It feels weird...

Doesn't feel like it should be the ALCS. Not without the Yankees. It doesn't feel right.

No disrespect to Cleveland. I honestly think they have a real good shot at beating Boston. But something is missing without the bitter hatred between Boston and New York. Fans hate each other, the media members hate each other and the players sure don't love each other.

I used to root against the Yankees all the time in hopes of avoiding them. I can't say I wanted the Yankees to beat Cleveland. But I do miss the headlines and sidestories that could have ensued. Would have been much more interesting than the talk of the bugs attacking in Cleveland I'm currently listening too...

The Greatest 10 Word Phrase in the English Language

New York has STILL not won a championship this millennium.

Let's review. The millennium started January 1, 2001. Below is a team by team breakdown of championships won by New York teams in the four major sport teams since then.

New York Yankees- 0 championships
New York Mets- 0 championships
New York Jets- 0 championships
New York Giants- 0 championships
Buffalo Bills- 0 championships
New York Knicks- 0 championships
New York Rangers- 0 championships
New York Islanders- 0 championships
Buffalo Sabers- 0 championships

I'm pretty sure the Nets are moving to Brooklyn or something in the next few years, so let's look at them too.
Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets- 0 championships

So yeah, 9, maybe 10 teams. 0 championships this millennium. I could look at New England, which has 4 teams and 4 championships (that's less than half the teams, more than infinitely times more championships) this millennium. But I won't.

Anyway, in more relevant news (oh...he just said New York and it's sports teams are irrelevant...oh!!!), it's the Cleveland Indians vs. the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. Where is David Williams? I think he should be a guest blogger for this series.

Cleveland's good. Especially their pitching. I guess no matter who you get in the ALCS it's gonna be tough, but this seems a little too tough. I don't like how they won tonight and didn't have to use Sabathia in game 5. Now it'll probably be Sabathia vs Beckett, Carmona vs Diasuke, Westbrook vs Schilling and Byrd vs Wakefield/Lestor. I think Beckett can beat anyone, so it would have been nice if he took out Carmona, leaving Diasuke vs Westbrook and Schilling vs Byrd (advantage Diasuke/Schilling). True, Sabathia would then kill Wakefield/Lestor, but then you're up 3-1 with Beckett on the hill. Can't complain about that.

It might be worthwhile to screw around so something like that happens. I like Beckett vs anyone. I'll take my chances. I realize it's not automatic, but I'm counting any day he pitches as a win. Throw him game one. Pitch Wakefield game two, and if he loses to Carmona, big deal. So it's 1-1. Diasuke could beat Westbrook and Schilling Byrd, so it's 3-1 with Beckett vs Sabathia again. I'm still taking Beckett.

I don't like the Indians. I never did. I use to hate Manny Rameriz. Oh, I would fear him. He was so good he'd somehow knock in the guy on the on deck circle. He hasn't done that yet as a Red Sox, but I seem to recall it quite a few times when he was with Cleveland. The Indians and Red Sox have met up in the playoffs three times. In '95, the Indians swept Boston. In '98, I think it was 3 games to 1 Cleveland. In '99, the Red Sox had what was up to that point the greatest comeback ever, winning game 5 and the series after being down 0-2. In game five, Indian Manager Mike Hargrove intentionally walked Nomar Garciaparra twice to face Troy O'Leary, a true Irish Man. Both times, O'Leary homered. One was a three run shot, the other a grand slam. Mike Hargrove was fired afterwards. Pedro Martinez came out of the bullpen in the fourth and pitch 6 perfect innings. It was glorious. Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS might be my favorite game ever.

1948 was the last time Cleveland won a World Series. That year, they tied the Red Sox for the AL Pennant, and a 1 game tie breaker was played at Fenway Park. Clearly, the Indians won, and went on to beat the Boston Braves. So, yeah. all the more reason to not like Cleveland. I'd say it's about time to get some revenge.

P.S.- Yesterday, the New England Patriots beat the Cleveland Browns. To all our loyal Cleveland readers, Belichick says "Hi."

devastation

i can't even talk about it b/c i'm too sad.

it's like they just decided to stop playing baseball.

ugh.

Game 2

So, the Red Sox had a 2-0 lead. The Angels were up and a runner was on second. and a ball was hit to left field. Manny Rameriz, hustling as are his ways, overran the ball. The run would have scored from second anyways. The damaging thing is that it turned it from a single into a double.

The Angels tacked on two more that inning, the last on a double to left by one of the 25, Orlando Cabrera. My mom and my girlfriend both were mad at Manny, and began taunting me cause I'm a big Manny defender. Rameriz couldn't have caught the Cabrera fly ball. It landed closer to Crisp than him. Some people just really hate him for some reason.

In the fifth inning, Manny came up to bat and appeared to pop out. But the ball carried into the stands. Angels catcher Jeff Mathis reached into the stands and made an excellent effort, but a fan caught it. A lot of people are comparing this to Bartman and Jeffry Maier. I don't really remember the Bartman thing, as to whether he reached out or Alou reached in. But this is nothing like Maier. Maier was a little punk who reached out over the playing field in right field
and took a Jeter pop up and made it into a homerun. Major League Rules say when fans reach onto the playing field like that, they are to be ejected. The New York Yankees, as always acting above the rules, instead gave him tickets behind the dugout for the rest of the playoffs. This kid in Boston had every right to the ball, as it was clear Mathis reached into the stands.

Anyway, there was one outs when this happened, and Manny drew a walk to load the bases. Lowell hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game up.

Later in the game, Rameriz made a spectacular catch on a ball the wind was blowing all over the place. He got turned around two or three times before picking it off right before it hit the ground. If anyone else makes that play, they are applauded and talk of a Gold Glove ensues for the next ten minutes. Because it was Manny, the announcers talk about how it proves Rameriz obviously isn't in the lineup for his glove and he got extremely lucky on a routine fly ball. P.S.- I never thought I'd hear worse announcers than the Buck/McCarver or Miller/Morgan combos. Then TBS/TNT started broadcasting games. Rumor has it Don Orsillo is doing one of the National League series. Why can't he do the Red Sox? He actually has talent.

Anyway, game tied at 3 in the bottom of the ninth. Lugo leads off with a single. "Excellent," I proclaim, "now Manny will send us home happy." My mother and my girlfriend shoot me looks of disgust and then look at each other rolling their eyes. Pedroia's at the plate. Sox hit and run, which is a good thing cause its a ground ball that otherwise would have been a double play. 1 out, Lugo on second. Youkilis comes to the plate and the so called Greek god of walks strikes out. Nevermind the fact he's not a god...he's not even Greek. That brings David Ortiz up. I predict loudly that Ortiz won't come through, but Manny will bail him out. The aforementioned company doesn't like this prediction. The Angels intentionally walk Ortiz. "Fools!" I proclaim, "Why would anyone want to face Manny with runners in scoring position?" My mother tells me it's cause Manny's not that good and the Angels know they can get him out. First pitch, ball low and away. Second pitch, a swing like only Manny can put on the ball, and immediately my hands shoot up into the air. "I told you so!" I proclaim. I thought of proclaiming instead "I hate to say I told you so" but such a proclamation would have been false. I thoroughly enjoyed proclaiming it.

My mom, watching the Red Sox celebrate, said "Why would they ever wanna pitch to Manny in that situation?" I don't know Mom. I don't know.

P.S.- The Yankees are down 0-2 with Clemens on the mound. I really really really hope he vows to "Pitch like a warrior." There's a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie out. Wonder if he feels like advertising for them...

Game 1

Josh Beckett pitched the most dominating game in Red Sox post season history tonight. Some might argue this is a ridiculous statement, as Red Sox post season history is over 100 years old and I definately didn't see all those games. To steal a line from Jon Stewart in his book "America", those people are communists. Josh Beckeet pitched the most dominating game in Red Sox post season history.

9 innings, 4 hits, 8 strikeouts, no runs, no walks. The numbers don't do the performance justice. Beckett was unhittable. The outcome of the game was never in question. I don't remember a single Angel reaching second base. After allowing a lead off hit to start the game, he retired 19 straight and made them all look like fools. People were swinging and missing by several feet. It was glorious. I was reminded of vintage Pedro, but on a bigger stage. In fact, the only Red Sox post season performance that rivals this is Pedro coming out in relief in game 5 of the 1999 ALDS and pitching 6 perfect innings to beat the Indians. Yet, Pedro only retired 18 straight in that effort.

But alas. It's only 1 game. Only 1 win. One October win is pretty much as meaningless as zero October wins. Diasuke Matsuzaka takes the hill Friday in game two against Kelvim Escobar. Keep it up gentlemen. 1 win, 10 to go.

THEY DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wooooooooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!

i still can't believe it. seriously?!??! did this REALLY just happen!?!??!

unreal. even unfathomable.

let's review.

actually... i'm too excited [and too distracted by the sucky eagles game] to think through all the reasons of why this shouldn't be happening.

BUT IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i'll flesh out the details later... but for now... i just HAD to acknowledge the amazingness of the day.

GO PHILLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007 American League Eastern Division Champions

Well, the Boston Red Sox did something they haven't done this millennium. They beat the New York Yankees in the regular season. Also, they own the tie breaker over the Angels and are two games ahead of them with two to play, so they are guaranteed to have home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. But it's not over yet. Division titles are pretty worthless. Let's look at history.

1995- Red Sox win AL East to participate in the first ever MLB 8 team playoff. Back then, the MLB had a quirky rule where the first round matchups were played based on which division the wild card winner was part of. Therefore, although they had a better record than the wild card New York Yankees, the Red Sox had to play the best team in the AL in the first round, the Cleveland Indians while the Yankees got an easier draw of the Seattle Mariners (note how everything always favors the Yankees...). The Red Sox got swept in three games, though justice prevailed a bit as the Mariners beat the Yankees in five. Roger Clemens blew a 2 run lead in the sixth inning of game 1, which the Red Sox eventually lost in 15 innings or something ridiculous like that. Just wanted to point that out.

1990- I don't remember this year so well. I was five years old, but through stories and rumors and stuff, this is what I've pieced together. The Red Sox were trailing the Oakland A's 3 games to none in the ALCS on the verge of elimination. This was before the wild card so this was the first round. Ace Roger Clemens vowed to "pitch like a warrior" and came out wearing heavy eye black and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shoelaces (I'm not making that up...). He then got ejected in the second for arguing balls and strikes and the A's swept the Sox to go to their third consecutive World Series. Way to go Roger!

1988- I was three years old, so this is what I know: The Red Sox met up with the Oakland Athletics featuring Bash Brothers McGwire and Canseco. I don't know anything about the series aside from the fact that the Sox were swept 0-4. Oh, yeah. I'd be willing to bet Clemens probably had a meltdown of some sort. I looked it up on Wikipedia. I was right. Game two says the following:

"Trailing for the first time in the series, the A's deficit only lasted two batters. Henderson singled and Jose Canseco hit his second home run in two games to tie the score at two. Dave Parker singled but was forced at second by Lansford. Lansford got to go to second when Clemens balked and to third on a wild pitch. Lansford then scored on Mark McGwire's single to give the A's a 3-2 lead."

Way to hold that lead, Roger!

1986- This is what I know. I know from stories. I know from seeing it on classic sports. I know from countless hours spent researching. Bill Buckner caught the final out to clinch the division championship. It was a pop out to first base. And he caught it.

Then he gave an interview, and a question came up about being nervous. He said something along the lines of "Well, no one wants to have a ground ball go through their legs in the ninth inning of the World Series to let the winning run score, but you can't think about that."

Um. Yeah. The Sox should have lost in the ALCS to the California Angels. In fact, rumor has it several Angels had already opened up champaign to celebrate during game five up 3 games to 1. California was up 5-2 in the ninth. The Sox rallied to take the lead, capped off by Dave Henderson's 2 run homer off the Angels closer Donnie Moore. He eventually killed himself. I don't know if it was because he blew the game, but that couldn't have helped. The Sox blew the lead in the ninth, but eventually won it in the 11th. The Sox won the next 2 games to win the series and set up a date with the Mets.

Everyone knows what happened. The Red Sox lost 4-3. Buckner's interview fear came true during game six. The Sox had a 3 run lead the next day but still blew it and lost the Series. Say what you will about Buckner, but he hasn't killed himself and I pray he never does. Roger Clemens had a "blister" in Game 6 well before Buckner ever became a goat and came out of the ball game. The Bullpen blew it. Fights still break out to this day among members of the team as to whether Roger was forcibly pulled by manager John McNamera against Clemens wishes or else begged to come out. It's irrelevant. It started the Clemens post season meltdowns that plagued him as a Red Sox.

Anyway, what was the point of this trip down memory lane? The last game the Red Sox won in 1986 was Game 5 of the World Series. If you notice, it's also the last time the Red Sox won a playoff game as a division champion. Since Game 5 of the 1986 World Series, the Red Sox are 0-13 as division champions in post season games.

So yeah. Congratulations on finishing ahead of the Yankees. That really is awesome and well, I guess it's about time seeing as how it's been 12 years. But I guess what I'm trying to say is division championships are pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. It doesn't matter if you go to the Prom in a Limo or on the MBTA (which I REALLY wanted to do my senior year, but no one else did...). Once your there, you still gotta dance.

"no one in the nl can clinch ANYTHING"

says the espn news guy.

ISN'T IT EXCITING?!?!??!?!??!!?!?

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

i'm starting to have hope. but the phils have done this 4 of the last 5 years... so part of me is afraid to hope.

one game behind in the east. either .5 or 1 game behind in the wild card. i'd much rather them win the east.... but right now i just want them in the playoffs!!!!

Amazing

The Tigers won today, but the magic numbers went down!

The Red Sox beat Tampa Bay, 8-1. The game was much closer than the score would lead you to believe. The Sox blew it open scoring 1 in the 8th and 4 in the ninth. It was Josh Beckett's 20th win this year. Tampa Bay actually pitched pretty well behind starter Scott Kazmir. Devil Ray pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, which is ridiculous. So it was a pretty good game.

And, the entire night, the Yankees were losing to Toronto 4-0. Roy Halladay was pitching in the ninth and was 1 out away from a complete game. Then Aaron Hill made an error and the Yankees eventually tied the game. Seems to always happen at Yankee Stadium. But, Greg Zaun hit a homer in the top of the 14 or 15th or something, and the Yanks were retired in order. That means the AL East Magic Number dropped for the first time since last Saturday!

Updated Board looks like this:
Red Sox
Playoffs: 2
AL East: 7

Patriots
AFC East: 13


Fun fact- I learned while listening to the game on AM 680 that the Devil Rays are changing their name next year, and their uniforms. I guess the uniforms will be blue and the team will be called the Rays. I guess I'll have to call them the Pesky TB-Rays next year...

Apparently, some people think God cursed the team because of the Devil reference (I'm not making this up...). I guess those people don't realize the New Jersey Devils have won two Stanley Cups since the Devil Rays came into existence. But then again, not many people do because the NHL is irrelevant...

Magic Numbers

So, in my office, I have on the bulliton board a "MAGIC NUMBERS" Section.
It has the Red Sox's magic number for a playoff spot, the AL East, and the Patriots' for the AFC East.

All I can say is I'm very thankful the Tigers keep losing. That's the only reason any of those numbers change on a day to day basis. The Patriots can change at most three times a week but mostly just once a week. The Red Sox suck so they lose nightly. The Yankees no longer suck so they win nightly.

The Red Sox are gonna back their way into the playoffs. They probably won't win the division. It doesn't seem like they care. Bucholtz was pulled after allowing 1 earned run over 4 and 2/3 innings. They only pitched him to set the post season rotation up. They've shaved 2 games off their AL East Magic number this past week, and they're already worried about post season rotation.

All I'm saying is it's a real good thing the Tigers keep losing. I wouldn't be surprised if that's the only way the Red Sox make the playoffs this year. Three Tiger losses.

could it be?!?

could the phillies really be getting serious about making it to the playoffs?!?!!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?!?!

I Missed My Chance

Well, now that I am getting around to writing it is painfully obvious that the Cardinals will not be appearing in the postseason this year. I have said that many times during this season, but after the Cards climbed to within a game around a week ago I was actually hopeful that they could pull it off. That may have been foolish, but there was real hope and reason to believe. I should have been writing about that back then...I missed my chance.

Now all I can do is lament the fact that I got my hopes up for awhile. And state for the record that I have been rooting for the Brewers most of the year to win the Central. Not that I was rooting for them over St. Louis...I have just not felt confident that the Cards could really win it and I KNOW I can't stand the Scrubbies winning it. So, knowing that the most likely scenario for the Cubs not winning the division is for Milwaukee to win it, I have rooted for them to win. Friends tried to point out that we need the Brewers to lose to gain ground on them and get to first place, but when you have given up on your team actually being good enough to be in first place, well...it changes the situation. So, I am hoping for the "Brew Crew" to play well and the Cards to give them some help this weekend against Chicago. But I just can't see STL pulling off a miracle and winning the division.