Tagged: Vladimir Guerrero
Dream Job / Fantasy Teams
Ok, so, MLBs got the perfect job opening for a guy like me…and it so happens Im in a position that I could use a job like that. Match made in heaven, right? Well, maybe not since the only voice Ive ever aired on this blog is that of “Angry Yankee fan arguing against angry Yankee Haters” hence my name…
Ive attempted to branch out my skill on this blog to that of my fantasy rosters. Ive got 2 teams drafted, 1 to draft this sunday and maybe one more depending on how I feel about it. Thus, it would cause me to not only watch other games besides those played by the Yankees and their rivals, but to really invest myself in them as well…example: Twins vs White Sox games wouldnt exactly thrill me, but my teams contain Young and Cuddyer vs Danks and Alexi Ramirez-all of a sudden Ive got reason to sit through that series.
So…in the hope of getting the dream job that just last month came into existence, but sure enough has been a job Ive secretly wanted for years…I feel I need to show that Im more than an opinionated Yankee fan. Again, here are my fantasy rosters, and the reasons I drafted that way…
The Pretenders:
C-Buster Posey
1B-Aubrey Huff
2B-Dan Uggla
3B-Alex Rodriguez
SS-Alexi Ramirez
OF-Alex Rios
Shane Victorino
Delmon Young
U-Brett Gardner
Vladimir Guerrero
Bench-Colby Rasmus
Neil Walker
Michael Cuddyer
SP-Tim Lincecum
David Price
Josh Johnson
Roy Oswalt
Ryan Dempster
Ricky Romero
RP-Brian Wilson
John Axford
Leo Nunez
I’ve actually been trade requested twice by another owner looking to get Price, Posey and ARod in exchange for Sabathia, Mauer and Zimmerman. Thats a pretty good trade, but the reason I keep turning my friends request down is because Rodriguez is always a lock for 30 home runs and 100 rbis. Price and Sabathia were interchangable last year, so as long as you have one, youre ok for a Cy Young hopeful. Getting Mauer was tempting since he puts up great numbers for a catcher, but for keeping ARod, Im willing to risk Posey in his 1st full season. Its not a very big risk. Maybe if Mauer had another big year last year, but he seems to not hit the same in Target Field like he did in the Metrodome. Be it Mauer isnt the same at home or ARods guarenteed numbers, Ive had 0 regrets in denying the trades.
I tend to be bad at drafting a middle infield, but in this draft I had the #2 pick and Hanley is by and far the best option at short and Dan Uggla kinda fell into my lap. Im not arguing, since hes still one of the best second basemen in the NL.
My outfields tend to be more speed oriented and this year proved to be no different. Any given day I have Brett Gardner, Shane Victorino and Alex Rios in the lineup. In addition to Hanley, Ill have nothing to worry about in the SB department. Im also rolling the dice on Vladimir Guerrero that he still has another quality season in the tank. Hitting in the heart of a Baltimore lineup poised to send shockwaves through the AL east? I like those odds…
My starting pitchers are strait up nasty! Lincecum, Price, Oswalt and Josh Johnson need no justification. Dempster is a 200 inning/200K machine, and Brian Wilson has quietly been one of the most automatic closers in baseball.
The Lozers:
C-Brian McCann
1B-Derrek Lee
2B-Robinson Cano
3B-Miguel Tejada
SS-Alexi Ramirez
OF-Ryan Braun
Nick Swisher
Matt Holliday
U-Michael Bourn
John Buck
Bench-Pablo Sanvoval
Mike Aviles
Magglio Ordonez
SP-Justin Verlander
Yovani Gallardo
Dan Haren
John Danks
Brett Myers
Madison Bumgarner
Bronson Arroyo
Anibal Sanchez
RP-Mariano Rivera
Ryan Franklain
McCann in the best catcher in the NL, Cano is the best 2B in the AL. I could argue that they might be better than Mauer/Utley but thats all speculative. Derrek Lee has the same this going for him the Guerrero does. Bourn is the sole base stealer on this team, but with a track record of stealing 52, 61 and 41 over the last three years, I doubt he needs much help. Braun and Holliday provide some solid hitting each with over a .300 average, 25 homers and 100 rbi campaigns last season.
In the past Ive always used Aviles as a replacment for an injured player and hes always produced nicely as a result. I figured Id just draft him and avoid the rush this year. Good bench middle infielders are impossible to come by these days. Im risking that Pablos dropped weight equals better play…and anyone else remember Ordonez? He dropped mad low in this draft. Hes at a certain age, really wants to win a wolrd series and plays in the AL central. Im banking that hes gonna have a solid year…
My pitchers my not be as high profile as my other team, but they can still put up numbers. Verlander and Gallardo always seem to be int he Cy Young talk. Rivera now has a number to strive for in his quest for the all time saves record, and it so happens to be 42…as in: The last player to ever wear 42 in baseball needs only 42 saves to catch the all time saves record.
Right…better wrap this up…like I said, I got another team to draft on sunday. My aim to to draft a team that has 0 players Ive already drafted. It limits my options, but it does force me to consider what those other players are capable of. Its an interesting experiment and Im hoping it leads to a couple league titles.
Fantasy 2011
Here we go again, baby! Time to draft me some fantasy champions!
Unlike last year, there will be no group run team. Too messy and we finished near the bottom. My solo teams ran much better (3 of 4 playoff berths, 2 league titles)
In-draft commenting will happen, once my draft goes live….
2nd in draft order!
I wont get contract-year-Pujols, which is unfortunate, but Im guarenteed to get Hanley Ramirez. In my drafts, good middle infielders are hard to come by, so I can work with this.
…1st, pick, Hanley
…2nd? ARod
3rd? Tim Lincecum
Not bad so far…
round 4: Buster Posey
rounds 5: Dan Uggla
How bout some pitching domination? rounds 6 and 7: David Price and Josh Johnson
8 and 9: Alex Rios and Brian Wilson
10/11: Oswalt and Victorino
…crap, Corey Harts still on the table? Crap…
…and right before I can snatch him up, someone autodraft gets him…figures…
12/13: Delmon Young and Colby Rasmus…
14 and 15 are…Huff and Gardner
16-21: Aardsma, Dempster, Guerrero, Romero, Neil Walker, Cuddyer and John Axford.
Not bad considering I didnt prep. Awesome infield, speed minded outfield and an awesome rotation.
Jeter to get married…to the dismay of millions of other women
This is essencially the last call for everyones “Jeter-ARod gay jokes” because Jeter has November plans to get married this November…then again nothing has been made official as of yet…not that I care all that much, but out of curiosity, I googled his girlfriend and essencially wanted to make this a topic just so I can post this:
Yet another reason why its good to be Derek Jeter
…In actual baseball related news:
Apparently the excuse train got a late start, but it still made its yearly trip up to Boston, where Red Sox pitcher Matsuzaka claims he got hurt preparing for the World Baseball Classic…If and when the BoSox fans point to this as a reason why the Red Sox didnt win the division/ALDS/pennant/World series, will anyone really listen? Cuz I wont.
Vlad-the-Impailer finds a home in Texas. Apparently the Angels got rid of him but therell be plenty of time next year for him to prove them stupid as Texas and LAA will prolly be in another battle for the AL west crown.
There is a winner in the game show “So you wanna buy a Cuban star?” In a move that prolly dropped the jaws of nearly every other club, the freakin Reds of all teams win Aroldis Chapman. Thats like when I was a kid and the poor kid came to school wearing brand new Air Jordans…my reaction then is the same as it is now: Where did he/they come up with that kind of cash?
With this pickup, the Reds are now primed to actually compete…or at least climb out of the basement of the NL central…and hey, if the Cubs suck again this year and Holliday tries to make a few more groin style catches for the Cardinals, maybe the Reds CAN compete.
2010
Everyone have a good christmas? Kwanza? New Years? Alrighty then…
Yankees at Fenway to begin, and end the season?
Phillies and their new ace go to Toronto?
Manny returning to Boston?
Yankees at Dodgers?
This season will have no shortage of great games to watch.
…but since at the end of the day all I care about it what the Yanks are doing, lets take a closer look at what the future holds…and some lingering questions…
Yankees vs Red Sox: opening day/end of the season.
We got spanked by the BoSox early last year right before we turned around and gave it right back to them just as hard, and took the division right in front of them…
It seems the most likely scenerio will be CC vs Beckett, then AJ vs Lackey, then Pettitte vs whatever overrated bum they have next. Either team could win any of those games and Id be an idiot to guess who would before pitchers/catchers have even reported, but there will be no sweeps…unlike last year where almost every set was a sweep.
Yankees at Dodgers
This was the dream world series matchup last postseason, even more so than the Angels vs Dodgers possibility.
Joe Torre vs Joe Girardi, Matt Kemp vs Curtis Granderson, Mark Texeira vs Andre Ethier, Derek Jeter vs Manny Ramirez, C.C. Sabathis vs…uh…can any Dodger compete with any Yankee pitcher?
Point is, this would be a great matchup of managers…not so much teams. Dodgers didnt do much this offseason, and if I didnt think they stood a chance against the Yankees then, then they definatly dont stand a chance against the Yankees now…
Left Field?
Damons still up in the air, and right before he signed with the Cubs, I was telling my dad about how good Marlon Byrn might be for us. The list of available fixes is growing short…
Heres a short list of people I nominate(d) to play left for NY in 2010, in order of ranking…
DamonHollidayDeRosaDye
ByrdBayGardner
Cabrera
Guererro
Hoffman
#5 Starter?
CC-AJ-Pettitte-Vazquez-???
It seems to be between Joba and Hughes…but never count out Gaudin or even Mitre.
…any hey, with C.M.Wang gone, the Yankees have a vancancy at the position of “Once a great pitcher but got hurt too much” that Ben Sheets could fill.
‘Twas the Hot Stove Before Christmas…
Since my little free agentgasm post, the Angels indeed did close the deal on Rodney. As for any last minute X-mas gifts, it looks like there wont be any Tex-caliber presents for anyone this year. The A’s do however find themselves with a gift for them under the christmas tree in Duchscherer, and the fact that the tag technically reads “To: Oakland Athletics…From: Oakland Athletics”
Anyway…I’m bored, tired, and figured why not make a christmas-y poem for baseball?
‘Twas the Hot Stove Before Christmas
‘Twas the hot stove before christmas
and all over the news
the Angels get Rodney
and Justin D stopped singing the blues.
But do the other teams
simply find coal in their stockings?
Good thing the Yankee Hater Haters here
to keep everyones fans from mocking.
Jason Bay to the Mets
to much Boston jeer
since the Mets traded their future
just to be here.
Angels might want Vlad
but thanks to Matsui
Guerreros hopes in Anaheim
just went kablooie.
Yankees would already have Damon
if not for the grinch
Scott Boras’ dealing
put us all in a pinch.
Speaking of Boras
that guy is sure greedy
and may have ended the Twin days
of Mr. Joe Crede
The Rangers were short
of having pretention
But adding Dye this year
would give them contention.
While Smoltz and LaRoche
wait for a suitor
Branyan might end up back
playing with Junior
I know that last rhyme
was a bit iffy
and just to be clear
“Junior” meant “Griffey”
I’d rather not be cliche
with a Holliday holiday rhyme
while on everyone wishlist
DeRosas behind him in line.
In the NL Myers might take
Valverdes spot out in Texas
While up north the Mets want
Bengie Molina for christmas.
While Pedro’s November failures
made him get fired
Ankiel and Delgados DL stints
wont make them get hired
And while Tejada might make plans
to be an Astro again
Merry Christmas to all
see you in 2010.
Remaining free agents
Last year had Bobby Abreu and Manny Ramirez homeless until the last possible moments…what about this year? Could the Yankees use any of them to fill a couple holes, mainly Left field?
…Lets rifle through the list of free agents to see what weve got left…
Justin Duchscherer
Oakland denied him abritration and let him go as a free agent, neither of which could possibly help his depression. Too injury prone for the Yankees to want and Oakland really wants to youth the team up.
Jason Bay
The man wanted out of Boston and it looks like New York wants him…not the Yankees though, too much money. The Mets are the only non-Boston team interested in him to fill their void in left.
Vladimir Guerrero
We wouldve killed for this mo fo the last time he was a free agent, not this time though. With Matsui in LA and the Angels not needing 2 DHs, Vlad-the-impailer is a man without a country. Yankees dont want him now seeing how if we wanted a full time DH we wouldve kept Godzilla.
Johnny Damon
If I were in charge of the Yankees, Id make it policy to have at most 1 Scott Boras client on roster at a time. With Cabrera gone the Yankees have a hole in left field that Damon used to fill. We want him, at OUR price. This has turned into the same stand off BS that we did in 07 with ARod, another Boras client. We’ll get him, as soon as Damon smacks Boras and tells him to “Shut up and go stand in the corner while I talk with the Yankees”
Erik Bedard
The reason the Mariners let him go is because of back-to-back injury filled seasons. Also a reason no team with thoughts of contention would wanna sign him either.
Jermaine Dye
Giants want him. Rangers want him bad. Whispers say the Yankees could plug him in left field. Dye is good. For some reason he always manages to quietly put together a good season. Had he been on the Giants or Rangers LAST season, they mightve made the playoffs.
Adrian Beltre
Heres the dilemma in Boston. They want Lowell out real bad, Ortiz cant play the field to save his life, if Victor Matrinez could play a decent 1st base he wouldnt need to also be a catcher (and vice versa) and Adrian Gonzalez is a pipe dream at best…so they need SOMEBODY besides Youkilis to play the corner infield. Beltre may be their best chance, which isnt a good think offensively.
Russell Branyan
Why not him for Boston? If not Beltre than why not sign Branyan? Decent bench 1st baseman. Seattle might actually want to keep this one.
Hank Blalock
…Never a defensive choice and his average has been lacking. Plus theres the thing where hes always a lock to get hurt every year…
Fernando Rodney
Angels are apparently all over this though. Should the Yankees grab him, he would complete an unstoppabel bullpen. Hey, if the Red Sox are dreaming for Adrian Gonzalez, I can dream for Rodney…
Marlon Byrd
Heres a guy who could but up decent numbers and/or split time with Gardner in left. None of his numbers scream out at you but he could quietly produce…which for the Yankees is better than nothing…
Joe Crede
Wants to play for the Twins again in 2010…but his agent is Scott Boras…
Melvin Mora
Aging…crappy stats…already a surplus of free agent 3rd basemen…PASS…even the Orioles dont wanna bother…
Miguel Olivo
Pretty good power numbers for a catcher, but low stats everywhere else, plus the fact that the Royals dont want you….as long as any “Molina” remains on the market, Ovilo wont have a home…
Matt Holliday
Cardinals want him, and for a long time. Boston wants him because Bay ran away. Yankees could sign him just to be as*holes. probably wont since hes too much money. If I were him, unless the Yankees come calling, stay in St Louis.
Mark DeRosa
Officially known in St Louis as “Plan B” in case Holliday gets away. Yankees might grab him to put in left.
Jose Valverde
For some reason no one wants him. I’m not sure why. I’d take him over Rodney, but thats just me…
Brett Myers
Houston wants him in their bullpen to help fill holes left by a couple people leaving, including the aformentioned Valverde. Myers could do worse than the Astros.
Miguel Tejada
Houston wants him back, which sounds smart on thier part.
Bengie Molina
Mets want him. Then again the Mets want everyone.
Pedro Martinez
The man didnt pitch last year until the 2nd half and he still had nothing left when the world series came. Now he wants to pitch for an entire season? Since the 03 ALCS he just hasnt been as dominating as advertised and last November proved he STILL cant beat the Yankees. Philles should pass, and any team that wants to win should pass too…then again, sign him, let him pitch decent for you until July, then trade him before he craps out. GMs can thank me later.
Joel Pineiro
Good, not great. Too many decent pitchers on the market in front of him. Not many, but he wont go until the better ones go.
Carlos Delgado
HA! Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
John Smoltz
If he proved anything last year, its that the Red Sox cant judge pitching worth a damn. He can start, relieve or possible close. A do anything pitcher like him will definatly find a home…probably in the NL.
Adam LaRoche
Braves might want him for 1 more year. Might be his best option.
Rick Ankiel
He’d be a decent pickup…if he werent so injured all the time. If anyone picks him up, itll prolly be to just fill out the roster or a 5th outfielder.
Orlando Hudson
Last year he was one of those last minute signings and the Dodgers looked like geniuses as a result. This year might feature another last minute signing for Hudson, and he’ll once again make whatever GM look smart…might end up being the Dodgers again…
…My God this took longer than I thought…
2009 ALCS vs Angels…Game 2
A win tonight would go a looooooong long way towards making our 3 game trip to LA easier to deal with. Yankees needing just 2 of 3 is easier than going into the Angels home turf with a 1-1 tie.
Burnett is on the mound for us and he has his catcher of choice.
After Sabathias dominance in game 1, Angels should realize these non-CC games are vital to win. If CC doesnt have to pitch a game 7, hes the obvious choice for game 1 of the world series, so AJ and Pettitte can help a whole lot by continuing the Yankees trend of not sucking
…but Im getting head of myself…focus! Game 2 in now!
Fun fact…Yankees have won every game 1 against the Angels in the postseason. Angels have won every game 2 (and 3) though…lets change that tonight!
Bottom 2 in New York
Cano with the triple. I doubt he had many of those this year…Swisher needing a glass of water after legging out a run from 1st base. Yankees up, like in the series, 1-0.
Bottom 3 in New York
Who else would you expect to show up big in October? Jeter with the bomb to the opposite way! Yanks lead 2-0! And now to slowly pull away…
After Jeter hit it, I quickly turned off my mute to hear what Buck and McCarver would say about it…and they were silent. Suck it you two!
Top 4 in New York
Tex…with the amazing play! That man has won some games on his own with the glove!
Jose Molina takes a foul off the knee…for a moment I was scared Posada would come in to catch Burnett…
…and right after, Molina makes a great toss to 1st to get Guerrero after he swung at strike 3 in the dirt and the ball rolled away…Joe Buck thought he was safe, naturally.
Defense, baby, defense!
Top 5 in New York
I swear to God Burnett, STOP hitting people!
….bases loaded, 2 outs…urge to swear…rising…urge to yell at Burnett…rising…
MOTHER F*CK SONNOVA BITCH GOD DAMMIT Burnett! Youre killing me! Killing me!!! Wild pitch? Seriously?
He pulled this sh!t against Minnesota, too.
Bottom 5 in New York
Molina is hitting? That means Burnett will pitch the 6th…is that wise?
Top 7 in New York
…and Cano makes his seemingly required weekly error…
I’ve been getting more heart complications in this game alone than in the entire Twins sweep…
Coke tried 1st in the merry-go-round of relievers…next up,
JOBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
…bases loaded, 2 outs, Vlad-the-Impailer up…
CLUTCH STRIKEOUT!!!!!! Joba with the fistpump!
Top 8 in New York
In comes Hughes with it all still tied…’s been a good game. Hopefully it’ll end well for us. The winner here will have plenty of momentum…
F*CKING ERRORS! Et tu Jeter?
…and the merry-go-round continues…
Enter Sandman…
…inning over…game still tied…
Top 9 in New York
B-E-A-utiful catch by Damon to start off the 9th.
Angels were fooling themselves if they thought they would get to Mo in the 9th…
Top 11 in New York
For the record, I blame Burnett for all this.
Eliminate his d*mbass wild pitch in the 5th, Yankees would’ve won 2-1 in regulation.
I dont care how much we’re paying him, it should’ve been Pettitte tonight and Chad Gaudin in game 3. Burnett can be mop up relief.
…it doesn’t help either that out 3-4-5 hitters are 0 for everything tonight…
Bottom 11 in New York
AND A ROD BAILS US OUT AGAIN!!!!!
Better late than never!
Top 12 in New York
Even if I weren’t watching, I’d know Marte is in the game because my heart sinks whenever he enters a close game, whether I’m watching or not…
Middle of 13 in New York
Suffice to say, I will not be sleeping tonight…
Bottom 13 in New York
Lemme get this strait…
Izturis throws the ball away, letting Hairston Jr get to third…who then proceeded to score because Figgins couldnt pick the ball up in time…..a fitting end to a sloppy game at both ends…and yet, considering the situation:
Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeee Yankees win!
(…Buck and McCarver meanwhile….depressed and silent…)
Yankees: 2
Angels: 0
Sleep tight, Yankee fans! We’re goin to SoCal up 2-0!!!
Listen up, Angels!
Joba pitched great last night. I don’t think theres any need to go into that so much. Hes now the #1 contender for the Yankees game 4 ALCS start. I’d rather spend right now talking about something else…
So pay attention Angels, I’m about to point out to you what the Yankees pointed out last night. The following are the now glaring weaknesses that the Boston Red Sox have that ESPN doesnt want you to know about. Take notes and youll finally be able to beat a team that gives you trouble…
#1-The pitching is in bad shape
Lester went down. Even if he wont miss any starts, hes nowhere near 100%. Becketts been struggling and theres no other substantial starter that inspires confidence in Boston. Lester was their ace, now hes more like their Jack of spades…
They also lack a bullpen to bridge the gap from the starters to Papelbon, the 2nd best closer in the Statium last night. They don’t have a Hughes or an Aceves…or even a Marte.
#2-Varitek is not a good catcher
Last night, the Yankees ran 7 times against Varitek and were never caught. A Rod ran all night on him. You Angels are a team that likes to run, right? Run. Like. Hell. Guerrero could even swipe a bag off him.
“So what? They still have Martinez” Right, the denile guy. Boston refuses to admit Variteks done, but pick up Martinez “to play 1st base and only catch when Varitek needs an off day”
Martinez is more of an offensive catcher than a defensive one. You can run off him too, he might catch a guy or two, but you’ll still lead all postseason teams in SB this October.
#3-No class
Boston plans on celebrating their playoff birth like crazy. One of those idiots said so. Now, I can see the Rangers celebrating like that if they had won the wild card, or even the Rays last year when they won the east, but teams like Boston and the Yankees, teams that make the postseason annually, should not celebrate things that are a given for them in March.
Teams that celebrate just making the playoffs are teams that know they have slim-to-no chance to go to the world series. That being said, Boston apparently plans on throwing in the towel before you Angels even get a chance to beat them down.
#4-I don’t think Ortiz is on steroids right now
Every time people start questioning if Ortiz does steroids, he goes into a slump, most likely because he suddenly stops injecting into his ***. Then, once the heat dies down, he amazingly breaks out of his slump. That homerun he hit last night wasnt a typical moon shot, so either hes comming off his last steroid high, or just now starting a new dose (most likely so hes ready for October).
Angels, start bitching that Ortiz does steroids! Get the media on his case again. In a rush to look credible, he’ll stop taking roids and thus, stop hitting. Doing so will place both teams on an equal playing field in terms of cheating.
#5-Boston can’t win on the road
I saw the highlight from the last Angels/Red Sox game: Bottom 9, bases loaded, full count, 2 outs, Red Sox down by 1, and the umpire calls ball four on what shouldve been strike three. Game tied and the Red Sox eventually win. Had that taken place in any other place in the world, it wouldve been strike 3, but the Red Sox got a home town call.
Its a small example, but the Red Sox only play .500 baseball on the road, the Angels and Yankees are 12 games over .500 on the road. The Angels having home field advantage in round one goes a long way. Get them away from those home town calls and the Red Sox fall apart.
There should be no excuse for you Angels not facing us Yankees in the ALCS. Boston is a vastly inferior team not only to us, but to you as well. Good luck, but I doubt you’ll need it.
Playoff Dry Run
Must win. Lets think that because in the playoffs, when you lose the opener against a team like the Angels, you gotta think that in the 2nd game. The Yankees must win tonight! Gaudin’s got a rotation audition on the line and the Yankees have a mile wide opening to put some serious breathing room between them and Boston heading into the weekend…and that whole magic number being 1 and all is good motivation as well.
God bless the Royals and Zack Greinke for giving it to the Red Sox hard and dry tonight thus far. Just goes to show how ineffective Boston can be against great pitching, this was their 1st look at him this year. Hold a 5-0 lead and the number for the east crown goes down again. The lower that number is, the better chance we might actually get to clinch it against Boston and rub it in their faces. If THAT aint motivation, I dont know what is.
End of 1 in LA
…Ok, we loaded the bases in the 1st and didnt score. At least it showed we’re not screwing around. How many innings did we just go down harmlessly last night? As for Gaudin? 1-2-3. Keep this up and we’ll have no problem winning.
Boston is 3 outs away from losing again. Its 5-1 now but theyve only managed 2 hits all night. And that 1 run was made possible and all by balks and manufacturing.
Texas and Oakland scoreless thus far
…and for the hell of it, the Reds are beatin down on the Pirates 10-4 in the 9th.
End of 2 in LA
We leave a runner on 3rd for the 2nd strait inning. Thus far this has been a game we should win. We’re making Santana work-hes around 40 pitches already. We get to the bullpen, we’re set, like we’ve done all year.
2 outs left for Boston, still 5-1
Oakland leads Texas 2-0…
Game over in Pittsburgh
…Reds beat Pirates 10-4 in a game that means nothing…so lets look at a game that DOES mean something…
Seattle beat Tampa Bay 4-3, officially ending the Rays season (and then there were 17) Until next year Death Rays! Seattle meanwhile is still barely alive in both the west and wild card…
…Gaudin looks good through 2.
Boston loses! Magic number for the east is now 7!
Middle of 3 in LA
ARod and Jorge! goin deep and puttin us up BIG and early! This is it for Gaudin. He hold the Angels at bay, then he passes in my book. With this and Texas being down 2-0 still, we’re gettin in tonight!
…Other games that mean something…St. Louis beat down on the eliminated Astros 11-2 to drop their magic number to 2 in the NLcentral.
Twins and Tigers both won, so no real change there…
End of 3 in LA
1st big jam of the night for Gaudin and he blows away Abreu to escape! Hes doing everything right so far. He looks set to go 5 innings easy. Hes not accostumed to going deep into a game so the 6th/7th might be pushing it, but we’ve got Hughes and Aceves so theres no need to push him too deep in the game.
…Other games of importance: Cubs just beat the Brew-crew to keep their disappointing season alive a little longer. Brewers, meanwhile, are eliminated tonight if the Rockies win…and they’re leading the Padres 8-6 at the stretch.
Top 5 in LA
Gaudin pitching good when we need him too! Reminds me of Shawn Chacon back in 2005, another case of a crappy NL pitcher becomming great as soon as he puts on the pinstripes. Chacon was 1-7, 4.09 with the Rockies in 05 before joining the Yankees and going 7-3, 2.85 the rest of the way.
“OOooooooooooo No! They say hes got to go go-go-Godzilla!” Matsui launches another bomb! Yankees 5, Angels 0!
…Unfortunatly, the Rangers/A’s game is a full inning and a half ahead of this one, meaning technically the Yankees will officially clinch their playoff birth before this game ends, unless Texas can recover from being down 3-1, which can totally happen.
Bottom 5 in LA
Gaudin started giving me heart problems. 2 outs, 2 strikes and he gives up a homer to, of all people, Chone Figgins. Then he falls apart. Abreu worked a tough walk, but all said and done, and Gaudin couldnt get out of the 5th. So Gaudin’s playoff tryout inspires mixed feelings, but its the end result that matters, so its up to Aceves to bail him out.
End of 5 in LA
…and he does! So for a playoff audition Gaudin made us sweat. Interesting. The bullpen is rested though, so in case Aceves gets jammed, Hughes is around. We got a healthy 3 run lead yet, so all is not hopeless. As I stated earlier though, Yankees need to have a must win mentality tonight. Get through 8 with the lead any way you can, then Enter Sandman.
End of 7 in Oakland
A’s just put up a 5 spot and now lead 8-1. Texas is pretty much done now, meaning the Yankees are gonna finally clinch a playoff birth, the 1st in a very long time for Yankees fans.
-The Yankees meanwhile are continuing to give me heart complications, as they now only lead 5-3 with the bases loaded with Angels and the ever patient Bobby Abreu up again. C’mon Aceves, dont fail me now!
Bottom 6 in LA
The ever patient Abreu walked…again. 1 run lead, 2 outs, bases loaded, Vlad-the-Impaler up. C’MON ACEVES!
End of 6 in LA
My heart can’t take this ****. Aceves pulls through again. Won’t be his most deserving win if he gets it, but a wins a win.
…Speaking of heart attacks. The Padres/Rockies game finally ended in similar heart complicating drama. Neither starter escaped the 3rd. Rockies had an 11-6 lead in the 9th. Padres rallied, but it wasn’t enough. 11-10 Rockies win the slugfest. And with that Rockies win, RIP 2009 Brewers (and then there were 16).
…Meanwhile, the Yankees are 3 Texas outs from officially qualifying for October…
Bottom 7 in LA
WHAT THE HELL IS MARTE DOING IN THIS GAME?!?!?!
End of 7 in LA
It was Hughes’ turn to bail out the Yankees. 6 more outs and we can say we punched our postseason tickets outselves. 2 outs in Oakland until its official though.
…Meanwhile…Arizona leads the Giants in the 9th by 5. Giants are starting to fade from the NLwild card. The ugly Rockies win just got all the more sweeter.
Game over in Oakland
Its official, the Yankees are back in the post season…not that theres time to enjoy it right now…our offense seems to have regressed into last nights impotent bunch…
Game over in Arizona
The Giants uphill climb to catch the Rockies just got a little steeper with that 10-8 loss. For the Rockies, tonight was a hard fought, frustrating battle, but ultimatley worth it, as they gained that much more distance over SF. I just hope that can transition for the Yankees as well in getting rid of Boston.
Bottom 8 in LA
For the love of Christ! 2 strait errors? The Angels wont win this game, the Yanks’ll lose it…
Is there something in the f*cking gatorade? These havent been the Yankees from the 6th inning on…
End of 8 in LA
Thanks a lot Cano. Biggest error of your life. 5-all going into the 9th. Yankee bats are on east coast time it seems as they all went to sleep. Hughes has done great, but another inning might be too much to ask. Bruney and Coke are still in there. Neither inspire as much confidence. Maybe we can score a run somehow and Mo can pitch.
Top 9 in LA
THATS RIGHT! THATS RIGHT! Gardner can’t be caught stealing! Pitchout and you still can’t catch him! C’MON JETER!
Yankees have been scoring tonight with the deep drives, Angels with the small ball. Yanks can score the most important run with some small ball right here…Old man Oliver is in to try and stop Damon…
…who displays some massive BALLS and bunts with 2 strikes to move the runners over.
Tex with the free pass.
One out.
Holy sh!t.
ARod up.
And he gets the fly ball! Gardner can’t be stopped. Yankees lead 6-5!
Middle of 9 in LA
Easily the best Yankee game I’ve followed all year, and as luck would have it I’ve been making a journal of it all night to revisit.
Enter Sandman!
Bottom 9 in LA
That was strike 3! WTF? God damn umps…1 on, 0 out.
Strike em out-throw em out-double play! You ain’t no Brett Gardner, Willits!
Ball game over! Yankees win! Theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee YANKEES WIN!
I said it before and I’ll say it again: playoff mentality was needed tonight and the Yankees showed it and then some. Tonights game will probably overshadow most of the playoffs in terms of intensity and pressure. I’ll leave Gaudin’s debriefing for a later time. Right now, its all about the entire team.
That game was a dry run for the playoffs, and the Yankees came, saw, gave us all heart attacks, and eventually conquered.
Bring on October.
The Yankee Hater Hater 