Understatement of the year
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- October
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Steve Phillips did a chat on ESPN.com today. Here’s one exchange:
Todd in Pennsylvania: “… as a die hard pinstripe fan how far do you think they can go?”
Phillips: “Clemens maybe the deciding factor and I do not think he is up for it. But then again I have been wrong on the Yankees a few times this season.”
A few times? A few times?
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Josh Thomson
I only recall one commentator from ESPN not picking Seattle to win the wild card at the season midpoint. These clowns have no credibility.
Pretty much every ESPN analyst picked Cleveland to win if you look in the MLB section of the website. Personally I could care less, they all picked the Yanks last year and look what happened.
I hope he falls off of a cliff.
What an ass.
The Mets could really have used Kazmir yeserday.
And this from the same guy who said that Melky was at best a 4th outfielder and should have been traded for Gagne because you can replace him quite easily ! What a dumb***
Good point scooter. this clown in particular said the Yankees were done for.
It’s great.
Phillips even went so far as to say the Mets would make the playoffs and the Yankees not, anyone remember that?
Proving people wrong can be so much fun…
_this season? this season?_
in August 2005, he said we would come in 3rd in the wild card!
3rd!
well, we won the division.
The Steve Phillips-ESPN-RSN Clown Show
What’s this great “inside information” he has to make the statement “I do not think he {Clemens} is up for it?” Does he have a pipeline to the Yankee medical staff? Or is he just talking out of his backside like some jerk at a bar?
I’m to the point right now that I want the Yankees to win the WS for no other reason, but to shut this Bozo up.
He brings nothing to the table. He’s always wrong, and his anti-Yankee bias is making him look even more foolish.
He was horrible GM, and he’s even worse as an “expert”.
at least he got 1 think the mets were not gonna make the playoff.
Hes probally stil hated the yankees for beating him in the 2000 world series
Does anyone remember a couple years ago when ESPN did their Sportscenter series where Steve Phillips pretended to be a GM of a team each day? I think they did the Yanks, Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets, and Angels. It was hilarious and from then on I have always referred to Phillips as “The Faux GM”.
Rockies have tied the game up at 5. This game is gonna end 13-12.
Tampa: Yes, I remember that vividly. It was THE dumbest thing I’ve ever seen in my life, complete with bogus press and all. Every time I see him I think of that stupid stunt.
It’s gonna end 13-12 in the 12th or 13th!
still monday cant wait till thursday…
i hope a-rod gets to bat in the first inning with runners on
and they cant pitch around him, i think if get a big hit there it will calm him down and then he’s going to have a big post season
If we were all as bad at our jobs as Steve Phillips is at ESPN we would have been fired months ago.
Don’t remember who the host was but on Baseball Tonight they were discussing the Yankees a few weeks ago and Steve Philips was giving his usual Yankees aren’t going to make the post season rant and the host said something to him like “Steve, just admit you hate the Yankees and we can move on.” We busted out laughing.
Darrin
I am glad I am not the only one who has the pleasure of remembering that stuff. It was so terrible ESPN didnt even bother to use it to finish the rest of the teams.
And Phillips has always hated A-Rod because he didnt want to give in to Boras’s demands and he made up the fact that Boras was asking for a billboard of Alex and other perks that were just absurd. Phillips was the one who started the trade A-Rod rumors in the middle of last season and said the Yanks would be better without him if he opted out.
There is nothing wrong, per se, with Phillips hating the Yankees. The problem is that he’s supposed to be an ANALYST. Take Gammons, for example. You know he’s a Red Sox fan, but the guy at least can do a fair analysis, and I’ve seen plenty of examples of it over the years. On quite a few occasions I’ve seen him praise the Yankees when it’s deserved. This Phillips character almost sounds like someone posting on SoSH. I’m waiting for the day where he slips and says, “I’m picking the Sox to beat the MFY’s.”
Even when the Yanks were on a tear, he continued countlessly to say that we would not make it. Steve Phillips continues to show us why he’s no longer a GM in MLB and will continue to be a commentator for ESPN.
Do you guys remember where that free live feed of WCBS 880. My friend lives in Flordia and wants to listen the post season games?? Thanks soo much for your help if you know.
Steve Phillips is a moron.
Aaaaahahaha.
Oooh boy.
A few times? What. A. Clown.
The problem with Steve Phillips other than just not being that good is that he has a total bias against ALL New York teams. He was kicked out as GM after not only being a bad GM but making big time mistakes in his personal life and mixing business with pleasure but because he was a Mets GM just doesnt like the Yankees or Cashman.
Hey Guys –
Anyone know if the TBS announcers are correct when they talk about the basehits, rbi, and other stats counting toward the regular season numbers? It just doesn’t seem right if that is the case. Anyone know for sure?
this is a great game
Doreen
Yes they are correct. Major league rules state that a tiebreaking game counts as a regular season game therefore all stats count toward the regular season averages and the like.
Doreen: The stats count. Remember in 1978, Guidry went into the playoff game against Boston with a record of 24-3, but of course, we all remember the final record (25-3)
Darrin is totally right. Phillips has a right to be an idiot (
), and Gammons has always been very, very objective in his reporting, as Pete has pointed out here in the past as well. I think Peter Gammons is a baseball fan, period – and I would be proud to call him a fellow fan if his “allegiance” were with NY instead of the Sox. Hilarious comment about Phillips making a slip though, Darrin. 
I would imagine that’s actually a pretty plausible possibility at some point.
ESPN stinks in a lot of instances, but I did see a lot of pro-Yankee analysis on Baseball Tonight the other day. Kruk for one said that the Yankees were the team to beat, and I believe Orel did as well. I like both of those guys for the most part. If I could just get past picturing Chris Farley when I look at Kruk these days …
MMF: you’re right. A lot of times these winner-takes-all games stink. This is a great one so far.
Actually a few years ago, that rule I was talking about had the potential to screw a team out of the playoffs. Here is an example and I will just use the Yanks, Sox and Tigers in it.
Yanks and Red Sox tie for division lead with 90-72 record. Det also has 90-72 record. Angels are already in playoffs with 92-70 and Cleveland in with 90-72. So the Yanks and Sox has to play a division tiebreaking game to determine AL east champion. Yanks win making. A few years ago the rule would have been this, Yanks official record for the year would have been 91-72 and would be AL champs. Detroit would be Wild Card at 90-72 and the Red Sox would miss playoffs with 90-73 record all because that division tiebreaking game would count toward the regular season standings. They had to change the rule to allow for the loser in the tiebreaking game would still have a chance to play the other team for the wild card.
i wouldnt say that kruk can analysis anything.
Yeah, Peavy could have picked up a 20th win tonight towards his regular season stats. Frankly, I’m rooting for the Rox. I really like Tulowitzki and I picked him as my NL ROY before the season started.
Thank you Darrin and Tampa Yankee. Learn something new all the time! (I was a more casual fan in 1978.)
Wolf: In fact, at the risk of sounding like a “homer”, I think Kruk made the most astute point of the night: “If the Yankees get any starting pitching, no one will beat them.”
Aye, but there’s the rub, isn’t it? Is it possible that for the 3rd consecutive year, the Yankees entire offense will go in a shell? The offense was pretty awful against the Angels and Tigers in ‘05/’06 — would it be asking too much to hit just a little bit?
give steve his only propz he predict mets would not make it to the playoffs
everything else he said was wrong
Does everyone here realize that if the Rockies win, then all the teams represented in the playoffs will be entirely different than last year? Except the Yankees, of course.
Has anybody seen the movie Clerks? I think Adrian Gonzalez looks exactly like Dante (the guy who works at the convenience store not the guy who works at the video rental store) from Clerks.
Kruk can certainly analyze a menu.
Philips ought to become the new White House press secretary or something else that would make good use of his skills. Maybe a department store window dummy. He’s got the right look… and intelligence.
Well, I noticed that Phillips has picked the Red Sox to beat the Angels in 4.
I’d be very nervous in Bean Town tonight.
LOL
This center fielder just botched two plays in one inning. He looks like 2004 Bernie Williams.
Is Peavy the best the NL has to offer?
What is the over/under on Peavy’s pitch count? 150? I could understand staying with him if he was pitching well…..
If the Padres lose, their collapse will be pretty bad.
Tampa Yankee-
I think Ricky Gervais from the British version of “The Office” bears a more striking resemblance to Dante.
Peavy was in line to win the NL pitching Triple Crown of wins, K’s and ERA. I wonder if this start might cost him ERA.
Steve Phillips would botch up an advertisement for Milk of Magnesia if given the chance.
4-2 yanks thrusday ur prediction?
Tampa: No chance. He’s WAY ahead in ERA.
I think Gervais looks more like the other guy Randall. Gonzalez looks like Dante.
Darrin – I did notice that about the teams making the playoffs this year. I like seeing new teams get their shot, Of course, that doesn’t mean the Yankees having to sit it out. That’s the one constant I like, obviously.
This is an ugly game. I can’t watch anymore.
When Phillips was GM of the Mets, he signed Glavine. I’m sure he thought…wow…with all that post season experience he’s got with the Braves, I bet Glavine could be a big game pitcher”…
Wonder how that worked out?
And of course Khali Greene looks like Sean Penn’s character Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Rockies back up 6-5
The only thought going thru my mind tonight is “The ALCS is going to be the REAL World Series this year.”
Anyone watching Yankee classic look at Dan Shaugnassey right there in the clubhouse he lokos so young
the two times rocket pitched after long rests he was lights out.
Darrin
Everyone thought the same thing last year and look what happened with the Cardinals. Anything can happen in a 7 game series.
Man, the Rockies have played some intense games lately…I’m hoping for a Yankees-Rockies world series with a different outcome than what happened in June.
Did anyone hear how Roger fared during his bullpen session today or do the Yankees not plan to disclose anything about his health until tomorrow?
Look the only possible public figures I loathe more than Steve Phillips are the President and the Vice-President, but I do have profound misgivings about how a pitcher who has pitched one game in a month will perform, no matter how talented or experienced he is. (I’ve been crushed two years in a row with the Broken Unit’s performances in two successive Game Threes to have any faith.)
Does anyone have a rooting interest in this game? I could care less. Now, that the Mets are gone, I’d like to see the Cubs or the Phillies win the NL pennant.
I agree, Tampa. But, in general, how can one league be so obviously better than another? I think the Yanks would have more trouble beating Tampa Bay than these two teams.
I would prefer a Yanks D-Backs World Series because we match up much better with them. Their hitters are impatient and swing at a lot of junk and they really dont have much pitching besides Webb whom we have handled and who doesnt miss many bats. Doug Davis, Livan Hernandez, and Micah Owings dont scare the Yanks. Plus I wouldnt want to have see Moose or Hughes or Clemens pitch at Coors.
I think that was a Homerun.
How does a wall go over the wall and then back in and NOT be a HR? I think the Rockies are getting a raw deal here.
Darrin
I agree completely but we were swept by the Rockies earlier this year and lost 2 of 3 to the hapless Giants. If our pitching goes down the tubes or our bats prove to be inconsistent once again during a short stretch we could easily lose 4 of 7.
By the way that was definitely a home run. It went over the line and hit that wheel chair or railing and ricocheted back onto the field.
Tampa -
Is that a serious statement? Gervais looks nothing like Randall.
Torre takes a lot of grief from us but he is a genius compared to other managers. I don’t understand why Peavy is still in this game. Its not like, the Pads are trying to save their other pitchers for tomorrow.
Tampa – I guess that’s why we’re sitting in our living rooms and aren’t umping in the big leagues.
First of all, that was a homerun and the Rockies were jobbed.
Second, the Yankees were a completely different team when the Rockies swept them. Yes, if they play that way again the Rockies would beat them. Of course, if the Yanks revert to June form, they’re not going to win a single game against Cleveland either.
Steve Phillips…ug….and you HAD to put his picture up there, too.
It just goes to show you that the best pitching on paper doesn’t always win.
Peavy is going to win the Cy Young this season but he’s getting hammered tonight in the Pads’ biggest game of the year.
That’s why the old adage “good pitching always beats good hitting” is not always true.
Glavine was the best the Mets had to offer yesterday and he got hammered as well.
Keep that in mind with Sabathia and Carmona on the hill this week.
Are the Padres uniforms really yellow? Or is it just my tv?
Anyone watching this game? It’s exciting to see what is effectively a Game 7 on October 1st. Great way to kick off a postseason. I’m sure that hit by Atkins hit a WHEELCHAIR just past the fence. The umps thought it hit the padded yellow line, but by the way it bounced off, I don’t think it’s possible. At the same time, who the heck would think about a ball bouncing off a wheelchair and back onto the field? Pretty exciting game.
As a Yankee fan living in “Red Sox Nation”, I hardly ever get to see NL teams play. Nothing like October baseball. Go Yanks.
Lori- They look more like a sand color to me.
MJL
LOL
I dont think he looks anything like Dante either.
Lori
Those umps belong at home with us for missing that call. You cant screw up a call like that in this important of a game. McClelland certainly didnt miss that similar call in Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS. Remember, when Bellhorn hit the opposite field home run that was originally called a double and after ten minutes of conferring the umps gave him the home run. It was a similar play where the ball went into the stands and came out.
“The Mets could really have used Kazmir yeserday.”
Jim Duquette traded Kazmir for Zambrano, not Phillips.
Duh, didn’t read the comments. Obviously people are watching the game. Go Yanks. And what, RIP SJ44?
I guess that’s real Southern California – esque. On my tv, they look like they’re glowing in some of these shots.
Was just flipping through the archives of this blog and reminiscing on the season. Lots of Kei Igawa predictions that are amusing in hindsight.
Lots of A-Rod entries that also are amusing. For all the Underdog taunts and opt out talk, I can only hope that the following A-Rod quote turns out to be prophetic:
“If I go out and have four years in New York and go out and win two MVPs and one World Series, that’s a pretty good job.”
4 years in NY- check
2 MVP’s- check
One World Series- ?
I guess it didn’t hit the wheelchair. Unless she’s blind AND lame. They seem to think it hit the railing just behind the yellow padding. If that’s true, you can’t blame the umps, even though they are fat and neckless.
Ok, who are these announcers? What an insight – you need to get someone on base and around to score! Wow! I never ever would have figured that out. Is this what we have to look forward to on Thursday? Unfortunately I’ll be out of town watching so I won’t be able to get John and Suzyn.
Dan – so if she’s the one who came via wheelchair, why is she standing and dancing? And if not, where is the person whose wheelchair that is?
I think a majority of ppl were proven wrong this season. I myself held out lil hope when we were 14 1/2 out. There were quite a few of us here who didnt think we sniff the postseason and wanted heads to roll up and down the organization. It got pretty grim around here once Phil DLed… We have quite a few “Experts” here aswell .
That is EXACTLY why I don’t want to play at Coors Field at all. Both teams have been having a hard time in the outfield so far.
While it looked bleak when we were 14.5 back, I could never bring myself to think we weren’t going to make it. It just didn’t seem possible. I knew they would find a way somehow. It may have been denial on my part, but it worked out!
Holliday going to bomb one here?
These two teams are obviously pretty evenly matched, no?
Cal Ripken just brought up Jeffrey Mayer lol
….I love baseball.
Only in baseball does the play in game go to the ninth tied…
Lori, that was just me being pigheaded calling someone who uses a wheelchair “lame”. I think she was just an older woman who loves baseball but is maybe a little too fat to walk around much. But that’s not as funny.
Still, you *like* Suzyn and John? It’s all I have up here near Boston, but I think they’re just the worst. I actually like Orsillo, he does play-by-play for the Sox up here. I like him and Remy.
I know *nothing* about this Bell guy, but leaving him in for basically a 3rd inning? I don’t know. Torre wouldn’t even do that.
As a Phillies fan let these guys go 20 innings the more the better. Use up lots of pitchers
Two out walk off home run anyone?
I think this guy Bell used to be on the Mets. Boy I bet they must be shaking their heads right now wishing they had him for one of those games they blew down the stretch
Dan from Mass –
I know what you’re saying about Bell. I was thinking earlier about how it would be if SD were to win the game and Peavy was burnt out to the point that he couldn’t actually pitch in the [i]real[/i] playoffs. makes me wonder – if we were in a tie situation like this, would we put the Wangster out there, or would we rest him and give the ball to Andy (or someone else?)?
Both teams still have the use of the 40 man roster since this is still considered a regular season game. That should help it in extra innings.
…did I say ninth?
I meant extras.
Just checked, this guy came in with 80 appearances for 91 innings. That’s Proctor-esque. He just blew ‘em away for 2.2.
I would hope we would send out the Wang Beast. You have send your best out there to make the playoffs. You gotta be in it to win it.
Jim Duquette got wind of the fact that when the season ended that Omar Minaya was going to be brought back to the Mets as the GM. The Mets regretted letting him leave but they hadn’t yet realized Steve Phillips was a suit and a smile and nothing else. So despite being not legitimately being in any playoff race but not yet technically eliminated he made the God awful Kazmir trade in a desperate attempt to save his job slash FU if your firing me. Also he traded Ty Winnington and some prospects for Benson when he was going to be a free agent in a month and could have easily been had for the same contract they gave him.
Heres some stuff Buster Olney of ESPN said on his chat today if anyone is interested:
Seymour, Brooklyn: You “experts” at ESPN love pointing out that the Yankees 6-0 record vs. the Indians came this year without them facing CC. Can you also add that the Indians didn’t have to face Wang??
SportsNation Buster Olney: Seymour: Don’t take it personally, please. Your Wang is right on. But it’s right, also, to point out that Sabathia hasn’t started against the Yankees this year. He might win the Cy Young Award, after all…
Seymour, Brooklyn: You “experts” at ESPN love pointing out that the Yankees 6-0 record vs. the Indians came this year without them facing CC. Can you also add that the Indians didn’t have to face Wang??
SportsNation Buster Olney: Seymour: Don’t take it personally, please. Your Wang is right on. But it’s right, also, to point out that Sabathia hasn’t started against the Yankees this year. He might win the Cy Young Award, after all…
Mo (LA): Buster, I know you’re the expert and no one is saying that Wang is as good as Sabathia, but really there’s not much of a difference there. Wang almost won it last year and they have similar records this year. Also, Wang has the most wins in the last 2 years of any AL starter. Got your point, but the ESPN “experts” really discount what the Yankees do.
SportsNation Buster Olney: Mo: In fairness, I think most of the ESPN folks picked the Yankees. I know most of the BBTN guys did. I’ll check it (or maybe somebody else can check in with the exact breakdown).
Chise (Windsor, CT): Only 3 ESPN writers took the Yankees. The rest took the Indians.
SportsNation Buster Olney: Chise: OK, I stand corrected. I picked the Indians ’cause I think I should stick with my preseason picks, but really, it’s a coin flip to me.
Taylor (Athens, GA): I’m reading your chat instead of completing a project on your home state’s education policy … show a procrastinating grad student some love! I heard a national radio personality belittle the Yankees’ lack of young starting pitching today. I am a certified Yankee-hater, but their kids are actually pretty good, aren’t they?
SportsNation Buster Olney: Taylor: yeah, don’t get that. The Yankees’ young pitching is excellent.
One thing I like about ball players is they generally don’t bad mouth their brethern at least in public, wish I could say the same about certain media people.
Wow, what is funny about that trade is, in what universe does anyone think that trading for Victor Zambrano would save your job. That year Zambrano was traded to the Mets, he led the AL in BB and HBP at the time he was traded July 31 and still led the AL in BB and HBP at the end of the season having not been in the AL for two months. That was how bad his control was.
whoops sorry for the duplicate
Heath Bell was on the Mets. Minaya traded him in the off season and got nothing back in return. They traded Ben Johnson and Keith Adkins for Bell and Royce Ring. He’s had a very strong season for the Padres and I believe he was part of the reason why they felt comfortable trading Linebrink.
He appeared in 81 games threw 91 innings. Struck out 98 while walking 28. He had an era of 2.07 and a WHIP of 0.96.
Think the mets could have used bell coming down the stretch?
Oh lordy if things could get worse for the Mets according to Breaking News on ESPN Scott Showenweist received 6 shipments of steroids while playing with the White Sox in 2003/04
Any other steroid news on any other players?
No they just mentioned him it was part of a year long investigation into a lab in Orlando
I so called this game going into extras.
ROCKET WATCH: (AP) Roger Clemens threw 49 pitches off a bullpen mound Monday at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, Fla., took 25 grounders and did some light running.
The Rocket could throw a simulated game Tuesday. For now, he is on track to pitch Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
Mike Mussina is the likely choice for Game 4, but if Clemens isn’t ready, Mussina could pitch in Game 3 and be followed by rookie Phil Hughes.
Rebecca-
you could also pick up some X-tra cash reading tarot cards on campus
Dr. A–Mmm, I could, couldn’t I?
a game of attrition tonight
gayle-
_Oh lordy if things could get worse for the Mets_
just wait til I go online, manana!
“I so called this game going into extras.”
Rebeccadamus. Has a nice ring to it, no?
Geez, has Khalil Greene always looked like he is 16?
The Phillies must be loving this. I can picture them relaxing and watching the game, hoping that it lasts twenty innings.
Rebeccadamus?
Ooh, not bad!
Of course, if you look at my football predictions you’ll see that I’m 50/50 at best…
Alright, Pete!
Give it to him!
Call him out!
Why is Phillips still an announcer/analyst? What does he bring to the table other than a falied GM of the Mets?
His Yankee hatred in ESPN Boston loving Bristol is the only thing that keeps him on that network.
Go TBS!
Is it me or is the cheering at this stadium, in this situation, absolutely pathetic? Yankee Stadium, you’d hear a roar with each ball called with the Yanks batting and a man on in extras.
*A Yankee News Update (1)*
PITCHING: Ross Ohlendorf may make division series roster. Called up in Sept., he has had a 2.84 ERA in six appearances, striking out nine and walking two.
Torre said, “we’re going to go with kids.”
Torre sent 7-pitchers home: Brian Bruney, Tyler Clippard, Kei Igawa, Jeff Karstens, Sean Henn, Matt DeSalvo and Chase Wright.
*A Yankee News Update (2)*
Ian Kennedy is in Tampa and he will throw later this week. Torre said he could be available for the ALCS.
INDIANS: Sabathia is 1-7 with a 7.13 ERA against the Yankees, but hasn’t faced them since 2004.
The Indians haven’t won a season series from us since 1992 – 16 consecutive seasons.
You know if we get to the world series excuse me, When we get to the world series I wouldn’t mind if we played some one other than Rockies after the way we played at Coors this year and the inferno of hotness they are right now.
James – yes, I gained a new respect for them during that series.
just think, 48 hrs from now, we’ll be laughing and bustin-on the red sox
Geez, it feels like X-mas eve!
Dear Santa,
Remember when Dick Cheney Sleigh-Jacked you and Mrs Claus, and stole my Red-Rider-BB-Gun ?
You said you’d make it up to me.
Well, I’m calling in my rain-check.
Please, please, please Santa, send us number 27.
Your friend,
Doc
James, you’re right. The Rockies are definitely the type of streaky team that could march through the playoffs if they win this marathon.
Steve Phillips should be allowed to host his own 30-minute show on ESPN every night. You couldn’t put a price tag on comedy like that. What would be a good title? Any ideas?
my basic rule of thumb is that if the team you’re rooting for in extra innings doesn’t score after the 12th, they’re not going to win.
Which gives Colorado exactly one more half inning.
how does yankees.com have an article entitled arod embraces post-season spotlight – that is a title after the yanks win the world series and arod is the mvp of the post-season. You cant have THAT as the title currently. Arod clearly has not yet embraced the post-season spotlight in his yankee career. Now, he has to show he embraces the post-season – words mean nothing any more in terms of arod talking about the week ahead.
I love how these morons continue to talk about the yanks. You were wrong all season. All of ESPN was wrong all season and almost every announcer on the fan. Now its time to just shut up and watch. You had ur say and completely blew it. Just watch the games and talk later cuz u clearly know nothing about this team and jump to conclusions after a month of the season. According to them, abreu, damon, Moose, Rivera, and Matsui’s careers are over. Oh yea, and cano isnt cut out for the major leagues even tho he was one of the best second baseman in baseball this yr.
To me, kennedy will be the deciding factor in this post-season. If he is healthy and ready to pitch we will have a completely solid bullpen with three totally reliable setup men, the best post-season closer in history, three gamers as starters and Moose and a lineup that pitchers cringe when they look at.
Doc, I seem to remember one important series about 10 years ago that the Indians did win . . .
Dan: We don’t speak of It. It is anathema.
I always laugh when I hear about Yankee fans complaining about bias on ESPN.
The funny thing is that Red Sox fans often complain about ESPN bias against their club as well.
The truth of the matter is that ESPN is very PRO Red Sox AND Yankees.
Why?
It’s all about the Benjamins.
Simply put, the Yanks and Red Sox get the most coverage because they have the biggest following and the biggest ratings.
If it were up to ESPN, they would fix the ALDS to ensure the Yanks/Red Sox meet again in the ALCS.
The negativity the national media covers our team with is completely intentional. They assume every non Yankee will eat up their bile and garbage happily and mindlessly and will come back for seconds tomorrow, especially Red Sox fans who take an hour off from hitting on their sisters a day to watch baseball Tonight. Then they think Yankee fans who out number the fans of every other team on the planet will watch just to get themselves mad and then they wonder why ratings are down.
Get a load of the “7 pitchers Joe Torre sent home”: Clippard, Igawa, Karstens, Bruney, et al” My God, what a cornucopia of garbage. It’s a miracle we ended up in the playoffs.
I am so glad Torre says “We’re going with Kids.” Many did not believe that Joe learned a valuable lesson last season, but he did. I honestly think that Torre’s insistence on loading the lineup with “veterans” last year (Giambi, Sheffield) and the way that it totally backfired has changed his perspective.
Dave, just watching A-Rod this year tells me that this postseason is going to be different for him. He has embraced the pressure and the hoopla this year. A-Rod has just gone out, had fun, yelled “Ha,” and has done so many heroic things. There is every reason for me to believe that the postseason will just be an extension of A-Rod’s heroics. The best and most fitting end would be for A-Rod to spearhead the Yankees to Number 27!!!!!!
Gut says Padres are going to win this…
Dr. Acula:
I don’t mind you reporting “news” on the blog but please credit where you’re getting it from. Otherwise it’s plagerism.
In the case of Ian Kennedy, I had that on the blog and in the paper hours ago. You’re sort of misleading people that it’s new news. Feel free to credit what I’ve done if you want but there’s no reason to repeat something I’ve reported.
Thanks,
Pete
I dozed off an hour or so ago and the Rockies/Pads game is still going on. The football game started an hour after this game and MNF is already over. Gotta love baseball, it will give you at least 3.5 hours of quality couch time.
guiseppe espn ( the network)might be rooting for the yanks to win so they can get high ratings (even tho the post-season games arent aired on espn) but the “experts” on espn all talk about how the yanks are going to lose consistently. I dunno wat channel ur watching
Yes, we’re not going to mention the ‘97 ALDS this week. (However, we sort of exacted revenge the very next year in the ‘98 ALCS)
Does anyone rememebr a guy who used to post here called Pollyana Porkchop. Whatever happened to that guy. He was hilarious.
Rebecca, you may be right…
Pads just went ahead 8-6 in the 43rd, I mean 13th. A two run blast by Scott Hairston.
ladies and gentleman jorge julio
Wow, my Rebeccadamus is ON tonight!
The Rox got cost by the umps blowing that home run call.
Bring back Pollyana Porkchop!!
Was Porkchop the one who used to insist that Clemens would “pound his fist?”
You think the Rockies are gonna remember that “non” homerun call back in the 7th?
Ouch. Julio’s gonna get mobbed tonight by Denver if things don’t change realllll soon. And I was rooting for the Rockies lol
Rebecca, this is amazing! Any more predictions?
Well…at least the Patriots were finally held under 38 points.
Darrin
YES!!! He used to say “Clemens will bang his fist”. He had some really weird and crazy posts that were the highest of comedy. I havent seen a post from him in forever.
j dawg- I hope ur right but im not going to blindly title an article arod embraces the post season. It hasnt started yet and from what we know arod does not embrace the post season. This yr may be different and I hope it is but it isnt different yet. Arod still has to prove he can embrace and be heroic in the post season in pinstripes. Until then, no article should say arod embraces the post season. Its idiotic. What if in a week we have lost three straight and arod went 0 for 20 with ten strike outs. Let arods actions this week do the talking for him at this point. Ive heard enough garbage this season – i just wanna see this team win and arod do it for them. NO MORE TALK. jUST GO OUT THERE AND DO IT.
Acula, werent u the one arguing with me yesterday that kennedy was shut down and will not pitch again this post-season when i said he will be in the pen on thursday. Now, u r pretending to report breaking news that happened this morning and pete already posted. Way to be on the money.
Didnt Ramon Ortiz dominate the Yanks earlier this season when he was with the Twins?
a lot of people dominated the Yankees earlier this season
Dave – Are you still fussing at people who told you Kennedy was shut down?
LOL Very true.
Did the TBS producers think to themselves, “How can we make the numbers in the score as similar and unclear as possible?” This is driving me crazy.
Off topic, but the Bengals were playing with only four healthy linebackers and two were banged up in the game. Tom Brady is not exactly who you want to face when you’re banged up. I say this half-jokingly, but the ‘72 Dolphins could have company this year. Hint hint hint.
Giuseppe,
Its true that ESPN mostly covers yankees and redsox. But their “experts” are all espn homers or yankee bashers. That is also all abt the Benjamins given most of US hates the yanks. In some ways ESPN is the Fox news of sports. They know how to make money but ..
Well it would be a lot of fun if the Rockies win now and Trevor Hoffman would forever be exposed for the fraud he is and might cost himself the HOF
J-Dawg: Jorge Julio will not have a pleasant dream tonight.
Anything that involves the Yanks I’m kind of scared to predict…
But I think the Red Sox will beat the Angels in five.
Dave: 0-20 with 10 strikeouts?? Thanks, man, I’m gonna have some nightmares tonight now.
Sherri,
Acula was actually the one telling me I was dead wrong and now hes “reporting the news that kennedy is playing.” Its just very ironic and I wanted to point that out. Its fun being right when soo many ppl are arguing with me and calling me an idiot the day before.
Dave – No worries…I was just giving you a hard time. I think there have just been varying reports coming out, because I’ve heard/read both. The wedding date has always been 10/6 though!
sorry darrin,
But yankees.com shouldnt be reporting that arod is embracing the post-season until he is batting 500 with a couple of late inning homers and the yanks are up in the ALCS
i hope edwar ramirez is in the postseason roster so that he can prove all the doubters wrong yet again.
Some people don’t like that baseball games can go on forever (I’m fine with it but)heres’ an idea the could revolutionize the game if your tied after the 10th the other teams mangers is allowed to make your bullpen decisions to make sure jorge julio is put in the game much faster. Joe Torre will be except form this rule as he enjoys brining in Jeff Karstens and Sean Henn in extra inning games as fast as possible because he has dinner resvertions
THAT HORRENDOUS BASTARD.
I’m sick of listening to him. He shows his bias against the Yanks every time he mentions them. He loved watching fans suffer this year. It’s almost like he’s willing them to do poorly in order for him to save face.
Just go away, Steve.
Trevor Hoffman is having a rocky outing so far.
Looks like this game isnt over yet.
absolute fraud
OH WOW! Hoffman blew this one!!
OMG! Amazing!! This is why I LOVE baseball!!!
Holy shizznet.
I need to start taking lessons from Yogi Berra, and not Nostradamus…
This game is over. So much for the “greatest” closer of all time, Trevor Hoffman. He couldnt get out Scott Brosius and he couldnt do it in this game either.
trevor Hoffman is imploding as I type..
WOW
J-DAWG – A “rocky” outing…nice.
It looks like Matt’s heroics didn’t take a holiday!
this game is bananas
“i hope (fill in the blank) is in the postseason roster so that he can prove all the doubters wrong yet again.”
Fill in the blank with your Yankee relief pitcher of choice not named Joba and that statement would hold true.
What are the Mets thinking now that Kaz Matsui was the start of this rally? Do you think they miss him still or they prefer Marlon Anderson as their 2nd baseman?
Never ever ever ever never ever mention this fraud in the same breath with
The Hammer of God, The Bat Breaking Lunatic, The Man from Panama
The Greatest Of All Time Mariano Rivera
Who says baseball is not exciting?
I’d like to thwap that person very much right now…
Trevor Hoffman is not a big game pitcher.
Mo > Hoff.
Wow, I didnt think he touched home plate.
HOLLIDAY DID IT!!
Matt Holliday just won the MVP.
Unbelievable.
wow the rockies do it!
So how perfect an ending was that??
But wait – did he even touch home plate?????
he never touched the plate. Make-up call?
Hell Bells meltdown.
Man what a game. Ddnver must be rockin!!!!! Wooooow!
Just hope Holliday’s not hurt, he deserves to enjoy tonight!
I’m going to sleep (for once).
Have a good night all, tomorrow will be one long baseball-less day. In fact…are…umm…any professional games going on tomorrow? No baseball, no football, no hockey…
“Denver” I mean.
That idiot Tim McClelland once again made himself more important than the game by taking his sweet ass time to make an important call. MLB should fire him for not making calls fast enough so players can react. McClelland screwed up big time.
Trevor Hoffman may be a great regular season closer but he has never come to the plate in an important game in his life he and Billy Wagner are two birds of a feather unreal.
WOW, Holliday didnt get the plate… should have been out. OUCH
Wow he never touched the plate…and the horrid umpiring of this season ushers us into the post-season.
OMG,
3 runs batted in with 0 outs. I had no rooting interest in either team, but I was hoping that they wouldn’t lose the game because of the ball that Holliday misplayed in the 8th. Wow. Can’t wait for Thursday.
I agree that Hoffman is over-rated.
But the Padres got screwed there. The plate was blocked off and Barrett was going to make the tag. Should have been a double play and on to the 14th.
I am so glad that wasn’t one of our games. And ending like that would’ve been hard to take. These umps get worse all the time.
Rebecca – It’s just one day without baseball. Maybe we can make it.
makes you appreciate mariano, doesn’t it?
that is too bad for SD if he didn’t touch the plate. Bad umps suck. he better not be on our playoff train.
Wow Philly and Denver it is going to be a scary series wonder what the over/uner will be in terms of runs in the band box of stadiums that the teams have
It looked as it McClelland decided he didnt want to wait around for another 5 innings so he just called him safe to end the game. Maybe he had dinner reservations. I get disgusted every time I see an ump botch an important call. Do you think ESPN will make as big a deal about this bad call as they did with the Jeffrey Maier play? That was in a Game 1 while this call essentially robbed the Padres of the game and their playoff lives. Sad that with this technology we still cant get the most basic calls correct.
It looked like the umpire was going to make the right call. No call, wait for the catcher to tag the runner. Terrible call. The umpiring in MLB this year has been the worst.
It looked like the umpire was going to make the right call. No call, wait for the catcher to tag the runner. Terrible call. The umpiring in MLB this year has been the worst.
YankeeJosh,
The right team won. The Rox were jobbed of a HR in the 7th or 8th inning and that run didn’t score.
To me, a play at the plate to end a game like that is as exciting as it gets. Walkoff sacrifice flies are cool in my book. I’m in Central time, so I am still three days away from Thursday, even though most of us on here are probably two days away at this moment. Let’s go Yankees!!
Am I the only pervert here or does anybody else get a sick sense of satisfaction when Hoffman blows a save? I see a couple of other comments about his being overrated. I just hate the fact that he is the all-time saves leader when we all now that Mo is so much better despite those numbers.
How many more times do I have to hear “the greatest saves closer”. Has he EVER saved a game that was even looked at like a big game in the regular season?? The all star game comes to mind. If Rivera pitched in the National League West he would have 800 saves. Please…I dont want to hear his name anymore.
If I were the Phillies I would have been rooting for the Padres big time.
I would want absolutely nothing to do with the Rockies right now.
Tulowitski looks like he might be a special one. Huge hit for a rookie.
Kaz Matsui gets one of the biggest hits in all of baseball this year and the mets go home. Hard to believe.
Yanks are the only team to make the playoffs in 2006 & 2007. Thought that was an odd fact
One of the worst calls I have ever seen….
Besides that, Hoffman continues to prove to me why he never deserved that sports illustrated cover as greatest closer ever.
Mariano Forever!
the umpire was looking to see where the ball was if the cather had caught it he was going to call him out when he saw it was dropped he called him safe
I am glad to see him lose the game because I cant stand that there are actually “baseball experts” who think he is better than Mo just because Mo is a Yankee. You can guarantee if Rivera wore a Red Sox uniform, nobody would have the cajones to dare think a loser like Hoffman to be better than Mo.
Wolf – I don’t think that makes you a perv! MO RULES!! GO YANKEES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Passer by,
I couldn’t tell for sure on that play. Even if it was a bad call, it still gave the Rockies a double and a chance to get the run in. This was a blatantly bad call. Must suck to be a Padres fan tonight though.
I do think the Rockies will give a better series than the Padres would have.
So how long till they allow instant replay in MLB? They have it in the other 3 major sports.
Bring on the Tribe – the Angels made it last year.
A’s won AL West last year, Angels went home.
Rockies will be swept in the first round.
Easy bet.
_Dave October 2nd, 2007 at 12:06 am_
_Acula was actually the one telling me I was dead wrong and now hes “reporting the news that kennedy is playing.� Its just very ironic and I wanted to point that out. Its fun being right when soo many ppl are arguing with me and calling me an idiot the day before._
Dave, I think you were arguing with Brandon, if I’m not mistaken. But thanks for “thinking” of me
Andrew
no they didnt..
It was Yanks vs Tigers and A’s vs Twins.
No way, Phillies have given up the most runs ever by a playoff team other than 95 Rockies. If the Rox can take one in Philly, I expect Colorado to win it in 4.
The same rule should apply to each game in the Rockies-Phillies series. First team to score 10 runs wins, because we could see 10 runs several times in that series!
“I am glad to see him lose the game because I cant stand that there are actually “baseball expertsâ€? who think he is better than Mo just because Mo is a Yankee. You can guarantee if Rivera wore a Red Sox uniform, nobody would have the cajones to dare think a loser like Hoffman to be better than Mo.”
Huh?
The only people who would ever say such a thing are Padres fans and can you blame them?
Mo isn’t exactly underrated.
Don’t bet against the Rockies. They may not win but they’ll be competitive against the phillies.
Two weeks ago I would have said it was an easy bet that the Rockies wouldn’t have come close to making the playoffs but here we are.
They’ve played excellent baseball the entire second half and are a balanced club. No team in the NL is very good – we’ll see about the Phillies. They’ve never been a club with a lot of heart. This season was a big step for them but it was more about the Mets folding.
Gotta say, I’d be pretty scared of the Rockies if I were an NL team. Likely ROY and MVP on the same team, and they seem to have that magic that always boosts a team in October. Throw in a few decent starters and you never know…really happy for Todd Helton though, he’s a class act and a great player, I’m glad he’s finally in the playoffs.
i think it’s time for instant replay. i don’t want to hear tradition or part of the game excuses either. if a tradition laden sport like tennis can incorporate it, baseball certainly can. there’s too much money invested in these organizations now to allow for human error. and slowing the game down isn’t an excuse either. are you telling me it’d take longer to check a replay than for some of the umpire conferences we’re seeing now? luckily, tonight, it seems to have been a wash.. might not be so lucky next time.
There are ESPN people who argue that Hoffman is better than Rivera. Jayson Stark for one and there are others on BBTN that also say it. I will try to find some quotes to back it up but I know for certain there are at least a few of them. Not a lot but more than there should be.
Did everyone enjoy tonight’s sneak preview of the wonderful post-season umpiring that lies ahead?
Dan from Mass-
_Doc, I seem to remember one important series about 10 years ago that the Indians did win_
yeah Cleveland did beat us in 1997 ALDS. Funny how one put negatives outta ya mind. Good catch. The other stat refers to _season_ series.
Would it be difficult to incorporate the tennis system in baseball? We would have been able to see if that was a home run or not pretty easily. It would also help with close foul balls and foul/ball HR calls.
Also put heat sensors in the bases and in home plate. We would have been able to tell if holiday touched the plate.
Replays would be illegal for balls and strike arguments. That’s lame.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10.....mp;emc=rss
Good to see Alex enjoying himself…
They like to bring up Hoffman’s saves conversion percentage which is better than Mo. Forget the post season for a minute but the NL West has been for Rivera and Hoffman’s entire careers the absolute worst division in baseball with the worst lineups in baseball and Rivera has been in the best division with the best lineups why i’m even bothering their no comparison Hoffman absolutely sucks in the big spot and Rivera is the greatest Post season Pitcher of all time
nuff said
Which is why Yankee fans get mad its a frigging insult to compare they guy to Rivera. Its why Sabermatricians and media people and a lot GM’s don’t get it. Rivera is on his own planet you want start comparing him to people and you cant so don’t. hes Jordan, hes Ruth, hes Jessica Alba in the white bikini that one time on the beach you know the one i’m taking about.
I don’t know their career ERA’s but they say add .75 to the NL average to compare it to an AL average.
But I do know that Mo is Mo and he’s a baseball treasure. One thing that bothered me in today’s Buster chat was that he said that Mo blew that last game because he thrives off adrenaline. Mo just blew the game (The one we were winning 9-6) and even Mo said it was bad.
Peter,
My bad.
Thank you for the reminder-seriously.
Doc.
Trevor Hoffman is a good example of why people who put all their eggs in the sabermetrics basket should think twice about droning on and on about numbers.
There is a qualitative aspect to everything that just doesn’t always fit inside of metrics. That’s true of most fields of endeavor. Baseball is one of them.
You line up Hoffman’s and Mo’s stats and on paper they look comparable. But in real life there is simply no comparison at all. None. Let the talking heads pontificate. I doubt Mo cares. His legacy in baseball history is secure.
Mo’s a first ballot Hall of Famer. End of story. In future generations I’d guess people who didn’t see either of them play are going to drum up an argument that Hoffman was his equivalent or that Hoffman deserves to be in Hall because Mo is there (if hoffman doesn’t get in right away which i don’t think he should).
Great stats. No heart. Numbers don’t give the story here.
Peter i’m not sure you wanna yell at Dr. Acula. Hes a scary dude who has a secret. (I’ll give you a hint he only works the hospitals night shift)
welllll… heat sensors wouldn’t really work, would they.. besides the fact that it might be taking the whole thing a bit far, the catcher and infielders are often on the bags and plate in order to block them. but a quick look at a replay and everyone watching knew he didn’t touch the plate. only the umpire didn’t. which is a bit absurd. the close ones can go either way; i understand that. it’s the overt mistakes that drive people crazy. the umpires too. from all accounts, they take it pretty hard too when they mess up a call.. it would just save alot of people alot of grief.
No one ever compares the lineup that each pitcher has to face. In the A.L you have guys 1-9 batting .300, in the N.L. West especially your 6th batter can be batting .240. it is a big difference. As soon as I saw Hoffman come into the game I said to my friend I wouldnt be surprised if he gave up a run or 2. Peavey also, even though he will win the CY Young he hasnt been known to pitch good in big games.
http://vegaswatch.blogspot.com.....tions.html
Vegas Watch (a great baseball blog) evaluates the pre-season predictions by prominent ESPN analysts, Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA system, BP’s HitList system, and a few others.
Guess who is dead last? Steve Phillips. I think he is more of an idiot than a Yankee hater. He predicted the Red Sox would finish with 82 (!) wins. He’s just a moron who knows nothing about baseball, and overcompensates by making outlandish predictions. I just try to ignore him.
CaptainsCorner,
This past week or so saw some very uncharacteristic performances from Glavine, Rivera, Pettitte, Hoffman, Wagner, Pedro, and Beckett. Weird, huh? That last week in baseball must be brutal, whether you clinched or not.
Bob,
Shhh! Phillips is now a prophet. Go back to the preseason predictions on 4/1/07. He said the Yankees would win the world series. Wait. Wasn’t that April Fool’s Day?
Ok but wouldn’t instant replay take away the Jete HR against the O’s that was snagged by that lil boy. Stop. Instant replay has no right being in baseball and nither does the equipment that checks the stirkes and balls called by umps throughout a game. Seriously instant replay doesn’t change the fact that Hoffman once again blew up. The guy imploded on the mound. You really think it’s the umps fault for him not striking out the batter. Not to mention that throw from the Pads rightfielder was embarrassing. He looked like Johnny Damon in center. So before you go thowing the Ump under the bus. Remember he doesn’t throw the pitches, he doesn’t make the plays, he doesn’t hit the ball. Besides the pads catcher dropped the ball. Enough said how can he tag a guy out after dropping the ball. Oh wait you can see the future and KNOW that if it was ruled no tag that the catcher would have recovered in time to turn around and apply the tag. GET REAL INSTANT REPLAY LOVERS!
mel,
For his “bold prediction of 2007″ he predicted A Rod would win the MVP…of the All Star Game. First of all, the All Star Game is, by definition, a small sample size. Any advantage A Rod gains by being the best player in the league is eliminated by the fact that, 1) his team needs to win and 2) anything can happen in one game. Secondly, who cares who wins All Star Game MVP? No one! And he wasn’t even right. What an idiot.
steve phillips is a douche
Glad you called out resident ESPN genius Steve Phillips, while you’re at it the same goes for John “pass the burgers”Kruk & Mike Golic. Is this the best ESPN has to offer, what a disgrace.
Trevor “apple” Hoffman, has this so called great closer ever closed an important game in his life. Another fraud closer like Billy Wagner both have lots of saves but none in BIG games. Thats why Mo is so far ahead of these stiffs.
what an ass-clown. this from a guy who was fired from every GM job possible, including those lame “mock GM” specials on ESPN a couple years ago. i think those “gems” received lower ratings than a Guiseppe Franco infomercial.
Steve Phillips is a joke. He knows nothing, hence he is no longer a GM and has now relegated himself to the joke that is Baseball Tonight.
What ever happened to the days of Harold Reynolds and Peter Gammons? So Harold grabbed some a$$ at work, who doesn’t? Kruk (good ballplayer) is awful, Ravech doesn’t really add much value, only a mediator, Olney is so obviously biased he has no place on TV and should stick to his blog, and Phillips is a no talent A$$ CLOWN.
If water was a kiss id send u the sea.if a hug was 1 leaf id send u a tree if luv were forever id send u eternity!