ALCS Game 7 Live-Blog

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Hidy folks. I'll be better tonight, and we're all set for the do-or-die game. Who gets to host the Phillies on Wednesday? I'd say most of you armchair analysts are going for the Red Sox, given the events of the last couple games. First off, let's thank Ian from Sox and Dawgs for passing along Dennis Eckersley taking it on the chin from Ernie Johnson last night:


AA passes along the statement from TBS, explaining last night's outage:
STATEMENT FROM TBS REGARDING ALCS GAME 6

Two circuit breakers in our Atlanta transmission operations tripped causing the master router and its backup – which are necessary to transmit any incoming feed outbound – to shut down. This impacted our live feed from being distributed to any of the other networks in the Turner portfolio and caused the delay in our coverage. Both our primary and backup routers were impacted by this problem. We apologize to baseball fans for this mishap that caused a delay in our coverage.

It's a valid explanation, but not one that inspires any confidence in Turner Networks in general. But at least we're starting on time tonight!

Craig Sager looks rather subdued for him. Outlandish jacket and tie choice, but not horrific like his sea foam green and yellow tie with pink flowers from a couple weeks back.

Matt Garza is pitching for the Rays; he faces Coco Crisp first. Crisp lays down the bunt towards Garza, and he throws to Carlos Pena for the out. Dustin Pedroia waves at a 95 mph fastball for strike one. 2nd pitch is high. Third pitch is BELTED to left field for a homer, Sox take a 1-0 lead.

Gee, that was quick. Ortiz up and he's now dealing with a 2-1 count. Garza works in a fastball for strike 2, and the cowbells are LOUD tonight. Full count after one misses away, and it's ball 4. Ortiz on first with Kevin Youkilis coming up. Youk's feet are so damn close together when he bats, he looks like a gimp. First pitch is a brush back, 1-0. Next one gets fouled back, as does the one after that. Rocco Baldelli makes a nice play in right with the ball going towards the line, and Ortiz gets back to first. Two out. J.D. Drew up.

Matt Garza looks like John Turturro in the Big Lebowski. "Nobody fucks with the Jesus!" Jesus Quintana rolls a nice slider and it's 1-2, he gets Drew on a check-swing, and Navarro throws him out at first after dropping the ball.

Soul Men looks horrifically bad. This is not the last role we should be seeing Bernie Mac in, dammit.

"Garza allows the Pedroia homer but that is all in the first" - Chip Caray, who appearently forgot about the walk to Ortiz (via JFein)

Bottom 1st

Jon Lester starts with a strike to Akinori Iwamura. Quickly 0-2 with a breaking ball. Ron Darling just corrected himself after saying Lester pitched game 7 of the World Series last year, which of course, only went four games. Iwamura grounds out to Pedroia. Bossman Junior is up and takes a ball to start. Lester gets one over and Upton is knocking fouls back. 2-2, now 3-2 after a high fastball. Upton rockets a pitch to right, but right at Drew.

Carlos Pena whiffs at strike one, followed by ball one in the dirt. Pena chases strike two low.

"It's got a lot more finish on it." - Buck Martinez, on Lester's pitches. 2-2 count after a ball outside. Lester looks like a babyfaced assassin, and he gets Pena to go down swinging on another breaking ball.

Top 2nd inning

Jason Bay fouls off the first pitch from the Jesus. They replay Darrell Cousins' injury from last night, and that still looks like it hurt like a mofo. It's 2-2 to Bay now. "He's taken the earplugs out," says Buck, and Bay learns that this creep can hurl, man. Garza gets him on a check-swing.

Mark Kotsay takes strike one, knocks strike two up the middle and is robbed of a single by Jason Bartlett, who goes far to his left, crosses second, and throws Kotsay out.

Varitek's up. First ball's low, Tek fouls the next one, and the one after that. 1-2. Couple balls from the Jesus and we got a full count.

"If you want to end a conversation with Jason Varitek, talk about his impending free agency." - Buck. Tek fouls another ball on the full count. Dirty, nasty, filthy breaking ball gets Tek looking. Nice pitch, Jesus.

"He affects the game defensefully." - Ron Darling, channeling his inner Emmitt.

Bottom 2nd Inning

The Volcano Taco still looks foul weeks later. I've not tried one and plan not to.

Evan Longoria up, takes a ball, takes two others, and gets nailed with a strike that really wasn't. Longoria grounds in the hole to Alex Cora, who gets him by four steps.

Carl Crawford comes up to M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes." Still like that song even though it's been everywhere now. 1-1 count, then strike two, and a high fastball gets Crawford swinging.

Willy Aybar is DH'ing tonight, and takes a strike. Next breaker is low from Lester. Aybar smacks an easy grounder to Youkilis, slugs it to Kotsay. Six up, six down.

Top 3rd Inning

Frank Caliendo pushing Dish TV is just as annoying as Frank TV ads. The Jesus faces Alex Cora to start the 3rd. The shortstop flies out to Carl Crawford in left.

Crisp comes in for his second at-bat. He fouls off strike one, and this gives Chip Caray room to work in stuff about him replacing Jacoby Ellsbury. Garza buzzes him to make it a 2-2 count.

"If you're gonna buzz somebody, you better check his background. Coco's father was a profesional boxer in Los Angeles." - Buck

Crisp fouls another one back, and chops another foul at the plate. "He's tracking the ball very well right now," says Buck, and now I think Buck is talking too much already. The Jesus gets Covelli for his fourth strikeout on a curve. 2 down.

Garza gets Pedroia for strike one, and swinging for an 0-2 count. Stays alive by fouling it off.

That doesn't make him any good. Chip Carey's father was a professional broadcaster.
- Rick James Bible Owner, referring to Buck's statement about Crisp's boxing background.

Pedroia gets popped hard and takes his base. Ortiz comes to the plate, takes strike one, leans back as the next pitch is high and inside. A very low strike 2, and Ortiz didn't much care for that call. Pedroia steals second on the next pitch without a throw, but Garza gets Ortiz for strikeout #5 with a high fastball.

Bottom 3rd Inning

"Pedroia is a guy that can hit anybody's fastball. It doesn't matter how hard it is, where it is..." - Buck Martinez (via JFein)

Even if it's 10 feet outside the zone, he'll get a bat on it somehow. He's just that clutch.

I hate those Bud Light drinkability ads. Of course it's easy to drink, because there's no weight to it. Whether it tastes good is another matter.

Dioner Navarro takes strike one, then takes a ball way inside. Lester lost control of that last one; it was really high, over his head. Inside strike, 2-2, Rocco's not swung the bat yet. Next one's fouled out of play behind the plate. Full count after a backdoor curveball, which Lester wanted badly. Navarro whiffs for Lester's third K of the night.

Rocco Baldelli's up, and down 1-2 quickly. Lester gets him looking for the fourth K, and he's got the first eight down.

"When you're catching a guy like this, you feel like a catching genius. I can call any pitch I want." - Buck.

Jason Bartlett pops up to Pedroia, and Lester's gone through the line-up once in order.

"If Lester is going to settle in, this is where he normally does so" - Chip Caray (via JFein, who's right to wonder if he isn't settled in already)

Top 4th Inning

What's with the off-center behind the pitcher camera angle? Hard to tell balls and strikes. - Mal

This is a frequent thing with TV shots behind the pitching mound, it's just more pronounced with lefties and more so with TBS' shot. It is really confusing, though. Anon does have an explanation for us: "I remember watching games on YES and ESPN, same place. The Trop is a circus tent, not ideal for camera placements."

Youkilis stands in, and is quickly down 0-2.

"He's carrying more than a chip on his shoulder, he's carrying his whole team." - Buck. Youk hits one down the line to Longoria, who throws it and is saved as Pena scoops it out of the dirt for the out.

Drew drills a high pop up to Pena for out #2.

"Garza learned you can't throw angry pitches." - Chip

If he can strike out a few more batters he'll be in his happy place. He's got Jason Bay on a 1-2 count now -- and he gets Bay again.

"They've got plenty of cowbell, now they need some runs!" - Chip, after Garza's sixth K.

Bottom 4th Inning

Iwamura starts the top of the 4th with a single to left -- first hit off Lester tonight.

Bossman Junior takes ball one inside, followed by strike two off the plate away. After fouling off a couple, Upton goes down swinging for Lester's fifth K.

Lester hits Pena with strike one inside, after Chip Caray repeats the most tired of cliches, "One swing could turn this game around." The shift works as Pena hits one to Pedroia, who tosses to Youkilis, who covers second and forces out Iwamura.

Longoria comes up with 2 outs and takes a strike. He belts it into the right field corner, the third base coach is waving Pena all the way....relay throw is close, Pena beats the tag! It's all tied up at 1-1 now.

Very bang-bang, nice play, good aggressiveness. Longoria's at 2nd, Crawford is down 0-2 now after swinging at a bad ball out of the zone. Youkilis tries to go for a foul ball, but it lands out of play.

"If he sees it, he thinks he can catch it." - Buck, on Youk.

Crawford goes down swinging on a high fastball, but it's knotted now.

Top 5th Inning

Just watch. We've got ourselves a pitcher's duel now.

Kotsay takes two straight balls from the Jesus. He gets to a 3-1 count, then pops up to Iwamura at 2nd base.

Varitek gets ready to take his second hack, struck out the first time.

"Garza's thrown 71 pitches. In Game 7, that's about 40 pitches." - Buck
"Spoken like a true manager." - Ron

Garza gets Tek to ground out on the first pitch, and now it's Cora's 2nd time up. Strike one in a good location. Strike two is FILTHY. Nice breaking ball from Garza, and another nasty one for strike three. Sit down, Alex.

"Any manager will tell you that the hitters tell you when a pitcher doesn't have his stuff any more." - Buck

Bottom 5th Inning

Willy Aybar takes strike one as Lester keeps attacking inside to the righties. Strike 2 is in about the same place. Ball 1 in the dirt. Aybar leans out and digs for the ball, driving it into the left field corner and missing a homer by feet. Nice piece of hitting.

Navarro up takes a ball inside.

"You can see John Madden...pfft...Joe Maddon sizing up whether to bunt." - Buck, who was looking forward to meeting the Turducken King until he heard he was going to take the week off. Navarro's working the count well, it's 3-0 and the crowd and the bells are getting louder. Maybe it's the dome, but this is the loudest baseball game I've heard in some time. Lester hits the inside corner for a 3-1 count. Navarro pops it out of play, full count. Ground ball to short, Cora doesn't have a play after Aybar holds. 1st and 2nd, no outs.

Rocco Baldelli gets strike one. He nails the ball, but just a bit late, and it's a 400-foot towering foul ball. Base hit in to left, Aybar scores, it's 2-1, Tampa! 1st and 2nd again, with Navarro leading and Baldelli coming through.

"And how big are two out hits in the post-season?" - Chip, forgetting that there are no outs.

Garza v. Cora to end top of 5th: Fastball 94 mph, Curveball 75 mph, Slider 86 mph (per mlb.com). All for strikes. That is amazing control of 3 pitches and changing speeds. - Mal

That is insanely good stuff.

Did you see the shot of Vitale going nuts after Baldelli's RBI single? - Mal

Dammit! No, I missed that. I was rushing to type. Awesome with a capital A, baby!

Bartlett's got an 0-2 count on him, and Lester gets him to strike out for out #1. Iwamura grounds out to Lester, runners move to 2nd and 3rd with two outs for Bossman Junior.

Upton strokes a golf shot foul down the left field line to start. He lines out to short to end the inning, but Garza gets a one-run lead to go back to the mound with.

Top 6th Inning

Crisp up to face Garza for the third time. Garza gets him to 0-2 on a nasty breaking ball. The Jesus throws three straight balls to get to a full count. Crisp hits a tapper back to Garza, who fields it well and shovels it to Pena for the out.

"Six leadoff batters in a row." - Ron
"That's the Jon Lester formula." - Chip

Pedroia takes a fastball down the middle for strike one. Next pitch misses. Another fast one away for a 1-2 count, and the cowbells are going gangbusters with the thought of another K. THE COWBELLS WANT BLOOD. That one just missed (but it looked way wide from the proper angle.) Pedroia bats the next one foul past third base, fouls another one -- and a few more. Full count after a ball outside. Pedroia takes ball four low and away.

Garza gets Ortiz to wave at strike one. Takes a look at a ball, Ortiz then swings and misses down in the inner half. 2-2 after a ball in the dirt.

"That's fisted over to the Red Sox dug out" - Chip Caray as a fly ball lands in the fourth row...(via JFein)

Full count after a fastball away. Fastball inside, Pedroia goes...Ortiz misses, and Pedroia is NAILED at second!

What awful camera work on the DP - Bazooka Jones

TBS, the Versus of baseball.

Those Volkswagen ads with the talking Beetle used to be funny until Brooke Shields got involved. Funny how that works, huh?

Bottom 6th Inning

Carlos Pena up to start. Lester gets him to pop out to third for the first out.

Longoria hits a towering fly ball, but Jason Bay has it easily.

Crawford hits a fly fairly deep to center, Crisp gets a beat on it and Lester is done in short order with the sixth inning.

Top 7th Inning

How much longer can Garza go? He's at 100 pitches, probably one more inning if he doesn't have to work too hard. Then again, I'm not a major league manager. When to pull Garza will be an important call for Joe Maddon.

Youkilis up. Low and inside, ball one. Bartlett moves in behind Iwamura, takes the pop up for the first out.

"After the first pitch, Garza looked down at the bullpen, saw two guys getting warmed up, and got more focused. 'This is my game, boys.'" - Buck

Drew gets a 2-0 count, and gets a 3-0 on the next pitch. Drew takes a walk on four pitches. Navarro and Garza talk it over as Jason Bay comes to the plate. Strike one on the inside breaking ball. Bay then knocks a single into left. 1st and 2nd, one out. Maddon makes his first trip to the mound.

Mark Kotsay's got a chance to knock one. Strike one on a pop foul. Ball one in the dirt. Ball two is high. Kotsay flies out to left; Drew tags and heads to third.

Varitek fouls the first pitch to right field; he then holds up his swing on a pitch in the dirt. Another pop foul for a 1-2 count. Garza gets him swinging! Navarro throws him out at first, with the ball in the dirt, and the Jesus wriggles off the hook!

I HAVE A FEVER AND THE ONLY PRESCRIPTION IS MORE COWBELL! - James Craven

Don't we all?

Bottom 7th Inning

Willy Aybar's up against Jon Lester, taking strike one and fouling off the next for a second strike. He takes two straight balls. Very close on that 3-2, right off the corner. AYBAR TATTOOED THAT MOFO OUT. 3-1, RAYS.

Day-um.

Navarro pops to right on a 1-2 count. J.D. Drew has it.

Baldelli comes up for his third time at the plate. He strikes out, making the 8th for Lester. (Garza's gotten nine on strikes.)

Bartlett fouls off three straight pitches, then flies out to Crisp in center.

"Baldelli's a young man that was compared to Joe DiMaggio" - Chip
"Yeah, you just have to look at his number." - Ron [The 5 on the back of his jersey.]

If TB wasn't leading, Yankee fans may find yet another reason to throw something at their TV's... - Anon

Top 8th Inning

Six outs to go for Tampa. Matt Garza's still pitching. Maddon doesn't want to yank him until he absolutely has to. Alex Cora fouls off the first pitch, and a ground ball eats up Bartlett at short. Cora on with the error, and Maddon's going to the bullpen.

Garza gets a massive ovation, well deserved. Dan Wheeler comes in. He throws two balls, gets Crisp to foul one off. Coco fouls a bunt attempt, he got antsy. Crisp hits one through the right side, 1st and 2nd, nobody out.

"You give the Red Sox life. They take the life away from you." - Chip

Pedroia up, takes a strike. Wheeler gets him to fly out to Crawford, runners stay put. Wheeler's night is done, as Maddon calls for J.P. Howell.

Howell's on to face David Ortiz. Throws a breaker on the inside for strike one. Ortiz fouls a grounder for an 0-2 count. High fastball for ball 1, sinker low and away for ball 2. After fouling out numerous pitches, Ortiz grounds to Iwamura, who throws a force to Bartlett to take Crisp out -- and Crisp would have beaten it if he'd gone for the bag. Another pitching change.

Chad Bradford, the submariner, is throwing. Youkilis up. Inside near his legs, ball one. 2-0 on the next pitch. 3-0, inside again. Finally, a strike. Fouled off, 3-2. Youk holds up, ball 4. Bases loaded for J.D. Drew, and David Price is coming in to face him.

First pitch slider in for a strike from Price. 87 mph breaker for strike 2. Fastball, 96 mph, away for ball 1. FROZE HIM ON THE OUTSIDE CORNER. Nasty, nasty, nasty. Nice job, David.

Bottom 8th Inning

97 mph on the outside corner. Which Vandy grad has a stronger arm? Price or Cutler? - Mal


Good question.

On the David Price strikeout:

Chip:

Best thing he's said all night. - Rick James Bible Owner


Iwamura up against Hideki Okajima. Grounds out to Pedroia, who has to rush the throw, but gets him.

Bossman Junior comes up now. He tags one into shallow center and Coco Crisp makes a nice sliding catch for the second out.

Pena busts one off foul for strike one.

"There might be mutiny if Price doesn't go out to start the 9th." - Buck

"A high strike evens, or makes it 0-2 to Pena, beg your pardon." - Chip

Pena takes ball one in the dirt, and then takes strike three high. Three outs to go for the Rays and an American League pennant.

Top 9th Inning

"He has a chance to pick up a win and a save in the postseason before he's had either in the regular season." - Buck on David Price (via Mal)

It's Bay, Kotsay, and Varitek. Price nails strike one, then throws a sinker low to even it out. Ball two is way inside, getting Bay to go down to the dirt. Fouled back out of play. 2-2. Fouled off again. Bay just holds off his swing on the high heat. He fouls off the next one. Bay takes a walk.

Kotsay comes to the plate. He bunts foul for strike one, fouls the next one for strike two. High cheese for ball one. 2-2 after a 95-mph fastball just off the corner. STRIKE THREE ON THE OUTSIDE CORNER. Again, filthy, filthy, filthy.

Ball one to Varitek. Tek then swings and misses a fastball. Next pitch is fouled back for strike two. Super-high and outside for ball two. TEK GOES DOWN SWINGING. One more out to go, and David Price is just ringing it up.

JED LOWRIE GROUNDS OUT TO IWAMURA FOR THE FORCE, AND THE RAYS ARE YOUR AL CHAMPIONS!!!!!

Man, what a game!

they should have sent a poet.

/contact'd - Dan

FOX's nightmare comes true! - Luis


"From 9 equals 8 to 9 equals 2, Joe Maddon and his Tampa Bay Rays will face the Phillies in the World Series." - Chip

Thanks for joining me, everybody. We'll have World Series live blogs next weekend, I'm sure. Have fun and see you next weekend!

Posted by Signal to Noise at 8:00 PM

132 Comments:

Was it just me/local ads overriding them, or were there no Frank TV ads last night?

I thought when the game came on, "OK, no Frank TV ads and we'll call it even," but never thought it would actually happen.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:03:00 PM  

Well Anon, I guess you're even with TBS. I personally was flipping to college football during commercials (and the power outage) so I don't know. I don't specifically recall seeing them though when the college football games ended....

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:08:00 PM  

Does Craig Sager's wardrobe come from Salvation Army?

alex said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:09:00 PM  

WTF?? Holy cow, were the lights on when Sager put his suit on this evening? That looks almost normal by Sager-ian standards.

Rob in WI said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:09:00 PM  

Pedroia... WOW.

This is not going to be good for the Rays.

Rob in WI said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:12:00 PM  

Not about baseball but...

Chris Berman: (about Marty Booker's touchdown today) He's the little girl with the curl.

Uh, yeah Chris...sure.

Lammy742 said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:16:00 PM  

"Garza allows the Pedroia homer but that is all in the first" - Chip Caray, who appearently forgot about the walk to Ortiz.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:20:00 PM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
TJX said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:25:00 PM  

Wow...what a throw by Bartlett.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:37:00 PM  

Someone just said "he affects the game defensfully" in reference to Varitek.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:40:00 PM  

BJ - that was Ron Darling. He's mangling the English language on an Emmitt Smith level.

Signal to Noise said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:44:00 PM  

@ S2N: I haven't tried the volcano taco either. Maybe it's just me, but I really don't want steam coming out of my ears nor do I want to have to cool down by dumping Pepsi all over myself...

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:47:00 PM  

Volcano Taco > Triple Steak Burrito

I found out the hard way last night.

Oct 19, 2008, 8:47:00 PM  

Chipotle > Toxic Hell

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:50:00 PM  

It's funny that Darling is sounding like Emmitt Smith - he went to Yale.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 8:57:00 PM  

Buck Martinez: "Before you throw at someone, you need to check into someone's background. Coco Crisp's father was a professional boxer."

That doesn't make him any good. Chip Carey's father was a professional broadcaster.

Oct 19, 2008, 8:57:00 PM  

"Pedroia is a guy that can hit anybody's fastball. It doesn't matter how hard it is, where it is..." - Buck Martinez

It doesn't matter where it is....he can hit fastballs that are behind him than I guess. Now that's what I call talent...

I was typing this as he said it so I'm not sure if I heard right, but did Caray really just say "He got punked"?

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:00:00 PM  

@RJBO - funny re: Caray!

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:03:00 PM  

"Pedroia slides in hard and safely at second base" - Chip Caray

That gave me a weird and funny image...

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:04:00 PM  

"If Lester is going to settle in, this is where he normally does so" - Chip Caray

So retiring the first 6 batters isn't settling in???

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:07:00 PM  

What's with the off-center behind the pitcher camera angle? Hard to tell balls and strikes.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:09:00 PM  

Frank TV ad. Ugh, not only is he over-advertised, but I don't even think he's that funny. His impersonations are not that good.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:13:00 PM  

Mal, first game watching at the Trop? I remember watching games on YES and ESPN, same place. The Trop is a circus tent, not ideal for camera placements.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:13:00 PM  

I've watched games on TV at Trop before - I just didn't really notice it being that drastically off-center. It's going to drive me nuts tonight!

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:17:00 PM  

Caray: "Garza has been told not to throw 'angry pitches'". That explains the smiley faces on the baseballs tonight.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:18:00 PM  

Caray, after Garza ends the 4th with a K, "They've got plenty of cowbell, now they're going to need some runs".

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:20:00 PM  

I swear, the John McCain ad where he promises to stop the pork of congressional liberals as been played at every other commerical break on every station.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:23:00 PM  

@ jfein: What market are you in?

I flipped over to Bucs - Hawks game during commercial: Garcia looks like Montana against the Hawks D. Also, I heard more quality analysis from Collinsworth in 2 minutes of the baseball commercial break than Madden has done in 2 years.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:25:00 PM  

"One swing can turn this game around" - Chip Caray stating the obvious in a 1-run game.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:27:00 PM  

@ j-fein: he's said it twice in Pena's at bat.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:28:00 PM  

@ Mal: Scranton area.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:30:00 PM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:35:00 PM  
This comment has been removed by the author.
Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:35:00 PM  

It looks like live blogging this was the right choice, Tampa is beating Seattle 17-0.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:37:00 PM  

"If he can see it, he thinks he can catch it" - Buck Martinez on Youk.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:41:00 PM  

Seattle is going 1-15, mark it down.

TJX said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:43:00 PM  

People who stay at Holiday Inn Expresses > Doctors

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:45:00 PM  

@SS: Look at the bright side. You could be a Lions fan.

/Wolverines-Lions weekends aren't easy

Oct 19, 2008, 9:46:00 PM  

Garza v. Cora to end top of 5th: Fastball 94 mph, Curveball 75 mph, Slider 86 mph (per mlb.com). All for strikes. That is amazing control of 3 pitches and changing speeds.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:46:00 PM  

"We see that John Madden, er, Joe Maddon...." - Buck Martinez, appearently thinking of the footbal analyst not in Tampa Bay right now...

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:49:00 PM  

Did you see the shot of Vitale going nuts after Baldelli's RBI single?

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:54:00 PM  

@mal: Dickie V looked like the Count from Sesame Street without a monocle.

Oct 19, 2008, 9:55:00 PM  

Chip Carey "And how big are two out hits in this game." One problem Chip, no one is out.

NBkraft said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:55:00 PM  

chip carat with no outs - how big are two out hits in the postseason

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:56:00 PM  

Was that Dick Vitale? I guess he has to root for the Rays since Duke doesn't have an MLB team.

alex said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:56:00 PM  

@ RJBO - very funny.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 9:57:00 PM  

"The Rays lead in pivotal game seven" - Chip Caray being redundant.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:00:00 PM  

Bucs fumble the opening kickoff TWICE and Seahawks still can't recover it. SSR - your team is snake bit this year.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:02:00 PM  

what are the chances that Chip Caray discusses the possbility of a Game 8?

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:03:00 PM  

I just clicked over to the Bucs/Seahawks game... There's an audible "Boston Sucks" chant... I think they got the score update at Raymond James.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:04:00 PM  

@ anon @ 10:03: Very high.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:05:00 PM  

When will Fox executives shine a light in Garza's eye to distract him?

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:06:00 PM  

@fitz

Good to hear I'm not the only one who thinks this series is rigged.

Unknown said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:09:00 PM  

@ jesse and fitz - This is baseball. Not the NBA. There has never been cheating in baseball. Even if there were, we're not here to talk about the past. We're here to talk about the future.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:11:00 PM  

what are the odds that Chip Caray has a glove in his hand when he calls games?

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:11:00 PM  

I just now watched the video of Eck getting made hung out to dry... Anyone else find it ironic that he was the one to bring up his hair after the events of a couple weeks ago?

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:13:00 PM  

No, alex. craig Sager's jackets come from the Lindsey Nelson collection by '70s "R" Us.

And RJBO, do not ever try the gruel that passes at food at Taco Hell.

JamesCraven said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:14:00 PM  

What's with the odd "jewelry" choices of the Sox? Lester has what looks like part of a bullwhip around his neck. Pedroia has a bungee cord. Varitek must have a chain of paperclips.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:14:00 PM  

@mal

No hablo inglés

Unknown said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:14:00 PM  

"That's fisted over to the Red Sox dug out" - Chip Caray as a fly ball lands in the fourth row...

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:16:00 PM  

What awful camera work on the DP

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:17:00 PM  

The downside to the game being on TBS is the Frank TV promos. But at least at TBS you aren't going to get the "random" crowd shots of the stars of the network's lame TV shows like you would at Fox. At TBS what would you get? Bill Engvall and Wolf Blitzer?

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:20:00 PM  

And RJBO, do not ever try the gruel that passes at food at Taco Hell.

@jamescraven: I didn't feel like driving (reads: couldn't) to Del Taco last night.

Oct 19, 2008, 10:23:00 PM  

@mal: If this were Fox, they would have their "stars" reading the starting lineups, like David Boreanaz.

Oct 19, 2008, 10:24:00 PM  

I'm hoping the see the camera get a shot of the Phillies' Tampa Bay uniforms cheering.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:24:00 PM  

@RJBO-TBS didn't want Dick Vitale calling every Ray player a Diaper Dandy.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:28:00 PM  

"And now the Rays' dugout starts to pace" - Chip Caray, as the camera shows the Rays dugout....sitting absolutely still.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:29:00 PM  

Alex@956: Dickie V lives in Sarasota, an hour south of St. Pete.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:30:00 PM  

"Fisted, shallow right"-Chip Caray

As the ball is caught 5 feet from the warning track

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:33:00 PM  

Can't the cameramen find more hotties in the Tampa crowd? They are not doing their job very well or the circus really has come to town in the "circus tent" (per anon)that is the Trop.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:33:00 PM  

I HAVE A FEVER AND THE ONLY PERSCRIPTION IS MORE COWBELL!

JamesCraven said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:35:00 PM  

Back to football for a second. Through 3 quarters, Seneca Wallace has one of the worst stat lines I can remember: 7/16. 33 yds. 0 TD. 1 INT. 1 lost fumble.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:38:00 PM  

The good news for Boston is that Lugo leads off the 8th. That means only three pitches until the top of the order.

rwmonty said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:39:00 PM  

Al: "Do you know what John did today? He took the bus to the Raiders' game".

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:39:00 PM  

Darling: "Lester gets a lot of called strikes and he gets a lot of swinging strikes".

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:42:00 PM  

Announcer 1: "Baldelli's a young man that was compared to Joe DiMaggio"
Announcer 2: "Yeah, you just have to look at his number." [The 5 on the back of his jersey.]

If TB wasn't leading, Yankee fans may find yet another reason to throw something at their TV's...

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:49:00 PM  

"The Rays are six outs away from the World Series" - Chip Caray

The last time the Rays were six outs away from the World Series, they choked.

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:51:00 PM  

"Garza figured he had an out, and now Joe Maddon is going to take him out" - Chip Caray channeling Mike Tirico

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:53:00 PM  

Gabe Gross as defensive replacement over Baldelli or Fernando Perez? You could make the argument that Gross cost the Rays Game 5.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:54:00 PM  

Gross did cost them game 5. He was horrible. Misplayed 2 balls to RF and his throw to the plate bounces only as far as first base.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:56:00 PM  

Chip: You give the Red Sox life. They take the life away from you. - after Crisp's single making it 1st and 2nd nobody out in bottom of 8th.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 10:59:00 PM  

"You give the Red Sox life, they take it away from you." Looks like I have an idea for the next great horror movie, just in time for Halloween!

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:00:00 PM  

Chip has Red Sox pubic hair in his teeth.

Unknown said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:00:00 PM  

ya think they'll have the finish on at RayJay?

JamesCraven said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:03:00 PM  

"Pedroia is the best two-strike hitter in baseball."

They haven't mentioned this at all in this series. Not once. Quality information there, Buck.

Oh, and did you hear that Pedroia wasn't drafted out of high school? Thirty teams passed on him. He's such a remarkable little guy. He brings a tear to my eye.

Oct 19, 2008, 11:04:00 PM  

I don't think anyone has ever said this before, but Coco Crisp just over-thought the situation.

rwmonty said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:13:00 PM  

5th pitcher of the inning. Wow...

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:18:00 PM  

Football is over. Bucs 20 - Seahawks 10.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:19:00 PM  

Did he say "pretty good cheese" on that pitch?

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:20:00 PM  

@ anon: Yes he did and yet it was.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:21:00 PM  

97 mph on the outside corner. Which Vandy grad has a stronger arm? Price or Cutler?

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:22:00 PM  

And to think this team has Price waiting in the wings for next year??!

Just some nasty stuff.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:22:00 PM  

On the David Price strikeout:

Chip:

Best thing he's said all night.

Oct 19, 2008, 11:22:00 PM  

Buck on Price: He has a chance to pick up a win and a save in the postseason before he's had either in the regular season.

Mal said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:27:00 PM  

What the hell are those two ladies in the Canadian tuxedos doing behind home plate?

rwmonty said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:27:00 PM  

I wish someone would have told me there was only one October!

Price is just nasty. He gonna be a good 'un.

Rob in WI said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:31:00 PM  

The fact that fans in the TV seats behind home plate are STILL sitting ASTOUNDS ME! Probably too old to get up!

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:32:00 PM  

The 92 Braves scored 3 games in the bottom of the 9th inning according to Chip.

Pure genius.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:34:00 PM  

Tying run at the plate with nobody out. Oh man, my heart is racing and I don't even have a rooting interest in this game. I'm a Phillies fan, and I just want an opponent damn it!

Justin F. said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:34:00 PM  

"That's a swing...Looks like Boston gets a break."

In response to a previous post, yes, I smell the conspiracy too.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:35:00 PM  

guess the ump HAD to call that one since it was right down the middle of the plate and all.

-dan

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:37:00 PM  

i'm sure the ump wanted to call that one a check swing.

sweet jesus, just one more out please.

-dan

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:39:00 PM  

I know it was just Varitek... but that slider was double nasty.

Rob in WI said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:40:00 PM  

they should have sent a poet.

/contact'd

-dan

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:40:00 PM  

FOX's nightmare comes true!

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:41:00 PM  

Ed Goren and David Hill have just jumped off the roof at the FOX Network Center in Hollywood, and I couldn't be happier.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:43:00 PM  

What a game glad I switched off the football game

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:43:00 PM  

Craig Sager: Longest question ever.

alex said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:44:00 PM  

On ESPN Radio:

Joe Morgan: "The Rays are jumping all on each other. Someone could get hurt."

The thunderstorm on a clear parade day, eh, Joe? (not counting Denny Hocking/Matthew LeCroy from 2002)

Oct 19, 2008, 11:44:00 PM  

I mean, Im a diehard Yankee fan, but I gotta say, I feel pretty happy for the Rays, taking to the hated Sux...
Now..Go Phils!

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:47:00 PM  

True that, fellow anonymous Yankee fan *high five* I wonder how many people already jumped off the Pox bandwagon after this amazing TB victory!

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:51:00 PM  

So this could be one of the best moments in sports history! Yay Rays!!!!!!!

I turned it to ESPN, and they flashed a graphic on the bottom that said Game 1: Phillies vs. Red Sox, with the Red Sox logo. I hope that someone has a screenshot of this.

Obviously they weren't hoping for anything...

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:51:00 PM  

another Florida team in the World Series....oh joy oh joy....not

Mark B said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:54:00 PM  

anonymous is a diehard Yankees fan? You don't say...

rwmonty said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:54:00 PM  

If T ran the Rays I'd get rid of the old Chicago Stadium horn and blow off some indoor fireworks from the topmost ring at Tropicana Field to celebrate the pennant.

JamesCraven said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:55:00 PM  

That said...Phillies in four.

JamesCraven said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:55:00 PM  

i'm a yankee fan too. nice to see the rays do something the yanks and cleveland couldn't do.

now we have to hear that fossil gammons and those puds, kuselis, simmons and dan patrick make weak excuses for why they lost. and kuselis said on saturday that karl ravech was a chowd fan, now i get to hate him too.

-dan

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:57:00 PM  

As a Met fan, all I can say is this is officially the start of the Scott Kazmir Curse.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:59:00 PM  

- With a no-name guy in Price, Boston was outfoxed. That's pretty damn hard to do. Well-played, Tampa. Well-played. You are the heroes of Masshole haters everywhere.

- Kudos to the TBS crew showing massive amounts of restraint when the Rays were on the brink of history. They finally "got it": react only when the moment allows it; don't create your own moment.

- Good luck Fox. At least you can count on me watching, if that's any consolation.

Anonymous said...
Oct 19, 2008, 11:59:00 PM  

did Garza just say "shit" to Ernie J. on the post game interview? I cannot rewind my TV because the DVR is downstairs. just wondering.

Brett said...
Oct 20, 2008, 12:00:00 AM  

"A happy ending for Joe Maddon means a sad ending for Terry Francona" - Chip Caray with what could very well be the Captain Obvious statement of the year.

Justin F. said...
Oct 20, 2008, 12:01:00 AM  

Phillies in 6.

Oct 20, 2008, 12:02:00 AM  

@ anon @ 11:59: You can count on me watching as well as every other championship starved fan in Philadelphia. Go Phillies!!!

Justin F. said...
Oct 20, 2008, 12:03:00 AM  

Interesting video from Colbert: Baseball statistician compares Obama to the AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays...

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/187343/october-07-2008/nate-silver

Anonymous said...
Oct 20, 2008, 12:04:00 AM  

as happy as i am to see what the rays just did, i'm going to be happier if the phillies take it. that city needs a title.

-dan

Anonymous said...
Oct 20, 2008, 12:06:00 AM  

I just hope the Phils don't have the same rust the '06 Tigers (much as that pains me to say) and the '07 Rockies had.

Oct 20, 2008, 12:09:00 AM  

Garza did indeed drop "shit" in the EJ interview.

Am I the only one that thinks teams are celebrating way too much for non-World Series wins lately?? I mean, there could have been 5 season-ending injuries in that pile on the infield, and the on-field interviews and awards presentations are way too congratulatory.

Jay said...
Oct 20, 2008, 12:27:00 AM  

ALCS wins are ok

winning the wild card or division series and celebrating with champagne is a bit much.

-dan

Anonymous said...
Oct 20, 2008, 12:30:00 AM  

And a full hour after the game is over, ESPN can finally show highlights. TBS totally didn't play fair tonight and flat-out exploited the embargo rights. I think networks should be able to tolerate a 30-minute embargo, but ESPN should not have to wait a full hour to show a friggin highlight to something.

I'm usually not an ESPN apologist, but that was a tad bit ridiculous. I think Mr. Selig will be getting a call in the morning.

Anonymous said...
Oct 20, 2008, 12:56:00 AM  

@jay & -dan: The Michigan State Police officer that Kenny Rogers doused with champagne after the Tigers '06 ALDS win over the Yankees agrees.

Oct 20, 2008, 12:59:00 AM  

@ RJBO: As a Phillies fan, 7 games for the ALCS was our worst possible scenario. Believe me, I'm scared as shit that our team (especially our pitching) is going to be rusty...

Justin F. said...
Oct 20, 2008, 1:09:00 AM  

anonymous 1256: considering what espn did to tbs last year with the all-star selections, they are lucky to be getting highlights at all. i'd extend the postgame coverage until tuesday if i could.

-dan

Anonymous said...
Oct 20, 2008, 1:16:00 AM  

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