Spiders - 105 000 100 - 7 8 0Boston hit five home runs, including two from J.D. Drew and a grand slam by Jed Lowrie. Dustin Pedroia and Alex Gonzalez hit the other dongs.
Red Sox - 310 125 00x - 12 11 0
Jacoby Ellsbury stole his 70th base of the year, George Kottaras came off the bench and singled twice, and David Ortiz singled in two runs in the first, giving him 99 RBI. Jason Bay led the team with 119 RBI.
On each scorecard, I put the number of the game in the top right corner. Every Opening Day, I write a "1" and think it will take so long to get to "162". When you step back, 162 games is a ridiculously long season. Yet here we are.
The 2009 regular season is nearly complete and the Red Sox are one of the eight teams to be playing in the playoffs (for the sixth time in the last seven years). However, we still don't know who one of those eight teams will be.
The Tigers are Twins are tied atop the AL Central at 85-76 -- with one game to play (Danks/Verlander at 1 and Hochevar/Pavano at 2).
On the morning of September 7, the Twins were a season-worst 7 GB. They have gone 15-4 since September 13, while the Tigers -- who have allowed three more runs (736) than they have scored (733) this year for an 80-81 Pythag -- have won only 10 of their last 25 games.
So the Red Sox will fly to Anaheim after a workout at Fenway on Monday, but they don't know if their series will begin on Wednesday or Thursday. (Indeed, they might not know until Tuesday night; a possible tie-breaking game between Detroit and Minnesota would be played Tuesday afternoon.)
And while the media's talk of players wanting to hit .300 and get 100 RBI because .298 and 99 doesn't look as impressive is silly -- when really, over a long season, it's the same thing -- I admit that I did not want to finish double-digits behind the MFY. And being 8 GB now, we won't.
And speaking of Pythag, the Red Sox "should" be only 1 GB the MFY (93-68 to 94-67), but the Yankees have out-performed their expected W-L by eight games. Grrrr.....
But the real excitement today is the culmination of the W-L contest. There will be no tie-breakers here.
The Red Sox are 94-67 -- and we have:
Aaron Liber 95-67
Bradley Smith 94-68
142 comments:
DAMMIT!! So close...
oooo central drama! love it.
MFY probably cheering for the tigers, as the twins seem to be a team hitting their stride. MFY also probably cheering for a tuesday afternoon tiebreaker, so they can play wednesday night in new york. if detroit wins, i think MFY will easily take that series. not so much with minnesota. i would love to see them bounced in the first round. twins just completely obliterate sabathia/burnett/toucan/jtc and smash them to bits. mmmmm.
i say both teams win - verlander shuts down the pale sox and the twins rough up hochever to set the stage for a tuesday tiebreaker (porcello/baker).
WEEI: "Manny Delcarmen was involved in a car accident on Route 93 on his way to Fenway Park prior to Saturday's game ... Delcarmen was driving his Hummer which hit a guardrail and he suffered back and neck pain. He received treatment during the game."
Tim Wakefield not on ALDS roster.
Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Martinez, C
Youkilis, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Bay, LF
Kotchman, 1B
Drew, RF
Gonzalez, SS
WEEI listed only the first 8, but also said Seabass was back, so I assume he's ninth.
Playoff rotation will be announced after today's game.
GDGD has:
Ellsbury, CF
Pedroia, 2B
Martinez, C
Youkilis, 3B
Ortiz, DH
Bay, LF
Drew, RF
Kotchman, 1B
Gonzalez, SS
Verlander in 1st: K, 1B, DP/F8-4
Bases loaded for Tigers in 1st, 1 out.
Det 1st vs Danks:
BB
P4
2B
BBI to Cabrera
BB to Guillen, 1-0
CWS: 0
DET: 1
Off to a fine start.
O'B does a good John Sterling, but his Vin Scully sucks.
nice recovery. looks sharp, though he clearly missed his spot re the dong.
CWS: 00
DET: 12
Come on 70!
some serious eyeblack on that kid
and don mentions it! "nice touch"
70!!!!
Castig pointing out that the year Ricky Henderson stole 130 bases, he was caught stealing 46 times. That means 176 SB attempts.
WOW
BBlue!
73.8% -- you could argue the CS cancelled out the benefit of all those SB.
Bref has 42 CS.
you could argue the CS cancelled out the benefit of all those SB
You could, but you'd be wrong.
Bref has 42 CS.
I actually couldn't remember if he said 42 or 46. I typed both, then settled on the wrong one, I guess.
SHIFT THIS.
So, I really need to stop staying up till four AM reading about string theory and particle physics. Because I literally just woke up.
Flo!
75.6%
I think you'd have to look at Ricky's overall value to a team, not just % CS.
So, I really need to stop staying up till four AM reading about string theory and particle physics.
Is that for school or fun or both?
[I'm not being sarcastic. I read heavy history/political stuff for fun.]
Long recap of Rickey's 1982 season
Is that for school or fun or both?
Well, it started with me reading about galaxies and stars and stuff, which is directly related to the astrophysics course I'm taking, but endless link-clicking on Wikipedia eventually got me to dark matter and then particle physics and string theory.
I'm not a big fan of string theory. Anything that needs 10 dimensions to work properly seems flawed to me.
SEA BASS!!!!
Kevin, cool. A subject I know nothing about.
SEA BASS!!!
THT article on the value of SB. Has stuff on Rickey's 1982.
I meant only the SB in general -- and obviously, a SB in a specific key spot is important.
His baserunning stats here. It says he was on 1B or 2B with the next base open 224 times. And he attempted to steal 176 times. WOW!
(5 attempts to steal home - safe 2 times)
I meant only the SB in general
Oh sure, I agree with you there. Rickey is a separate case. Under-rated!
CWS: 000 00
DET: 120 01
KCR: 0
MIN: 4
(Kubel 3R dong)
"full bore"
Um, Clay, wtf are you doing?
Get the outs.
Ugh
Not good to see HH do this.
Fuck
To HH: No BB.
ramram has been up
ugh
Shit
Well, Bradley Smith is probably happy.
Struck out the side!
And OB says Buchholz strikes out the side!
Don't be callin' me OB!
I guess you're just thinking alike.
Although only one of you was being sarcastic!
Lucchino is in the radio booth talking about the things they did this weekend for the fan appreciation series. Sounds great. Among many other things, giveaways for tickets to next year's Opening Day!
Lucky now on NESN.
Beth at Cursed to First has some great pics of the photo night with the players!
bowden up
CWS: 000 000 0
DET: 120 011
Verlander so far: 7-2-0-1-5, 97
KCR: 000
MIN: 40
And why not?
MFY: 000 0
TBR: 100 0
ON FIRE is ON FIRE!
my mlbtv just crapped out
MIN 7-0 in the 3rd.
Hey everyone. Now 7-0 Twins! So it's looking like Game 163 coming up!
Verlander hitting a little snag in the 8th. Two on 1 out and one in. 5-1 det.
Lillibridge hits a 2-run single and it's 5-3 Detroit now!
The Tigers are trying to win the award for "Best Impression of the 2007 Mets"
Great. Now I got the Spider TV station (on mute).
Will Matsuzaka now be our Game 3 pitcher?
Ha!
FUCK YEAH!!!!
HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
FY: "Nope, still not Tribe Time."
WHAT a catch to save Detroit's season by Granderson! Coming in coming in coming in on a shallow popup and went into a full-forward dive and caught it with the tying run on first base.
FUCK YEAH!!!
Clev TV just had a "Bringin' The Gas" commercial for Direct Energy. Video of Ohka pitching to Yook: but most of the pitches were at 78 mph. Another at 82.
HAHAHHHAHAH
I don't share the glee about the impending playoff game and the Tigers' collapse. I'd much rather see NYY play Detroit/Verlander than the Twins.
Tigers are on the corners with 1 out in the bot 8
I'm thinking right now momentum will be more valuable than... Verlander.
I don't think an abstract concept like momentum can be more valuable than an ace.
Kottaras at 3B?
Either way you still have to play the game. All you need is for Minnesota to play three good games against the Yankees.
Play at the plate and Laird BOWLS over Castro on the final game of the season.
Wow.
I've missed Ish's in-game updates.
Clev TV "text your answer" thing:
Who is AL MVP?
Jeter
Teixeira
Mauer
Morales
Cabrera
(that's the order they were listed in)
All you need is for Minnesota to play three good games against the Yankees.
Exactly.
The 2006 Tigers lost their last six games (and went 12-16 after September 1) and still kicked the Yankees' collective ass in the ALDS.
How a team finishes the season = just about nothing.
"Kottaras at 3B?"
Why not. They played Cash at third for some reason last year.
I just don't think the Twins have a snowball's chance in hell of winning the ALDS. But in a short series...anything...etc etc.
ON FIRE ON FIRE!!!!
ON FIRE is even more ON FIRE!
FIRE!!
It's DREWTOBER!
why doesn't he hit those with guys on base? (/morons)
Tigers win 5-3
why doesn't he hit those with guys on base? (/morons)
OB started singing Drew's praises, then managed to twist it up into a backhanded compliment. "...The numbers haven't been to everybody's liking, certainly, but when he's healthy - when he feels like he's healthy...", then goes on to say Drew is a natural athlete, implying he has no work ethic.
OB: Everyone who plays professional sports is a natural athlete. So that's irrelevant.
OB: Everyone who plays professional sports is a natural athlete. So that's irrelevant.
That is me addressing OB, not OB addressing us about Drew.
"...The numbers haven't been to everybody's liking,
Except to the Red Sox General Manager, but who the hell is he, the loser?
I have a post coming this evening about this.
come on, gathy!
is this pitcher gonna get some delay fines too?
why doesn't he hit those with guys on base? (/morons)
Drew is by far the most underappreciated player on this team.
I have a post coming this evening about this.
About Drewplaning? Or about the backhanded compliments in general?
Or should I just wait and see? :)
Drew is by far the most underappreciated player on this team.
Totally. That's how the word "Drewplaning" came to be - constant complaining about Drew.
Hey, is that in the glossary?
tek nearly knocking gathright off the playoff roster.
Hey, the Cactus managed to not make an out!
No, it's not there.
Tek's OPS+ is in the single digits for September/October
Dear Dave O'Brien:
The difference between 99 RBIs and 100 RBIs is insignificant. Please give it a rest.
Signed,
Enough Already
Tek's OPS+ is in the single digits for September/October
OMG+
YEAH FUCKING YEAH
JEDI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
after drew's dong, there were 2 quick outs. then:
1B
BB
BB
HR
that was supposed to be HELL FUCKING YEAH, but whatever.
The difference between 99 RBIs and 100 RBIs is insignificant.
But it's .006 more of an RBI per game!
Ack, I missed that. Jedi Mind Trick Dong?
Holy shit, a grand slam!!!
ORSILLO doing the SOX ALSD!!!!
or so says remy (and don apparently).
Re Don doing ALDS, don't get your hopes up, we may not get that feed.
Unless there is no ESPN International Broadcast for playoffs, only for WS?
There is only one feed.
... Or do you mean the "international" feed? Argggg
Right. But I'm not sure if that's for the whole playoffs, or only WS.
IIRC, the ESPN Intl will drive us straight to radio.
KCR: 000 103
MIN: 403 01
MFY got 10 in the 6th, lead TBR 10-2.
Can we get a Buffalo station for that?
Enough of this game, I have to take my break. Onward to the DS...
Can we get a Buffalo station for that?
We have two stations from Buffalo - the Fox affiliate and PBS.
Tek pulled mid-inning. Tips helmet.
Bard with Tek: 4-pitch BB
Bard with Brown: 3-pitch K
hmmmmmm.....
And another 3-pitch K!
Two three-pitch Ks
Twins 9-4 after 6.
C Perez's line: 1.1-1-1-1-1
Impressive feat for Jacoby to get 70 SB when you consider that NONE of the 55 people in your contest said he'd reach that amount. And only four thought he'd even hit 60.
What can Brown do for us now?
More aside stuff: The Yanks scored 10 in an inning but did not score in the other eight innings. I wanna know what's the most runs a team has scored in one inning without scoring in any other innings.
I want Papi to reach 100 RBI here.
Even though we've already established that the difference between 99 and 100 is meaningless.
Bot.
The water is Muddy!!!
95-67
WATER!
Bard with Tek: 4-pitch BB
Bard with Brown: 3-pitch K
hmmmmmm.....
Bit of a small sample there, eh Capn?
Twins 10-4 after 7.
If the Royals can't get 9 in the 9th, there will be a playoff game on Tuesday.
KCR: 000 103 000 - 4 12 0
MIN: 403 011 13x - 13 11 0
Funny, they are having the "Farewell to the Metrodome" ceremony now, but there may be a few more games played there. At least one.
You've got to have the farewell ceremony on the last day of the final season.
I remember people ripping the Red Sox for putting "Final Game of the Century" on the tickets for the regular season finale in '99, because of the chance of playoff games.
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