Pedro has looked terrible in the first two inning, but it's still just a 1 run game right now. Other than heroic man-child David Ortiz, the Sox are making Jon Lieber look like friggin' Mike Mussina. The bats need to bail out the Sox tonight, so it can go back to Boston with a split. It's clear their vaunted aces just aren't bringing it... The Hou/Stl game is more interesting- every time my stomach begins to consume itself watching BOS/NYY, I turn to FSNW and try to resume breathing again. It's more enjoyable to watch baseball where I really don't care who wins or loses, and can just enjoy good baseball played well.

posted by hincandenza at 08:09 PM on October 13, 2004

He looked terrible in the first 2? His stuff looked good to me. Just sloppy. Am I the only one that wants to get A-Rod a housecoat-- what's up with the cyanosis? This is painfully reminiscient of Leiber's late-season start against the Sox. Least we're not down 15-0 or whatever it was.

posted by yerfatma at 08:59 PM on October 13, 2004

So, perfect through six last night, one-hit through six tonight. Yowza.

posted by Ufez Jones at 09:09 PM on October 13, 2004

It's become a real pitcher's duel, but where are the red sox bats? Lieber is simply NOT this good a pitcher, a team like the Sox should have at least pushed a couple of runs against him, much less only 1 hit so far.

posted by hincandenza at 09:11 PM on October 13, 2004

Or not.

posted by hincandenza at 09:28 PM on October 13, 2004

There will be no stopping the Cardinals. It doesn't matter who wins the ALCS, they will be destroyed by the Cards.

posted by rocketman at 09:35 PM on October 13, 2004

It doesn't matter who wins the ALCS, they will be destroyed by the Cards. I think it'll be a very good series with either team. The Cards pitching isn't good enough to destroy anyone.

posted by yerfatma at 09:37 PM on October 13, 2004

Amen rocketman, although after having my hopes dashed a couple of times in the NLCS in recent years I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic. Of course the Cardinals are off to a good start.

posted by gyc at 09:44 PM on October 13, 2004

Maybe this rally will succeed (holds breath, hopes not to faint from lack of oxygen)

posted by kokaku at 09:54 PM on October 13, 2004

The Cards pitching isn't good enough to destroy anyone. The question isn't the pitching, at least not the Cardinals' pitching. Obviously they can't start me in Game 2, but they've got starters who can throw strikes and a defense that can make plays. All they need to do is keep the opponent to fewer than 7 runs or so. And I think they can do that. Really, the question is whose rotation will shut down the St. Louis lineup.

posted by rocketman at 10:50 PM on October 13, 2004

Down two games and minus Schilling, do the Sox have a chance?

posted by billsaysthis at 11:26 PM on October 13, 2004

when mariano finally retires it will be a dark day in new york. i love him so much it's unhealthy. i still think this series will end up heading back to the bronx. i'll have some pics that i'll post tomorrow. actually make that later today i guess. nothing spectacular. i think i may have had a mo vaughn sighting though.

posted by goddam at 12:50 AM on October 14, 2004

Sure, they have a chance- the Yanks themselves have recovered from 0-2 in the ALCS in recent years after all. For the sox to win the next two, or even 3, in Boston, won't exactly be unheard of. Doing it without Schilling however will be far harder; it is pretty stunning that his ankle would give out at this of all times, and it sounds highly doubtful that he'll either pitch, or pitch effectively in Game 5- and while Lowe might surprise us, his Achille's heel has always been pressure situations. The Sox concern shouldn't be that neither of their two aces could grab a win to start the series, it's that the Sox bats could not outscore the Yankees: they aren't hitting, they aren't working the counts, Johnny Damon is 0-8 with 5K, Manny Ramirez is striking out pitifully... 3-1 is a hard luck loss for either of these two mighty teams to be on the wrong end of, and but for one pitch to Olerud Pedro gave them everything they could ask, and the bullpen kept the Yanks from piling on. Game 2 was lost because the Sox let Jon Lieber keep them to 1 run! That's inexcusable. The Sox better regress to the mean, in a hard way in the next couple of games. It reminds me of the 2001 Mariners, whose offense heartbreakingly went stone-cold against the Yankees despite being a superior team. These Sox mashed the Angels, and their bats have suddenly gone flat- if that Boston home cooking doesn't wake them up, they're toast. It's clear they'll have to slug their way out of this hole right now, because they can't expect to throw shutouts against the Yankees the next 4 games. [ann coulter]Suffice to say, another one of these fucking "mystique" Yankee wins, and I'll be rooting for Al Qaeda to take a 747 into Yankee Stadium next time.[/ann coulter]

posted by hincandenza at 12:54 AM on October 14, 2004

With Game 3 in Fenway, and Kevin Brown starting for the Yankees, this is the best shot the Red Sox are going to get. Let's see what they can do with it.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 06:46 AM on October 14, 2004

If the Sox lose the next two games, I don't like their chances to win this series.

posted by rcade at 07:13 AM on October 14, 2004

Give rcade a spot on Fox!

posted by kokaku at 09:21 AM on October 14, 2004

No kidding? Um.... you're not related to McCarver or Morgan are you? Sorry if that was taken as a flame not intended to be. If the Yanks start Brown the Sox can DEFINATELY have an easier time of it. I haven't followed baseball too much this year. But, if he pitches like the pitcher he used to be it will be an up hill battle, (it already is at 0 - 2). I don't think the Sox will lose though because at 3 - 0 the Yanks will definately win it before a game 7. A seven game series generates way more revenue than a shorter series and unfortunarely this is about money.

posted by oicnub4 at 09:33 AM on October 14, 2004

most likely scenario is that the Sox take 2 of 3 at Fenway and we go back to NY 3-2 just like last year. Which sucks, I don't want that stress. Just batter Brandon Arroyo and take the 3-0 lead and crush their spirits....

posted by Bernreuther at 10:02 AM on October 14, 2004

I don't think the Sox will lose though because at 3 - 0 the Yanks will definately win it before a game 7. A seven game series generates way more revenue than a shorter series and unfortunarely this is about money. so what are you implying here? are you saying that the yankees will make sure they don't win a couple games so the series can go on longer so everyone can generate more revenue? or that boston's drive to extend the series will be fueled by money? torre always said that game 3 is the most important. we know that the yanks have struggled with arroyo this year, but brown is an enigma. he has the potential to be lights out and he has the mentality for being in these situations. it just depends on if his body will co-operate.

posted by goddam at 10:51 AM on October 14, 2004

so what are you implying here? are you saying that the yankees will make sure they don't win a couple games so the series can go on longer so everyone can generate more revenue? Hahahahaha...last spring, when the Yankees went on an extended "we really suck" spree in the early season, my #2 brother came up with the theory that they were (as he put it) "establishing suckage". They would then, he predicted, gradually get better until they'd established winning form, would quietly win the division by a small single digit number, would then drag the playoffs out to the last possible game...and would then throw the Series. They were on the take, and the fix was already in, he explained; they were just "establishing suckage" so that, when the time came, there would be plausible deniability. Tongue in cheek, of course, but it makes for a nicely paranoid conspiracy theory, dontchathink?

posted by lil_brown_bat at 01:24 PM on October 14, 2004

After reviewing the comments on the first game, I'm proposing that we have a SpoFi Fox Watch during the next game. Every time the Fox Idjits say or do another stoopid thing, post it! Side bets on how many we can count up in one game!

posted by lil_brown_bat at 01:50 PM on October 14, 2004

After reviewing the comments on the first game, I'm proposing that we have a SpoFi Fox Watch during the next game. Every time the Fox Idjits say or do another stoopid thing, post it! Side bets on how many we can count up in one game! Excellent idea!

posted by dusted at 01:52 PM on October 14, 2004

i had a clear shot of mccarver during batting practice but i don't think i could've propelled a peanut far enough to hit him. plus i don't think the hundreds of cops patrolling the grounds would've been amused. (more pics here.)

posted by goddam at 02:26 PM on October 14, 2004

lbb, sounds like a drinking game to me.

posted by billsaysthis at 02:54 PM on October 14, 2004

goddam, I would pay the bail if you dumped a bucket of water on McCarver and got him to say, "You're a real man, goddam."

posted by yerfatma at 04:30 PM on October 14, 2004

Yerfatma, I've met goddam and can assure you that bucket of water or not, even McCarver wouldn't call her a man.

posted by billsaysthis at 05:37 PM on October 14, 2004

lbb, sounds like a drinking game to me. It sure does. Let's see if we can come up with some rules. Here'a few to get us started. The participants shall drink when:

  • The Fox announcers explain about "who's your daddy?" -- even though Martinez will not be pitching.
  • "Schilling" and "questionable" are said in the same sentence.
  • Mention is made of Rivera's seven blown saves vs. the Red Sox.
  • They tell us just how Kevin Brown broke his hand.
  • The Fox announcers go through the whole if the Red Sox win tonight/if the Yankees win tonight possibilities
I figure we'll all be shitfaced by the bottom of the second. Actually, I figure you'll all be shitfaced by the bottom of the second. I have to go to a high school football game which won't get done until nine or so. I'll have to depend on y'all to keep tabs so I can catch up once I get home.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:46 PM on October 14, 2004

Addendum: If that goddamned talking baseball comes on, you get to torch your local Fox affiliate's building.

posted by mr_crash_davis at 08:36 PM on October 14, 2004

Yerfatma, I've met goddam and can assure you that bucket of water or not, even McCarver wouldn't call her a man. I must now request a bikini pic of jerseygirl and yerfatma together. Just because these things are supposedly what I'm supposed to do, as a typical Spofitean male.

posted by hincandenza at 08:45 PM on October 14, 2004

Addendum: If that goddamned talking baseball comes on, you get to torch your local Fox affiliate's building. Sweet, I can take the train down to it. Eat it Steve Eager!

posted by Ufez Jones at 09:02 PM on October 14, 2004

hey now! leave me out out of it!

posted by jerseygirl at 09:39 PM on October 14, 2004

What does jerseygirl have to do with my comment???

posted by billsaysthis at 11:43 PM on October 14, 2004

What do I get for my suffering? I'm looking at a lot of chafing if I have to shave my bikini zone. Again.

posted by yerfatma at 07:04 AM on October 15, 2004

Speaking of Scooter (I think that's his name), I love that Fox didn't get it. Did they honestly think everyone hated Scooter last year because he was animated? They changed him to a puppet look and that's going to make a difference?

posted by yerfatma at 07:05 AM on October 15, 2004

I don't think the Sox will lose though because at 3 - 0 the Yanks will definately win it before a game 7. A seven game series generates way more revenue than a shorter series and unfortunarely this is about money. Yes, all the yankees are in on it, as well as the red sox, and the umpires are getting paid under the table to make it all work as planned. And there is a santa claus.

posted by justgary at 04:35 PM on October 15, 2004

Justgary has a betting problem@!

posted by LROD at 08:10 PM on October 15, 2004

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