Is it September already?

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee
Congrats to Chuck,Mark,etc. Gonna be fun!

Had to change your underwear right after the game,didn't ya?

I was sweatin' a little. My wife had the sheets pulled up over her eyes on every pitch. Then she'd peek out to see what happened. Chicks. LOL.

Let me ask you this. Bottom ninth. One out, runners on 2nd and 3rd. Lowe (RHP) on the mound, and a lefty at bat. How can you NOT intentionally walk the batter? Plus, it was a one-run game, so it's not like they would've been putting the tying run on base. It worked out, and I'm "wicked" happy but I was pulling out my hair yelling at the TV, yelling at Grady to put up four fingers, yelling at Varitek to stand up and put one arm out. Nobody listened. Maybe just as well. I don't know. . .

PS-did they deport Kim?

No. Didn't you see him in his sweatshirt sitting on the bullpen bench? But he has definitely been relegated to "last resort" status after flipping off the crowd at Fenway before Sunday's game. Plus Little ruined his confidence by taking him out of Saturday's game. My guess is that he's useless as a closer now.

And yes, it is gonna be a TON of fun.

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by BktBallRef
Well, I have to admit. I'm pulling for a Sox-Cubs World Series. One of these two teams and their fans needs some relief from years and years of mediocrity.

I believe Nostradamus predicted a Sox-Cubs WS with the end of time occurring bottom of the 8th of the 6th game, Kim coming in to pitch with the game tied 3-3, 2 men on.

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
My guess is that he's useless as a closer now.

And yes, it is gonna be a TON of fun.

Now?

I hear that last night about 10PM or so east coast time in the region north & east of a line running from Milford CT to Albany NY every flame, from stove pilot light to blast furnace, was extinguished due to the collective gasp of every living soul watching that sloooooooow roller dribble down the first base line.

True?

Congrats to you long suffering sox fans, gonna be fun, I'll go out on a limb - NY in 6, maybe 5.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
[/B]

I hear that last night about 10PM or so east coast time in the region north & east of a line running from Milford CT to Albany NY every flame, from stove pilot light to blast furnace, was extinguished due to the collective gasp of every living soul watching that sloooooooow roller dribble down the first base line.

True?

[/B][/QUOTE]Only partially. Actually,they were lighting their stove pilot lights.Not worth putting their heads in the oven otherwise.

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Dan_ref

Now?

He was never great, but he wasn't useless. He had 16 saves in the regular season, which was tops on the team.

I hear that last night about 10PM or so east coast time in the region north & east of a line running from Milford CT to Albany NY every flame, from stove pilot light to blast furnace, was extinguished due to the collective gasp of every living soul watching that sloooooooow roller dribble down the first base line.

Funny you mention Milford; that's my hometown. The dribbler was definitely a weird moment. If the fielder runs toward home to field it while it's fair, you risk the batter running past him, being safe at 1st, and the guy on 3rd scoring. If he waits for it to get to him and it goes foul, then you give the batter another chance. Wow.

Congrats to you long suffering sox fans, gonna be fun, I'll go out on a limb - NY in 6, maybe 5.

I'm not going to make any prediction; I've been a Sox fan for too long to do that. (After Game 4, my 8-year-old daughter was whooping and saying "nyah nyah". I quickly taught her not to tempt the baseball gods by taunting the A's. So this morning when I told her the Sox won the series, she said, "Can I say 'nyah nyah' now?" I told her ok ) But I will say that this team is much better than the ALCS team of '99 and that this Yankees team -- despite the 100 wins -- is not as strong as the team that beat the Sox in '99. Should be a great series.

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
The dribbler was definitely a weird moment. If the fielder runs toward home to field it while it's fair, you risk the batter running past him, being safe at 1st, and the guy on 3rd scoring. If he waits for it to get to him and it goes foul, then you give the batter another chance.

Nah! That wasn't why he didn't charge it. He envisioned the ball rolling through his legs into right field, as the A's scored the winning run!!

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

...After Game 4, my 8-year-old daughter was whooping and saying "nyah nyah". I quickly taught her not to tempt the baseball gods by taunting the A's. So this morning when I told her the Sox won the series, she said, "Can I say 'nyah nyah' now?" I told her ok )

Ahh Chuck, it's not too late to give your young daughter a precious gift: the gift of being able to revel in the thrill of confidently and proudly proclaiming "nyah nyah" without expecting to incur the wrath of the many gods of baseball. Please, it's not too late to make her a Yankees fan!

But I will say that this team is much better than the ALCS team of '99 and that this Yankees team -- despite the 100 wins -- is not as strong as the team that beat the Sox in '99. Should be a great series.

This better team didn't show up very often against the dreadfully suicidal A's. Maybe they'll arrive soon?

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
it's not too late to make her a Yankees fan!

Shyaaah. That might happen. And monkeys might fly outta my butt!

This better team didn't show up very often against the dreadfully suicidal A's. Maybe they'll arrive soon?

The pitching on both sides was fantastic in that series. Personally, I think that's what made it such a great, great series. But it meant that neither side was able to generate much offense. The Sox ERA for the series was 2.77, holding the A's to a .213 average!! That's phenomenal. And the A's ERA was 2.75, holding the Sox to a .211 average. The difference was in the slugging. The Sox outslugged the A's .378 to .277 (collecting 68 total bases to the A's 51). So when the Sox were able to hit the A's pitchers, they made the most of their chances.

By the way, when Nomar recovered the ball in the outfield after the Damon/Jackson collision and threw the runner out at 2nd, did anybody get flashbacks of Jeter's amazing cut-off play (also in Oakland, I think) to nail the runner at home a couple years ago?

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee
I have the feeling that this thread may set a new record for length before it's over.

I think we did it.

[Dan_ref]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

Shyaaah. That might happen. And monkeys might fly outta my butt!

... The difference was in ...

...game 3:

1. The A's did not know what every LL'er knows - how to execute a proper rundown
2. The A's did not know what every HS player knows - if you slide across home and the ump does nothing you missed the plate
3. The A's did not know what every first year rookie league player knows - if you think you have been obstructed keep running anyway, do NOT take this opportunity to stop & celebrate what you might not get.

By the way, when Nomar recovered the ball in the outfield after the Damon/Jackson collision and threw the runner out at 2nd, did anybody get flashbacks of Jeter's amazing cut-off play (also in Oakland, I think) to nail the runner at home a couple years ago?

No one south of that line from Milford to Albany.

BTW, have you heard if Damon's ready to play yet?

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Dan_ref
...game 3:

No question they squandered chances. But the Sox still had to take advantage of them.

did anybody get flashbacks of Jeter's amazing cut-off play (also in Oakland, I think) to nail the runner at home a couple years ago?

No one south of that line from Milford to Albany. [/b][/quote]
You don't think so? I thought the parallel was pretty uncanny. Shortstop well out of normal playing range, alertly fields a ball that he would normally be nowhere near and throws out a runner who thought he had an easy base. Derek's play was obviously much more unusual and therefore memorable, but I thought it was an interesting bit of deja vu.

BTW, have you heard if Damon's ready to play yet?

As of noon today, I read that no decision has been made on his return date yet. He had a "serious" concussion but no structural damage. (Thank goodness it was only his head. Why wasn't he wearing a mouthguard? ) He stayed in an Oakland hospital overnight. I don't know when/if he'll fly to NY.

I also saw this on ESPN.com this morning:

A's angered by Lowe's 'celebration'

After the Game 5 loss on Oct. 6, the A's thought Derek Lowe simulated a sexual act with his arms and made a gesture toward his crotch following the final out, sending A's shortstop Miguel Tejada into a rage in the clubhouse moments later. "Derek Lowe is going to be paid back for that sign," Tejada screamed hysterically through the clubhouse, shouting expletives. "My kid is in the stands. He's going to pay." A's GM Billy Beane escorted the crying Tejada away. Tejada was later told that Lowe apologized.

I have to admit that's the impression I got on watching it live, but I didn't think that it was done intentionally. It looked bad, but I didn't think it was done to be that kind of gesture. Kind of like when somebody uses the middle finger to point to something on the chalkboard. Did you get the impression that he was directing it toward the Oakland dugout?

Last thing. Not sure I can mention this here, but. . . oh, wait. This is the basketball forum, right? Oh, ok. The ECAC test just got posted on the website. Gonna print it up today.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by ChuckElias

As of noon today, I read that no decision has been made on his return date yet. He had a "serious" concussion but no structural damage. (Thank goodness it was only his head. Why wasn't he wearing a mouthguard?

Not a doctor,but I don't think that they recommend flying for people with severe concussions.He might have to wait a coupla days to get back to Boston if he's got a bad one.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally posted by Dan_ref

I hear that last night about 10PM or so east coast time in the region north & east of a line running from Milford CT to Albany NY every flame, from stove pilot light to blast furnace, was extinguished due to the collective gasp of every living soul watching that sloooooooow roller dribble down the first base line.

True?

Absolutely - 6 inches to the left, and the Red Sox would have finally atoned for the sins of B--- B------!

[mdray]

Red Sox have left Kim off the roster for the Yankee series; Damon is on the roster, so they must expect him to be ready by the weekend; and now, even Grady and Theo have buzz cuts!

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally posted by mdray
Red Sox have left Kim off the roster for the Yankee series;

That's terrible news for Yankee fans.