Baseball Thread...

[Ruckus]

O-my-goodness.  Just Omazing...

There are no words.  All day on local sports talk yesterday, Buck was being second guessed for his decision to start Saunders.  Ha!  Questioning Buck.  Bring on the Stanks!

As for the Atlanta call, it was correct but waaay too late.  The call had to be made in the air.

I have two problems with that call. One was it was waaay late, and the other is it wasn't made by the infield ump. I know the ball doesn't have to be on the infield to call that, but in a normal four ump game, it's his call. He didn't make it last night, so I have to figure he didn't think it was an "ordinary effort" type play. He had the best vantage point on if it was an "ordinary effort" play,IMO. The ball was 225 feet from home, hardly and ordinary infield fly to me.

i was ok with the application of the "ordinary effort" standard.  It's purely discretionary and the shortstop never had to backpedal quickly or turn and run.  Where are the replacement umps when you need em?  I agree with you regarding which ump made the call.

I'll be at Monday's game Eric.  You'll be wishing the Rangers had won yesterday.

[ericm]

O-my-goodness.  Just Omazing...

There are no words.  All day on local sports talk yesterday, Buck was being second guessed for his decision to start Saunders.  Ha!  Questioning Buck.  Bring on the Stanks!

As for the Atlanta call, it was correct but waaay too late.  The call had to be made in the air.

I have two problems with that call. One was it was waaay late, and the other is it wasn't made by the infield ump. I know the ball doesn't have to be on the infield to call that, but in a normal four ump game, it's his call. He didn't make it last night, so I have to figure he didn't think it was an "ordinary effort" type play. He had the best vantage point on if it was an "ordinary effort" play,IMO. The ball was 225 feet from home, hardly and ordinary infield fly to me.

i was ok with the application of the "ordinary effort" standard.  It's purely discretionary and the shortstop never had to backpedal quickly or turn and run.  Where are the replacement umps when you need em?  I agree with you regarding which ump made the call.

I'll be at Monday's game Eric.  You'll be wishing the Rangers had won yesterday.

Haha Enjoy the game Rob, but regardless I was rooting for the O's. I'm old school and want the defending champs out ASAP. Til they're gone, I never count them out. It's not that I really thought the O's would be easier for the Yanks, more wanting Texas out. Now hopefully it's not a careful what you wish for thing! 

It should be a fun, close series, with both teams playing really good ball. I like the Yanks having to play to game 162 this year. It's kept them sharp,and I think that's going to help. The Yanks have always been comfortable, and played well at the BPACY. I hope they continue to, and all  I'm hoping for is a split down there. I'll take the win tomorrow, so you can get one Monday when you're there. Yanks lose tomorrow, and you're on your own.

Helluva job by Buck and your guys though. I don't know one Yankee fan who doesn't like him, and should they beat the Yanks, I know I'll be rooting for him.

How about a little friendly wager? Loser buys the winner a beverage at PC or Boston.

[Ruckus]

O-my-goodness.  Just Omazing...

There are no words.  All day on local sports talk yesterday, Buck was being second guessed for his decision to start Saunders.  Ha!  Questioning Buck.  Bring on the Stanks!

As for the Atlanta call, it was correct but waaay too late.  The call had to be made in the air.

I have two problems with that call. One was it was waaay late, and the other is it wasn't made by the infield ump. I know the ball doesn't have to be on the infield to call that, but in a normal four ump game, it's his call. He didn't make it last night, so I have to figure he didn't think it was an "ordinary effort" type play. He had the best vantage point on if it was an "ordinary effort" play,IMO. The ball was 225 feet from home, hardly and ordinary infield fly to me.

i was ok with the application of the "ordinary effort" standard.  It's purely discretionary and the shortstop never had to backpedal quickly or turn and run.  Where are the replacement umps when you need em?  I agree with you regarding which ump made the call.

I'll be at Monday's game Eric.  You'll be wishing the Rangers had won yesterday.

Haha Enjoy the game Rob, but regardless I was rooting for the O's. I'm old school and want the defending champs out ASAP. Til they're gone, I never count them out. It's not that I really thought the O's would be easier for the Yanks, more wanting Texas out. Now hopefully it's not a careful what you wish for thing! 

It should be a fun, close series, with both teams playing really good ball. I like the Yanks having to play to game 162 this year. It's kept them sharp,and I think that's going to help. The Yanks have always been comfortable, and played well at the BPACY. I hope they continue to, and all  I'm hoping for is a split down there. I'll take the win tomorrow, so you can get one Monday when you're there. Yanks lose tomorrow, and you're on your own.

Helluva job by Buck and your guys though. I don't know one Yankee fan who doesn't like him, and should they beat the Yanks, I know I'll be rooting for him.

How about a little friendly wager? Loser buys the winner a beverage at PC or Boston.

last time i was at a baseball playoff game was game 1 of the 1995 alds in Buck's last year with you guys.  you're on for the wager.  Or maybe the winner buys the loser a strawberry daiquiri ;)

[ericm]

Rob- Not a Daiquiri guy, but don't mind a Piña Colada every now and then.   I finally cracked open that National Bohemian beer you gave me in Philly. I've been waiting for the right time.

[Ruckus]

Rob- Not a Daiquiri guy, but don't mind a Piña Colada every now and then.   I finally cracked open that National Bohemian beer you gave me in Philly. I've been waiting for the right time.

Oh man.  I was gonna say Pina Colada too   You enjoy your Natty Boh Eric   I'm enjoying my Flying Dog Imperial Pumpkin Ale and some prosecco.  I was out on the Eastern Shore with my new extended family and was worried I was gonna miss much of the game.  Thank you rain delay.  Got home with plenty of time for 1st pitch. 

I thank Ichiro and Texeira for their base running blunders

[Ruckus]

O-my-goodness.  Just Omazing...

There are no words.  All day on local sports talk yesterday, Buck was being second guessed for his decision to start Saunders.  Ha!  Questioning Buck.  Bring on the Stanks!

As for the Atlanta call, it was correct but waaay too late.  The call had to be made in the air.

I have two problems with that call. One was it was waaay late, and the other is it wasn't made by the infield ump. I know the ball doesn't have to be on the infield to call that, but in a normal four ump game, it's his call. He didn't make it last night, so I have to figure he didn't think it was an "ordinary effort" type play. He had the best vantage point on if it was an "ordinary effort" play,IMO. The ball was 225 feet from home, hardly and ordinary infield fly to me.

i was ok with the application of the "ordinary effort" standard.  It's purely discretionary and the shortstop never had to backpedal quickly or turn and run.  Where are the replacement umps when you need em?  I agree with you regarding which ump made the call.

I'll be at Monday's game Eric.  You'll be wishing the Rangers had won yesterday.

Haha Enjoy the game Rob, but regardless I was rooting for the O's. I'm old school and want the defending champs out ASAP. Til they're gone, I never count them out. It's not that I really thought the O's would be easier for the Yanks, more wanting Texas out. Now hopefully it's not a careful what you wish for thing! 

It should be a fun, close series, with both teams playing really good ball. I like the Yanks having to play to game 162 this year. It's kept them sharp,and I think that's going to help. The Yanks have always been comfortable, and played well at the BPACY. I hope they continue to, and all  I'm hoping for is a split down there. I'll take the win tomorrow, so you can get one Monday when you're there. Yanks lose tomorrow, and you're on your own.

Helluva job by Buck and your guys though. I don't know one Yankee fan who doesn't like him, and should they beat the Yanks, I know I'll be rooting for him.

How about a little friendly wager? Loser buys the winner a beverage at PC or Boston.

I'll take that now

[iLikeBeer]

Have fun at the game tonight Ruckus!  Hope the O's can even the series!

Your playoff attendance streak is a little longer than mine.  I made my only postseason appearances in attendance for the Indians in 2001 when they lost to Seattle in the Division Series.  Ironically, when the Indians had their resurgance in the mid-90's, I lived in Texas so I missed out on all that fun and I didn't make it to any games in 2007 when they came within a game of making it to the WS before blowing 3 straight to the BoSox?!   

[Ruckus]

Have fun at the game tonight Ruckus!  Hope the O's can even the series!

Your playoff attendance streak is a little longer than mine.  I made my only postseason appearances in attendance for the Indians in 2001 when they lost to Seattle in the Division Series.  Ironically, when the Indians had their resurgance in the mid-90's, I lived in Texas so I missed out on all that fun and I didn't make it to any games in 2007 when they came within a game of making it to the WS before blowing 3 straight to the BoSox?!   

I will have fun and we will even the series

[exist10z]

Last night was really painful.  Bring them some luck Ruckus...

[pawpaw]

Uuuugghhh...fuck. Reds look really good.

Otherwise, Rob, tell us about the game! I'm sure that place was rockin'!

[Ruckus]

The atmosphere was electric last night.  To see close to 50 thousand fans with not even 5 percent there being Yankee fans was quite the spectacle.  Add to that a rain delay making it a 9 pm start increased the booze intake and crowd was in a frenzy.  Any one run game in the playoffs is special to witness I gather.  Add to that the 15 year playoff drought and that it was against the hated Yankees and I'm sure you can guess how exciting and cathartic it was for the fans to get this win.
I like our upcoming pitching matchups and have played well in NY all year.  I'm glad Hardy's quasi baserunning blunder didn't come back to haunt us.
In retrospect I feel fortunate to have had family obligations on Sunday or else I would have been at that gut wrenching game.

[exist10z]

It looked amazing on TV, I can't really remember 79' or 83', although I was at postseason games both years (10 and 14 yo.), but I definitely don't remember the late 90s season's crowds being that hyped.

It figures the first year in 15 they are good (unexpectedly amazing actually), I am in Calitfornia and missing what must be such a great vibe in my home-town.

I too feel pretty good about heading to NY.  Obviously it's going to be difficult, it will always be tough beating a team filled with all-stars and HOFers, but this O's team seems unfazed.  I think they could actually play looser in New York, there had to be a lot of pressure on them in front of that crowd - in as much as it pumped them up, I think some of the guys were pressing (Jones, Wieters, Reynolds specifically).  In NY it's back to playing with nothing to lose and no expectations, which I think suits them as team.  And while the pitching match-ups don't 'favor' us, I feel good about both a well rested Gonzo and hot Tillman.

Go O's!

[ericm]

Wasn't the crispest played game ever, but definitely exciting. Down to the best of three, and as a Yankee fan, I'm glad they'll be in the Bronx. Hopefully the Yanks will get their long ball shoes on.

If they had to lose one in Baltimore, I'm glad you got to be there for the O's win, Rob. It sure looked like fun on tv, and as much as I always got a kick out of  the BPACY being Yankee Stadium south, it was good to see, and hear Baltimore fans out in full force. I figured they'd far out number Yankee fans, and it sounded like your 5% estimate is about right. Couldn't really hear the usual support for them at all, or anywhere close to it for that matter.

Gonna be some more close, nail biters the next few days. I like Kuroda going in game 3, but Hughes in 4 worries me. He could be lights out or get rocked. I hate that kind of feeling going in. If he was a bum, I wouldn't expect much, but when a guy has his talent, and isn't all that consistent, it bugs the hell out of me. Definitely a bit nervous about that one, and sure as hell hope the Yanks are up 2-1 going into that game.

Getting pumped already for the next couple of games, and love me some October baseball!

[exist10z]

I so want to go see Grizzly Bear tomorrow at The Greek in LA, but my O's are playing at 4:30pst, I just don't think I am going to be able to swing it.  Maybe though, but the watching  the O's take it to the Yanks comes first.  With any luck the O's will be up by 6 or 7 in the 7th and I can leave early...

[ericm]

I so want to go see Grizzly Bear tomorrow at The Greek in LA, but my O's are playing at 4:30pst, I just don't think I am going to be able to swing it.  Maybe though, but the watching  the O's take it to the Yanks comes first.  With any luck the O's will be up by 6 or 7 in the 7th and I can leave early...

Starting early on the hallucinogenics I see! 

[exist10z]

I so want to go see Grizzly Bear tomorrow at The Greek in LA, but my O's are playing at 4:30pst, I just don't think I am going to be able to swing it.  Maybe though, but the watching  the O's take it to the Yanks comes first.  With any luck the O's will be up by 6 or 7 in the 7th and I can leave early...

Starting early on the hallucinogenics I see! 

Hehe, just drunk with unbridled optimism...

[ericm]

I so want to go see Grizzly Bear tomorrow at The Greek in LA, but my O's are playing at 4:30pst, I just don't think I am going to be able to swing it.  Maybe though, but the watching  the O's take it to the Yanks comes first.  With any luck the O's will be up by 6 or 7 in the 7th and I can leave early...

Starting early on the hallucinogenics I see! 

Hehe, just drunk with unbridled optimism...

That's cool. I don't blame ya. It's October baseball! Your O's have had a great year, and are tough to beat.  The next game is huge for both team obviously, but I'm going for the Yanks in four.

That's what I'm hoping anyway. If not, whatever team comes out of this if it goes five is behind the eight ball . ALCS starts Saturday. The Yanks and O's could potentially play five playoff games in a row. At least the Yanks would be home, but the O's would have all five on the road. I can't remember the Yanks ever having five playoff games in a row without a day off.  Here's rooting for the A's to at least  take their series to five games, so the Tigers have to use Verlander, and not have him sitting there well rested for whoever comes out of the Yanks/O's series.

[ericm]

WOW! What an intense game. Both starting pitchers were lights out fantastic. Thank you Raul!!! He single handedly brought Mystique, and Aura back to the Bronx.     

[pawpaw]

10:07 AM GAME 5 BASEBALL! FINISH STRONG GIGANTES!!!

Also, give it up to the A's. What a team, and with all due respect to our O's fans here, Bob Melvin should be AL Manager of the Year. I still can't believe that they chased down the Rangers and took the AL West (that last series was awesome). Good luck to Oakland tonight!

[Ruckus]

WOW! What an intense game. Both starting pitchers were lights out fantastic. Thank you Raul!!! He single handedly brought Mystique, and Aura back to the Bronx.     

That was a heartbreaker.  Regroup and follow the Colonel into battle tonight I say