MLB Playoffs

[Guyute]

After not being a fan of the game for over a decade.
After scoffing at my once beloved team breaking the dubious record of the only North American team in sports history to break the 10,000 loss mark.
After seeing in Late August them being down by 9 games, a Wild Card win even a long shot.

Then there was a magical sweep of the Mets to end August. I was up north at the time and was immediately and fully pulled in. I watched probably one of the best and most exciting Septembers in Phillies' history. (Luckily I wasn't around in '64 to see things go the opposite way). 13 wins out of their last 17 games. And after 14 years, it's playoff time baby!

After tonight we'll know the matchup, as the Padres and Rockies both aim to get that last spot. Go Padres! lol
Let's Go Phils!!!
http://www.tridead.net/images/broadst.bmp

[Caniac]

Forget it, this is the Cubs' year.

[Guyute]

I work with a Cubbies fan, the poor bastid.
No chance cap'n. Good luck with the D-backs. Gonna be tough.

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

I am not the biggest baseball fan in the world, but the playoffs are a pretty good watch. I'm hoping for a good Yankees-Red Sox matchup in the ALCS, as those games are pretty intense. Over in the NL, I guess I would like to see a Rockies-D-Backs matchup in the NLCS.

I guess I kinda pull for the Yankees somewhat, being I lived in Scranton, PA for a while and that was the big team that people pulled for.

[Serendipity]

Very impressed with Philly. Nothing is sweeter than a Mets collapse (says the Cards fan!)

Since my team was lucky enough to win it last year, it will be fun to watch some new teams. I don't like the AL, but I will root for the Indians since I used to live in Cleveland.

In the NL I will pull for the Cubs and the Rockies (if they win tonight).

[apolinar]

i'm with you guyute. I pulled out the fitted wool phils cap a few days ago when the rally was reality. But this won't distract me from my team the canes.

Ever since i was a little boy in the stands when the phils played the mets, and the meatheads from NY in my section decided to put fear in my heart and tear up the stands and get into fights when they lost, I have been waiting to see the sorrow in them and their fans' eyes that I saw on espn today:D :lol:

[Guyute]

My dad sent me a Howard jersey for my bday. First time I've owned Phils gear in a Long time. Caught some crap from my Cubs fan co-worker "oh, now you're going to wear a jersey?". I reminded him that I watched the WS in '80, and all the years after that until 94. He wasn't even born in '80, and was in middle school when I took my break from baseball, so I didn't want to hear about length of fandom. lol. He wanted to talk about the last 13 years. I simply told him I've put in my time anyway, I'm a Philly fan. I've had over 13 years of heartbreak and crap teams, so what, I took one off of my radar. lol
'83 was the last championship in Philly, and that was basketball... meh. So, damn right something like this gets the blood going again.

We Believe!

[nccanes]

My (Mets' fan) sisters are in mourning today. I feel bad for them.

I usually don't watch baseball until the playoffs and was looking foward to seeing the Mets.

When we lived in NJ in my youth, my parents actually let my older sibs take a bus from a nearby stop into NYC and then take a subway to Shea. When my parents agreed to let them take me, my brother and sister insisted that I memorize every person in the full team photo. They figured I'd lose interest and never do it. I did and they had to take me. :D This was probably 1970. I can still name a lot of them. I can still remember that Ed Yost was the 3rd base coach. :lol: Bud Harrelson was always my fave and the reason #3 is my favorite number.

[Guyute]

Man, there's a real battle going on in the Wild Card game.
Padres just tied it up, 6-6, heading into the bottom of the 8th. The knocked a grand slam in the 3rd to take the lead.... before that the Rockies look like they were going to walk through the game.
Wish it was on tv. Wild Card game, and not on tv. Guess it's not only the NHL that doesn't have a clue eh?

[G-Vegas Caniac]

Man, there's a real battle going on in the Wild Card game.
Padres just tied it up, 6-6, heading into the bottom of the 8th. The knocked a grand slam in the 3rd to take the lead.... before that the Rockies look like they were going to walk through the game.
Wish it was on tv. Wild Card game, and not on tv. Guess it's not only the NHL that doesn't have a clue eh?

It's on TBS Guy! (139 on Dish)...They are covering all the 1st round games later in the week also.

[Guyute]

Man. Wasn't on the guide when I got home (6:30'ish). I checked again at 7:30... and nothing. Been just watching the Gameday thing online.

[G-Vegas Caniac]

Man. Wasn't on the guide when I got home (6:30'ish). I checked again at 7:30... and nothing. Been just watching the Gameday thing online.

Well I think since the game was a surprise, it didn't make the guide in time.

[Guyute]

Unreal. Top of the 13th the Padres get 2.
Rockies get out of it (think 2 were left on too).... and just tied it, barely missed a home run to win it... but took a triple instead. Tied game, man on 3rd. No outs.

Going to be a miracle to get out of this without letting that runner on 3rd get home. What a game.

[StormChaserBH]

Wow, what a finish.... (and the Padres got robbed.... Holliday didn't touch home).

[Guyute]

I agree... don't think he touched. That would've been the miracle they needed. Too bad.

[RangersCanesFan]

Great job with the schedule, TBS...

On one hand, you did a great thing in moving the start times up for several of the Yankee games.

On the other hand, I guess the Cubs-Diamondbacks series will be just a rumor to anyone east of the Mississippi. Having all the games in Arizona start at 10PM Eastern is just atrocious.

God forbid the Red Sux have to play a game where their fans have to take an evening nap before the game comes on...

[car3hur]

Forget it, this is the Cubs' year.

Agreed. Cubs vs Yanks/Angels in the series...

Cubs in 6. :P

[Guyute]

I'd kill to have the 10pm slot for the Phils. Theirs are 3pm games, which means I have to try and make it through the day w/out hearing anything, then try to catch up at night. (or in the case of tomorrow, I have to make it through the Canes game where it's possible during many of the stoppages they'll be showing scores. People will be talking, etc. Not likely I'll make it home tomorrow night w/out already knowing the outcome.)

I know daytime games have always been a part of baseball... but in the playoffs? c'mon.
If it was the WS, yeah I might take time off of work to watch. But, the first round? Can't really do it.

[hyena]

I have no team in the playoffs this year. :cry: I was pulling for the Pads because I wanted to see my boy Maddux get another ring but oh well. I guess I will be pulling for Arizona.

[car3hur]

After not being a fan of the game for over a decade.
After scoffing at my once beloved team breaking the dubious record of the only North American team in sports history to break the 10,000 loss mark.
After seeing in Late August them being down by 9 games, a Wild Card win even a long shot.

Then there was a magical sweep of the Mets to end August. I was up north at the time and was immediately and fully pulled in. I watched probably one of the best and most exciting Septembers in Phillies' history. (Luckily I wasn't around in '64 to see things go the opposite way). 13 wins out of their last 17 games. And after 14 years, it's playoff time baby!

After tonight we'll know the matchup, as the Padres and Rockies both aim to get that last spot. Go Padres! lol
Let's Go Phils!!!
http://www.tridead.net/images/broadst.bmp

I'm not so sure the Mets are feeling as bad as they were a week ago...but that's just me! ;)

[Serendipity]

I'm rooting for the Rockies at this point, although I think it will be fine to see either of the NL teams win it.

Hopefully the Indians will win and then crush the Red Sox.

[Caniac]

Oh the futility continues.

I am fully prepared to die at a ripe old age having never seen my beloved Cubs win a World Series.

[car3hur]

Oh the futility continues.

I am fully prepared to die at a ripe old age having never seen my beloved Cubs win a World Series.

My 'better half' feels the same way, trust me...why can't they just WIN already?! Maybe next year they can get some better pitching...

[Solracer]

Lets go Tribe!! Beat them Yankee's tonight!

[Guyute]

I'm not so sure the Mets are feeling as bad as they were a week ago...but that's just me! ;)
Says the Cub fan? LOL

One of the best offenses in the NL (Phils) just didn't do a damn thing, and they got swept. Rockies played a tough series, and I'll route for them to keep going. I don't think it matters much though, not likely going to be an NL WS Champ.

The Tribe almost swept the Yanks. I was pulling hard for that. Not a very good game yesterday though.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Ding-dong, the ***** is dead!!!

See ya Yankees!! :jig:

[Serendipity]

See ya Yankees!! :jig:

Better words have never been spoken!! Woo-hoo!!

I don't think it matters much though, not likely going to be an NL WS Champ.

Hey, you never know. They said that last year and look what happened!

I'm rooting for an Indians-Rockies world series.

[RangersCanesFan]

Hope baseball is happy. Two of the three most popular teams in the sport are gone.

All I ask is a strike is called a strike, a ball is called a ball, and out is called an out. That goes for both the Cubs and the Yankees series. Also, if a game is marred by bugs, delay it until the bugs pass. No, couldn't do that--Cleveland had to be allowed to tie the game even though nobody would actually swing the bat...

Cleveland won't be able to keep the bat on their shoulders against the Red Sux. Baseball actually calls pitches in the strike zone strikes when Red Sux pitchers put them there. The Red Sux spend as much money as the Yankees, but funny, nobody blasts them like they do the Yankees for spending money...

Enjoy the 15º weather for those night games in Denver that only people in Arizona and Colorado will be watching, baseball.

As for the Cubs needing more pitching--pitching was fine, except for Lilly's Game 2 performance...wait, what did I say above about Yankee pitchers being squeezed...it happened to the Cubs also. The Cubs problem was hitting with men on. I know it's difficult to score runs when every first pitch is called a strike regardless of where it is and when guys are called out at first even when they are safe by a step, but the big three had to do more.

[hyena]

RCF are you serious? You sound like a Carolina fan. ;)

[RangersCanesFan]

RCF are you serious? You sound like a Carolina fan. ;)

Somewhat serious :).

Watching the games, it did appear to me, that Yankee and Cub pitchers got squeezed. Also, in Game 3 of the Cub series, two of the four double plays that the Cubs hit into, the Cub runner was safe at first. It also seemed as if Paul Byrd's first pitch to every Yankee batter was being called a strike, even if it wasn't close.

The bug thing in Game 2 was just silly. Game 2 vs. Detroit last year was delayed and then postponed for rain that never came. Here was a situation that did affect the game, and it should have been delayed.

With the Cubs - they just didn't get the hits with runners in scoring position.

The Yankees, same thing, but it is difficult when it appears as if the strike zone is different for the two teams playing.

[Guyute]

So RCF, if we put your argument in NHL terms, you'd want what, a Detroit/Toronto SCF, because of the popularity of the teams? I guess last year's SCF wasn't worth watching?

That's assininity at it's finest. Fresh blood in playoffs are ALWAYS welcome in my book. Getting to see a couple of teams that haven't even made the playoffs in 13-15 years was pretty cool. Too bad they had to play each other.


I guess you're probably a Yanks a fan, so I guess I can just write it off. :lol:
Delay the game for bugs? Hilarious (said in a Rome voice). Yeah the bugs were ridiculous. However, there were two teams out there. And if these pro athletes want to blame a playoff loss on bugs... well... they're collectively the biggest group of whiners in any sport.
my $.02

[RangersCanesFan]

So RCF, if we put your argument in NHL terms, you'd want what, a Detroit/Toronto SCF, because of the popularity of the teams? I guess last year's SCF wasn't worth watching?

That's assininity at it's finest. Fresh blood in playoffs are ALWAYS welcome in my book. Getting to see a couple of teams that haven't even made the playoffs in 13-15 years was pretty cool. Too bad they had to play each other.


I guess you're probably a Yanks a fan, so I guess I can just write it off. :lol:
Delay the game for bugs? Hilarious (said in a Rome voice). Yeah the bugs were ridiculous. However, there were two teams out there. And if these pro athletes want to blame a playoff loss on bugs... well... they're collectively the biggest group of whiners in any sport.
my $.02

Yes, I am a Yankee fan, and a Cub fan. Back in July or August, when the Cubs played the Phillies, I thought the Phillies were the best team in the National League. Every bat in the lineup was scary. I would have really enjoyed a Cubs/Phillies NLCS. Part of it is, I don't think the Diamondbacks are all that good. They actually gave up more runs than runs scored. How they won 90 games is beyond me. As for Colorado, they just got hot at the right time.

There is precedent for delaying a game because of bugs. The bugs did allow Cleveland to tie the game. Joba Chamberlain hadn't uncorked two wild pitches since he came up; all of a sudden he throws two past Posada? Cleveland, I guess, had a good strategy for beating the Yanks. Keep the bat on the shoulder because nothing was getting called a strike.

If Cleveland just totally outplayed the Yankees, I'd tip my cap to them. Outside of Game 1, that didn't happen.

[PennsylvaniaCanesFan]

I am actually saddened at the Yankees departure. I was really hoping for the Sox-Yankee matchup. That's the only time I will actually watch baseball. That and when the Marlins win the World Series every 7 years (next championship...2010!!!)

[Jillsdad]

Now I will preface all my comments by saying that I am a Yankees fan and have been since the days of Craig Nettles, Thurman Munson et al.

The Yankees lost this series because they could not get the big hit when they needed it. How many DP's did Jeter hit into. Certainly not the Jeter that we are used to seeing in the playoffs. Cleveland got the hits when they needed to and my hats off to them.

As far as bug-gate. Not sure if they should have stopped the game because of those annoying little critters but it certainly did have a direct effect on the outcome. Anyone who has watched baseball this year and has seen Joba pitch can attest to the fact that he was most definitely bothered by the bugs. The kid has been lights out all year and then suddenly he cannot find the zone. Look at the previous inning when it took him 5 pitches to get out of a 2 on 1 out jam.

As far as last nite's game, there were certain calls made that were blatently wrong. They had no bearing on the final outcome but it was interesting that they all went one way. Shoppach was not hit by that pitch...period. The view from behind the mound shows it best. He dove out of the way and it was not until he was at first base did he even look at his hand. No redness or anything proved that he was not struck by the pitch. Secondly, Shoppach did interfere with Matsui.....you can see by the replay that stuff flies off of his glove when it contacts Matsui's bat. And lastly Mussina got his foot down on first base before the runner.....bang bang play....I can see that one being missed but the other two were uncalled for. Once again though had no bearing on the final outcome.

Indians played better, deserved to win and I hope they beat the hell out of the Sox and especially those cocky prima donnas Beckett and Shilling

[Solracer]

There is precedent for delaying a game because of bugs. The bugs did allow Cleveland to tie the game. Joba Chamberlain hadn't uncorked two wild pitches since he came up; all of a sudden he throws two past Posada? Cleveland, I guess, had a good strategy for beating the Yanks. Keep the bat on the shoulder because nothing was getting called a strike.

If Cleveland just totally outplayed the Yankees, I'd tip my cap to them. Outside of Game 1, that didn't happen.


Boo hoo, If your 4 d-men would have been healthy.. oh wait wrong series and game.

Should we bring up all the good luck and calls that have went the Yankee's way over the years? Jeffry Mayer any one? The huge strike zone that Rivera has gotten through the years ? (not to take anything away from Rivera cause he is a awesome closer but he defiantly gets the benefit of the doubt in the strike zone in a lot of games.)
Did the Indians get lucky in game 2? Yes, However those bugs sure weren't bothering Carmona, and he had have never dealt with them either. Did the Yankees out play the Indians last night? I sure do not think so, as Jillsdad mention and I agree with all of what she said, all though she left out the Posada interfering with Hafner all though not nearly as much as Shoppach interfered with Matsui. I would say it is hard for an umpire to see either one of those catcher interference calls since they were relatively light but those calls did not seem to change the outcome as Jillsdad said. For a team that kept their bat on their shoulders they sure did put up a lot of runs, and get a lot of hits when runners in scoring positions. As far as strikes being strikes and balls being balls, I was involved with baseball all they way in to college, every umpire has a different interpretation of the strike zone, if the Yankees did not adjust thats their fault. The Yankees got beat by the better team, not the more talented players, however a better Team.

If I was a Yankee fan I would be more upset with Cashman and Steinbrenner or decimating my Farm system to bring in some superstars that have not panned out through the last 5 years or more. The core of the Indians team came up from their farm system. They way they talk about the team being a family reminds me of a certain Stanley cup team a few years ago

Sorry RCF if it feels like I am picking on you however you are now the 4th Yankee fan to bring this the same way with the same excuses and its getting a little old.

[car3hur]

Go Rockies.

[StormShaman]

gg BoSox--welcome to being "just another team". ;)

[Mona2006]

I wanted the Rockies to win since they had never been before.. and I am a NL fan.. but congrats to the BoSox for an awesome season.

[car3hur]

.. but congrats to the BoSox for an awesome season.

And only 19 to go to catch up to the Yanks.. :)