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I need a night to wrap my head around the game. I’m formulating what I’m gonna say here. Let me just tell you that if you don’t want Tim McCarver bashing, then tomorrow’s post isn’t for you.

Tomorrow will be a weekday sized post, because I’m going to comment on the Red Sox game, the Cubs game, and the embarrassment to baseball that is Tim McCarver.

Also, today is URI’s Homecoming. We lost to #3 Villanova 21-17 with a last second ‘Nova touchdown. I need to go out and have fun while trying to decipher the strangest baseball game I’ve seen in a while.

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Game sucked, eh?

For all the quality of the A’s series, this game sure did suck. It was the suckiest game that ever sucked.

Now that I have that out of my system, tonight was a painful but not a bad loss. The Red Sox went to Yankee stadium against two pitchers that have pitched well against the Sox of late, and walked away with a split. Looking forward, the Sox have face off against Clemens, Wells, and Mussina at Fenway, then Pettitte and Clemens in the Stadium. Tonight wasn’t that bad.

But it still sucked. Four times the Red Sox could have turned a double play to end an inning. They did turn any of them. In the second, Matsui hit a grounder to second with Posada on. If they could have spun it, Johnson’s homerun would have been a solojack. Three times in the third, they could have saved Lowe some pitches, but Millar “dove” (fell) over one, Jackson bobbled another, and Millar went home rather then turn two (this one was the smart call).

This game has also realized that there are two Grady Littles. There is Grady and Bizzaro Grady. Grady Little manages game one. Bizzaro Grady managed game two. Todd Walker wastes on the bench. Gabe Kapler leads off. Scott Sauerbeck pitches for the first time since June. Actually, let me stop here and rant (you guys paid for that).

Scott Sauerbeck can’t get righties out!!!!! Jorge Posada is a switch hitter who has hit lefties at a .916 OPS clip, righties at .847. By calling Scott Sauerbeck into the game, you are flipping Posada around, batting right handed.

If you don’t follow, that means that you are exposing the biggest bullpen weakness you have (Sauerbeck against righties), and the move played into your opponet’s biggest strength at the time (Posada vs. LHP). Posada doubled in two runs against Scotty the Left, and the game was notched at 6-2, effecively putting the game out of reach. That decision did not lose the game for the Red Sox, but it sure didn’t help.

Good lord, I’m going again…Tim McCarver is a jerk. There is no one I would rather hear do a baseball game less then Tim McCarver. I don’t think he’s biased against the Red Sox, I think he is a clueless front runner who opines for days went by, and he was the personal catcher for Steve Carlton. Good god, Fox, what does the guy have to do to get kicked off the air, say that Pedro is overrated because the media wants to see a Dominican pitching star??? I haven’t heard one person say that McCarver brings anything at all to the discussion, never mind insight. He makes me long for those days past when the colorman of the home team did the series. I personally would love to see Buck with Kaat, or Remy. Even both. McCarver makes the game unbearable to watch and it makes my blood boil that he makes hundreds of thousands of dollars while people who can add to the game watching experience sit at home.

Argh! Tonight’s game sucked. Saturday we have a marquee matchup: Pedro Martinez vs. Roger Clemens. The only thing that would make me more ashamed to be a Red Sox fan then the Kim display would be if people cheered Clemens before this game. It really doesn’t get much better then Pedro and Clemens in October.

Regis Philbin says: “Look at the Red Sox. They have facial hair and shaved heads. They look like street toughes.”
Tim McCarver says: “You might beat Pedro, but you will never intimidate him. He’s unintimidatable.”

Fools act alike. Tomorrow I will post again, but it won’t be as angry. Maybe.

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Last night left a bad taste in my mouth. Today, I’m going to divorce myself from baseball, with my only involvement in the sport reading Andrew Zimbalist’s book “May the Best Team Win,” and having the Cubs/Marlins game on as background noise as I make my decent into the abyss of Budweiser.

Larry Mahnken writes the best Yankee blog (Replacement Level Yankees Blog) out there and said this about last night:

The Red Sox wasted opportunities to put the Yankees away in the first two innings, and the decision to bring in the struggling Scott Sauerbeck into the game in the 7th inning, after Giambi had walked, and turning Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada around to their strong sides, can only be explained by saying that Lowe was finished, and Sauerbeck was the only pitcher who had warmed up.

But why only Sauerbeck? Sauerbeck is a LOOGY, and his lefty/righty splits are painfully obvious in the regard. If Sauerbeck was used this way during the regular season, it’s apparent why his numbers were so awful. That’s just bad managing. But I ain’t complaining. If Little wants to bring in the wrong guy to pitch to good hitters this series, more power to him.

Tomorrow the Yankees face Pedro in a huge swing game. Really, this game is all about Clemens–he won’t be getting any standing ovations this time, unless he gets pounded out of the game. Rocket has only had two great starts against Boston in the past two seasons, and he’s been pounded by them three times this year alone. The Yankees need him to throw six innings without giving up more than two or three runs, while they work Pedro’s count and try to get the bullpen into the game. It can be done, but it’s almost all on Clemens, pitching in what is absolutely his last game in Fenway Park, probably the last game he pitches against an American League team, and maybe the last game of his career. But, you know… no pressure, Rog.

Hero of the game: Derek Lowe, for hitting Aaron Boone with a pitch. Made my night.

I feel the same way. Amazing, eh?

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I’m coming up with nothing today folks. Nothing. The offense is hitting again, the pitching was great with Wakefield, Timlin, and Williamson pitching top notch, and Embree pitching ok. Hell, Todd Walker even quit doing his Jeter impression and made some really good plays at second last night.

Otherwise it was a pretty boring game. It has invoked strange feelings in yours truely. I’m not excited. I’m actually pretty pragmatic. I can’t wait for the next game to start tonight. I actually feel like I did when I was playing. My teeth are gritted and I just want to play ball.

One thing did get under my skin though. Why is it that the theatrics during the seventh inning stretch at Yankee Stadium are allowed to go on so long? I understand the patriotism angle, but if God Bless America is played, then can we cut out “Cotton Eyed Joe”? In the regular season, you get 1:40 between innings, in the post season, its 2:20. Why do the Yankees get the extra time for the 7th inning? It ices the pitcher coming into the bottom of the 7th, and it slows the game down to a crawl. I just don’t get it.

Tonight Derek Lowe pitches against Andy Pettitte. Pettitte has generally been death on the Red Sox his career, but has been nothing more then medocre in the playoffs. Let’s hope that changes tonight.

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New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox
Team

      W  L  RS  RA  AVE  OB% SLUG  PkR  PkH   DE   OENYY 101 61 877 716 .271 .356 .453  976 1011 .698 1.001                  BOS  95 67 962 809 .289 .360 .491 1007  950 .701  .984

Lineups
New York Yankees
C Jorge Posada
1b Jason Giambi
2b Alfonso Soriano
3b Aaron Boone
ss Derek Jeter
lf Hideki Matsui
cf Bernie Williams
rf Karim Garcia/Juan Rivera/Ruben Sierra
dh Nick Johnson

Boston Red Sox
C Jason Varitek
1b Kevin Millar
2b Todd Walker
3b Bill Mueller
ss Nomar Garciaparra
lf Manny Ramirez
cf Johnny Damon
rf Trot Nixon/Gabe Kapler
dh David Ortiz

Starting Pitching

       IP    K/9  BB/9  HR/9  WHIP  ERA  RsSvdNYY  834.3  7.15  1.81  0.97  1.22  3.90 157.47 BOS  772.0  6.89  2.76  0.78  1.29  4.00 160.21

Bullpens

      IP    K/9  BB/9  HR/9   WHIP  ERA  RsSvdNYY  394.7  6.80  3.26  0.84  1.40  4.08  66.73BOS  499.0  7.67  3.41  1.01  1.45  4.87  55.26

Games

Oct 8   @ NYY  Tim Wakefield  vs. Mike Mussina   8:00pmOct 9   @ NYY  Derek Lowe     vs. Andy Pettitte  8:15pmOct 11  @ BOS  Roger Clemens  vs. Pedro Martinez 4:15pmOct 12  @ BOS  David Wells    vs. John Burkett   8:05pmOct 13  @ BOS  Mike Mussina   vs. Tim Wakefield  8:15pmOct 15  @ NYY  Derek Lowe     vs. Andy Pettitte  4:15pmOct 16  @ NYY  Pedro Martinez vs. Roger Clemens  8:15pm

Thoughts
On the one hand, you have an established power. They have a corporate exterior, are built on tradition, have an earned arrogance about them. They are described as classy and professional.

On the other is the rival. They aren’t seen in the same light. They have long hair, or shaved heads, are built on failure, and are cocky as hell. They are described as unprofessional and bush league.

I am of course talking about the Omegas and the Deltas in Animal House.

You never find anyone say they root for the Omegas in the John Landis classic. They aren’t fun, and they aren’t interesting. Judging by their dress and demeanor, they are upperclass, a product of privilege.

Yup, everyone loves the Deltas. They are hard partying, hard drinking, and rough around the edges. They don’t live within the set rules of society, and in fact when confronted with the orthodoxy, they actively rebel against it. The Deltas were a microcosm of life. They say to hell with “the man”. People working in offices think back to college and say “If I was a student at Faber, I sure would rush Delta.”

I think you see my point. Due to an error of geography, there are an insane amount of Yankee fans. But there are many, many Yankee fans that live outside of the Tristate. With no geographic bond to draw the people into this fandom, why do they do it? Why do they root for the Omegas?

I think, especially this year, that is why there is a lot of tension between Yankee and Red Sox fans. Red Sox fans celebrate by gathering on various college quads, and have drunken riots (I don’t vant no dunkin roits in my town), and Yankee fans shake their head and chalk them up as boorish. The Red Sox celebrate clinching the Wacky Card at home with their fans, running into bars and the like, and people like Steve Levy call it excessive celebration on SportsCenter.

The Yankees are built on professionalism and the ghosts of 26 World Series titles, the Red Sox are built on passion and the workings of 29 year old kid and the mad theories of someone from Eastern Kansas.

When the Yankees lose a game, the next day their fans act like they have been denied their birthright. The next day after the Red Sox lose, their fans talk about their teams resiliency. A good example of this is the ALDS. Yankee fans I know said that everyone was harping on the Yankees for losing the first game. After the Sox lost the first two, all I heard was how the A’s better sweep.

The Yankees are class and professionalism. They show it by allowing minimum facial hair, clean cut hair styles, and pristine uniforms. The Red Sox are immature and loutish. The show it by having a scruff, long hair (or no hair), and baggy dirty uniforms. The Yankees pump a fist and give a high five. The Red Sox point at their own bench and give a hug. The Yankees’ owner says he doesn’t care about the Red Sox, but they seem to be the topic of discussion whenever Steinbrenner opens his mouth. Word is he demanded that Brian Cashman block Boston from getting a Colon in a trade. Never mind that Theo Epstein was after Javier Vazquez. The Red Sox CEO openly acknowledges the rivalry, calling the Yankees the “Evil Empire” after signing Jose Contreras. He says its foolish to pretend the two teams don’t like each other.

The fans don’t like each other either. Both groups of fans are accused of hating the other team more then they like their own. Red Sox fans can be led into a Yankees Suck chant by Teddy Bruschi at the Patriots’ Super Bowl parade. The Yankee fans are too big for that, instead chanting 1918, and Boston sucks at a Mets game (which happened on the ESPN game this summer).

Even the players are starting to get into it. After Roger Clemens beaned Kevin Millar on the head, Pedro Martinez hit Derek Jeter in the hand (to the day I die, I will never acknowledge that Alfonso Soriano was plunked by Pedro. He swung the bat.) Not quite Fisk/Munson, but some fire none the less.

I haven’t even gotten into real analysis yet. You aren’t gonna get it here either. The Yankees have starters playing into their strengths, and the Red Sox offense still haven’t broken out yet. That doesn’t bode well for the Hose Rouge.

Despite what I think, the Omega’s have a stronger house. They have the class president, captain of the swim team, and the editor of the Daily Faberian. The Delta’s have more fun, but they live in a shithole.

Jeff’s pick (1-3): NYY 4-1
DeweyVision (3-1): NYY 4-1

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I’ll get to the preview in a second.

I love baseball. I don’t think it accurately is shown here just how much I think about baseball, watch baseball, or actually dream about baseball. Baseball is a religion to me.

My church just happens to be in Fenway.

This is why I can’t fault people like Rich Eisen when he was on Sportscenter showing his passion for the Yankees, or Will Carroll on BaseballProspectus showing his love of the Cubs. They practice the same religion, except they worship in the Bronx or in Chicago. And I have no problem with that.

There is a line when passion becomes partisanism. Keeping with the religion analogy, those are the Fundamentalists. Those are the people who care when a team they have nothing to do with loses. They are the people that chat “Yankees Suck” while sober. They are the ones who go on internet message board and bitch about other teams more then they comment on their team.

The biggest problem with baseball is that the Fundamentalists make up most of the casual fandom. And because of that, Fox, never a network of subtly, panders to them. They look for the story that will get the Fundamentalists up in arms, rather then offer actual analysis. On example is Fox showing the Curse of the Goat/Curse of the Bambino montage before last night’s A’s game. Forget that I have actual never met a mature Red Sox fan that truly believes in the Curse of the Bambino, the Sox Fundamentalists got the built in excuse in case the A’s won. It wasn’t one team played better, it was a intangible curse from 80+ years ago.

This pandering to Fundamentalism is showing its head now. The Red Sox got bashed as being a low class team for the following reasons:

1. They shaved their heads together
2. The Lilly on the jackets
3. Kim’s finger
4. Manny watching the homerun and then jogging to first pointing at the dugout
5. Red Sox players advancing towards the stands
6. Derek Lowe’s “obscene” gesture towards the Oakland dugout at the end of the game yesterday

I’ve already covered the Kim finger issue, he was booed by Fundamentalists, and returned the favor. The shaved heads is no different then hockey players growing goatees for the playoffs.

That leaves Manny, Lowe, Lilly jackets, and the players engaging with the fans.

If you didn’t see the game, Johnny Damon and Damian Jackson collided violently in short center last night. Damon didn’t move for a few minutes, but was waved to the field as he was put in the ambulance. Then the camera cut to a brouhaha by the Red Sox dugout. As it turns out, David Ortiz was clapping on the way back to the dugout, as Damon was being carted off. Him and Jackson looked up at the stands and started yelling and moving towards them. Dave Wallace, Todd Jones, and Ron Jackson pushed the players away and Mike Timlin was yelling at someone. Security took the fan away. During the incident however, Thom Brenneman on Fox said how this was the “wrong time to get into it with fans”

Manny Ramirez was bashed for a solid inning after hitting a homerun off Zito and watching the ball fly out into the stands. When he started towards first, he pointed to the Red Sox dugout. Manny was “unprofessional”, “bush league”, and “might get himself or one of his teammates hurt.”

The Lilly jackets were made by taping Lilly on the back of some of the players’ jackets and were made when the fans were chanting “Lil-ly!”

After he struck out Terrence Long, he pumped his fist a few times and slapped his right hand on his thigh. Some of the A’s, notably Miguel Tejada, Chris Singleton, Scott Hatteberg, and Tim Hudson thought that he was pointing to his crotch and thrusting it towards the A’s dugout. I like to say goofy white guy celebrating, but their perception counts more then mine.

To those last four events, I would like to say why the double standard? Why were the Red Sox wrong to yell back at a fan who, as it turns out was mocking their teammate? Why are Lilly jackets bushleague, but Eric Byrnes shoving Jason Varitek not? Why is Lowe slapping his thigh obscene, and Tejada striking out and screaming “fuck!” not? Why is Manny crushing a ball to left and watching it go, and then celebrating by pointing to his teammates wrong, but Jermaine Dye watching his blast, and pointing to his teammates on the third baseline right?

I’ll tell you why there is a double standard. Because of pandering to the Fundamentalists. The Red Sox are against the orthodoxy. They have fun when playing. They involve the fans as much as possible, and they look like they enjoy playing the game. Baseball isn’t a job to the Boston Red Sox. They show their intensity by head shaving and pointing to the dugout, rather then shoving catchers and yelling fuck loud enough for a camera to pick up. To these Boston Red Sox, baseball isn’t a job, it’s a passion.

Chicago Cubs vs. Florida Marlins
Team

      W  L  RS  RA  AVE  OB% SLUG  PkR  PkH   DE    OECHC  88 74 722 680 .259 .323 .416  979 1003 .710  .977                  FLA  91 71 751 692 .266 .333 .421  954  900 .704  .973

Lineups
Chicago Cubs
C Damian Miller/Paul Bako
1b Eric Karros/Randell Simon
2b Mark Grudzielanek
3b Aramis Ramirez
ss Alex Gonzalez
lf Moises Alou
cf Kenny Lofton
rf Sammy Sosa

Florida Marlins
C Ivan Rodriguez
1b Derrek Lee
2b Luis Castillo
3b Mike Lowell/Miguel Cabrera
ss Alex Gonzalez
lf Miguel Cabrera/Jeff Conine
cf Juan Pierre
rf Juan Encarnacion

Starting Pitching

       IP    K/9  BB/9  HR/9  WHIP  ERA  RsSvdCHC  838.0  9.13  3.47  0.75  1.21  3.20 206.43 FLA  684.7  7.58  3.01  0.78  1.28  3.59 139.13

Bullpens

      IP    K/9  BB/9  HR/9   WHIP  ERA  RsSvdCHC  421.0  8.81  4.17  1.03  1.35  4.15  69.11FLA  462.0  6.64  4.03  0.80  1.45  4.34  42.24

Games

Oct 7 @ CHC Josh Beckett    vs. C. Zambrano   8:00pmOct  8  @ CHC Brad Penny    vs. Mark Prior    8:00pm Oct 10  @ FLA Kerry Wood    vs. Mark Redman   8:15pmOct 11  @ FLA Matt Clement  vs. D. Willis     7:30pm Oct 12  @ FLA TBA           vs. TBA           4:00pmOct 14  @ CHC TBA           vs. TBA           8:00pmOct 15  @ CHC TBA           vs. TBA           8:00pm

Thoughts
In the division series, DeweyVision beat me 3-1. The system will have no such luck in the LCS.

We all know the important storylines in this series, the Cubs are close to unhittable, and the Marlins have youthful energy, in whatever Gammonisan dreamworld that was deemed important in.

The Marlins are very slanted towards the right. The Cubs have a lot of right handed pitching. And the Cubs throw hard. Very hard. Hard enough that the best offense in the National League was brought to its knees. My gut tells me that there will be alot of strikeouts sandwiched around Juan Pierre bunt singles.

A big point against the Cubs though, is the complete inablity to avoid making outs. Dusty Baker, who is immune from criticism I think, stacked his bench with non-hitters who have alot of speed, or make contact, because that “makes things happen.” There will be no Hee Choi on the roster. Insted his polar opposite, Randell Simon, is. Simon’s entire value is in batting average, so if you can get him to swing at a bad pitch (and he probably will, either singling, or getting himself out). Tom Goodwin is the same way, except he used to be able to play defense, and he can steal a base.

In the Youthful Exuberance department, there are two guys on the Marlins who wear their hats askew, and wear baggy uniforms. Juan Pierre and Dontrelle Willis are fun as hell to watch, in the complete opposite way that Simon is fun to watch. Pierre uses his speed to fuel a popgun offense, and Willis is the most baffling pitcher since Joe Piscipo swept the nation and FernandoMania was used to sell out Chavez Ravine.

All this means is that it will be fun to watch. A dalliance in speedy, strikeout baseball that will serve as a distraction to the baseball war happening in thee Junior Circut. The teams will look good, but baseball isn’t about selling jeans, its about scoring runs and preventing them. Neither team scores much, but the Cubs prevent them better.

Jeff’s Pick (1-3): CHC 4-2
DeweyVision (3-1): FLA 4-3

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Much like the regular season, tonight the Red Sox flew by the seat of their pants.

Right now, its about 15 minutes after game time, and I’m still wearing my backwards Sox hat.

Now is a time for celebration…Sox win! Sox win! Sox win!

Heroes
Manny Ramirez BOS
Three run bomb off Zito. Got bitched about for watching the shot’s majesty. I think some people hate sports. I’m not one of them.

Jason Varitek BOS
Started the Red Sox scoring. For all the credit my illegitimate brother David Ortiz gets for clutch hits, I think Varitek might be the best hitter the Sox had this year in the “clutch” department.

Derek Lowe BOS
Lately, he’s been pitching like he’s had both testicles his whole life. I think one day I want to have a beer with Derek Lowe, just to thank him for this series, and to apologize for me thinking he was born with female gentalia.

Goats
Not on this day

Turning point
When Grady Little actually went by matchup and the hot hand, rather then ride his horse. Williamson was obviously wound too tight, and Derek Lowe provided the Vicadin for the soul.

Take that, conventional wisdom!
Going with Lowe. A lot of guys would have either rode Williamson or intentionally walked Melhuse. To his credit, Grady Little made the successful decision. To be honest, I’m too euphoric to even realize if it was the right one or not.

Jeff’s Take
What do you think? See you Wednesday!

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Now that there are only five teams left…four after tonight, I figured now is as good a time as any to review the completed Division Serieses. Also, I got an e-mail this morning that says that it’s Adam Melhuse. I’d like to thank the e-mailer for clearing up and then destroying the joke.

Marlins 3, Giants 1
Series MVP – Ivan Rodriguez FLA
All he did was hit, and play defense. For all the talk of the energy the Marlins have, it was Ivan Rodriguez who was the stabilizing force behind the Fish. IRod holding on to the ball throughout the bevy of collisions really solidified his place among the “Greats of the League Division Series!”. I love the Wacky Card.

Turning point
When Jack McKeon showed how much game two meant to the Marlins by bringing in Pavano and Willis. All the momentum Alou’s Giants had after the Jason Schmidt beauty was wasted by the time Dontrelle Willis took the mound.

Jeff’s take
Because of classes, I didn’t really get a chance to see any of the Florida wins. The highlights have been shown ad naseum since, so I’ll spare you the unoriginal rehashing.

All I have to say is that Barry Bonds wasn’t allowed to become a factor, only notching nine at bats. Edgaro Alfonzo did what he could to knock Bonds around the sacks after the eight walks, but no one else in the Giants’ line up hit. What cost the Giants the series was the inability for the Giants hitters to make adjustments to the Marlins, and ended up overcompinsating with some boneheaded baserunning (Snow trying to score on a single to left, Grissom trying to steal third). The only plus that came out of San Francisco is that Bonds said he would be back in spring training.

DeweyVision vs Jeff DV 1-0

Cubs 3, Braves 2
Series MVP – Kerry Wood CHC
Two starts, two absolutely dominant pitching performances against the National League’s best offense. Truthfully, this recognition could go to Mark Prior or Moises Alou, but I’m going with Wood.

Turning Point
In game five, when Alex Gonzalez homered off Mike Hampton. Wood was too strong, the Braves hitters too impatient. The Brave hitters didn’t do anything to help their cause. Despite scoring a run, they just didn’t have the horses to come back from the “insurmountable” two run Cubs lead.

Jeff’s Take
The Braves were out pitched, out hit, and out classed, whatever that means. Despite the high win total, this was the weakest Braves’ team in years, and the Cubs exploited it. I’m not sure the Cubs are really good enough to make it in to the World Series, but they matched up well with the Braves.

By the way, if the Red Sox happen to win today, and then the Cubs and Sox make it to the World Series, I bet it’ll be one day before I am sick of the “The world will end during game 7, har har har.” Bite me, asshole.

DeweyVision vs. Jeff DV 2-0

Yankees 3, Twins 1
Series MVP – Derek Jeter NYY
Jeter is topping off his best year since 1999 by playing well in the postseason. His defense is still terrible, but at least he’s putting the ash on the ball. Jeter is an annoying hitter to face because he seems to take away the inside corner with that dive across the plate, and then he flicks the outside pitch into right field. It’s annoying baseball, but smart hitting. This is a note for Yankee fans who might stumble on this site: Jeter is a good baseball player, but not because of some mystic ability to “make the big play” or “rise to the occasion”. The Yankees win because they are a good team, not because of “character and chemistry” or Jeter’s “leadership and class.” The sooner that the majority of announcers and fans know this, the sooner Yankee fans will stop being pidgeonholed as arrogant pricks.

Turning point
When game 2 started, the series was pretty much over. The Twins scored three runs in three games and were sent home by the bullies of New York. The Twins did well to take the first game, but I never really thought the series was in danger.

Jeff’s Take
I’ve covered most of what I think in the last two sections, but I need to rant about the quality of broadcasting so far. Normally tolerable announcers seem to turn into giggling school girls when it comes to doing Yankee games. That isn’t the annoying part, the annoying part is that they gush over the wrong things.

The Yankees won out the series due to hitting the Twins when their starters started getting tired, and their pitching holding down a mediocre offense. The did not win because of good defense or “Yankee Mystique”. When the Yankees started hitting Radke in the seventh inning of game two, it wasn’t because of “Yankee Magic” as Joe Buck said, but because they are good hitters hitting off a starter who was up to 85 pitches.

As for defense, the Yankees are bar-none the worst defensive team in the postseason. Yesterday there were two plays that caught my attention, that were explained away by David Justice (who was wearing his Yankee jersey under the suit I think). The first was a Derek Jeter diving play on groundball up the middle. As most people who have seen Jeter can probably guess, the ball rolled under his glove into center for a single. Justice said the reason he didn’t make the play is because he was worried about his shoulder injury from the beginning of the year. This is, of course, a crock of shit. There are probably 15 starting shortstop who make that play without diving at all. Jeter took three steps to his left and then dove.

The next was the (Justice) “extremely athletic” play Matsui made on a fly to left. He made a running catch, cutting in front of Bernie Williams, who had the same idea Godzilla had. In non-Justice land, this is called a “routine catch”. In JusticeWorld, he says how Matsui is an above average left fielder for making that play, despite the fact that Mastui cut off a sprinting Bernie Williams, and avoided a crash by about a foot. It was a stupid play, but whenever Jeff Brantley brought it up, Justice talked about his athleticism.

I think this is why a lot of fans hate the Yankees, and by extention, their fans. They are almost never criticized by the national announcers, and even when they are, the Yankees have to do something terribly bad. Things like Jeter and Williams defense have deteriorated to the point of liability, but they are still called average to above average. People like hearing about their team doing well, so Yankee fans buy into it, and parrot what they hear on the air. It comes off as arrogance, and that causes a rift between the Yankee fan and the other fans. As an extention, it cheapens the fact that the Yankees have won 26 championships. When Smithers is kissing Burns’ ass all the time, people forget how rich he is.

DeweyVision vs. Jeff DV 2-1

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Going back to Cali – Notorious BIG

When the lala hits ya lyrics just splits ya
Head so hard, that ya hat can’t fit ya
Either I’m witcha or against ya
Format venture, back through that maze I sent ya
Talkin to the rap inventor
Nigga wit the game tight, Bic that flame right
Spell my name right, B-I, Double-G, I-E
Iced out lights out, me and Cease-a-Leo
Gettin head from some chick he know
See it’s all about the cheddar, nobody do it better
Going back to Cali, strictly for the weather
Women, and the weed — sticky green
No seeds bitch please, Poppa ain’t soft
Dead up in the Hood, ain’t no love lost
Got me mixed up, you drunk them licks up
Mad cause I got my dick sucked
and my balls licked, forfeit, the game is mine
I’ma spell my name one more time, check it
Its the, N-O, T-O, R-I, O
U-S, you just, lay down, slow
Recognize a real Don when you see Juan/one
Sippin on booze in the House of Blues

I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali

If I got to choose a coast I got to choose the East
I live out there, so don’t go there
But that don’t mean a nigga can’t rest in the West
See some nice breasts in the West
Smoke some nice sess in the West, y’all niggaz is a mess
Thinkin I’m gon stop, givin L.A. props
All I got is beef with those that violate me
I shall annihilate thee
Case closed, suitcase filled with clothes
Linens and things, I begin things
People start to flash, 818′s, 213′s
313′s, B.I.G.
Frequently floss hoes at Roscoe’s
If I wanna squirt her, take her to Fatburger
Spend about a week on Venice Beach
Sippin Crist-o, with some freaks from Frisco

I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali

Cali got gunplay, models on the runway
Scream Biggie Biggie gimme One More Chance
I be whippin on the freeway, the NYC way
On the celly-celly with my homeboy Lance
Pass hash from left to right
Only got five blunts left to light, I’m set tonight
Paid a visit to Versace stores
Bet she suck until I ain’t got no more, only in L.A.
Bust on bitches be-lly, rub it in they tummy
Lick it, say it’s yummy, then fuck yo’ man
Fuck your plan, is it to rock the Tri-State?
Almost gold, 5 G’s at show gate
Or do you wanna see about seven digits
Fuck hoes exquisite, Cali, great place to visit

I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali
I’m going going, back back, to Cali Cali

As an aside from blunts and hoes, I heard this song right after Bill Mueller caught the final out. It’s great. Right now, the Dewey’s House enclave of the Red Sox Nation is brimming with confidence, joy, and a Greek calzone from Leo’s Pizza. I honestly feel so rejuvenated be the last two games that I could pitch an inning for the Sox if they need me.

Heroes
Dominican Duo BOS
Despite playing invisible for three games, Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz won the game for the Red Sox. Manny had two hits, including a huge single off Foulke that set the stage for Ortiz. Ortiz broke out of his 0-16 slump with a double that drove in Nomar and Ramirez. Buy your David Ortiz Fan Club t-shirts right here.

Scott Williamson BOS
Williamson’s troubles with his shoulder and control pale in comparison to the hell that he must be going through with a sick infant. He picked the exact right time to become untouchable. I just want to point out that a healthy, focused Williamson might be the best pitcher on the Red Sox, save for Pedro.

Adam Melhuese OAK
I don’t know what else a guy has to do to get his team to win. Melhuease went three for four, essentially having his way with non-Williamson pitchers. Milhouse might also have won the award for most obscure A.

Goats
Keith Foulke/Ricardo Rincon OAK
Showing the flamablity that the Red Sox bullpen gets credit for, the best Oakland had to offer was less then a 38 year old knuckleballing Tiger cast off. Maybe Rincon has Todd Walker on his fantasy team, and want him to finish off this year strong so he can trade him for sweet, sweet draftpicks. Maybe that’s just me.

Ken Macha OAK
Throwing Foulke for 51 pitches wasn’t such a good idea, was it now. Macha has been a good manager, but I think he’s falling into Gradyland. Kind of like when you’re playing a monkey in chess, you don’t try so hard and the monkey beats you. Again, maybe it’s just me.

John Burkett+Grady Little BOS
The combination of the two made this game much closer then it should have been. Little did a good job with the game, save for leaving John Burkett in for an inning too long. John Burkett gets credit for showing his inner Burkettness.

Turning Point
When Grady Little brought Tim Wakefield in the game. Wakefield and Williamson allowed two base runners in 3 2/3 innings, shutting down Oakland completely and giving the Red Sox offense time to click into gear for the first time all series.

Take that, conventional wisdom!
The way to beat the Red Sox is to shut down their bats and expose their underbelly of a bullpen. This series, the bullpen has a 1.23 era, and is 2-0. Williamson, and Timlin will soon have songs sang about them by the children who were at these two games at Fenway.

Jeff’s Take
I though that coming into Boston, the A’s needed to sweep in order to win the series. I felt that a fired up Boston Red Sox team would be tough to beat once they got the taste of victory.

That first taste was last night, courtesy of Trot Nixon’s bat. This afternoon, more gooey winning goodness was shoved down our throats off the bats of Nomar Garciaparra, Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz, Todd Walker, and Johnny Damon. This Red Sox offense actually won the same way they put up so many runs during the regular season. No one hitter takes over a game. An analogy would be that the Damon/Walker home runs were paper cuts, and then the Oritz double would be the dunk in the salt water tank.

The Sox got some luck when Tim Hudson left the game due to oblique strain in the second. Then they hit an overmatched Sparks, a befuddled Rincon, and a overworked Foulke. The Sox won this game without much help from the Green Elephants.

You, enlightened fan, can of course not look past tomorrow night. For all the talk of “who do you want in a 5-game series?” that question now becomes “Who do you want in a one game series?” I’ll take my chances with four day rest Pedro Martinez, over three day rest Barry Zito.

The storylines for this one are actually pretty nifty. You have a resurgent and rejuvenated Sox team, a reeling A’s team, the duel of last year’s top Cy Young finishers, and some bulletin board material courtesy of Tim Hudson.

In a futile attempt to think I can actually change the outcome of professional baseball games, here is Hudson’s quote:
I think we have the better team,” said Tim Hudson. “We have the best left-hander in the league going tomorrow.”

But Boston believes it has the best right-hander.

“It’s all right,” Hudson said, “I’ll take Barry Zito over Pedro Martinez any day.”

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I just got home from this game now, after spending the night in Massachusetts. All I can say, is with no hyperbole, that Nixon’s home run is the greatest feat in the history of mankind.

Heroes
Trot Nixon BOS
Duh.

Red Sox Bullpen
I thought these guys couldn’t get anyone out? Timlin for three innings, Williamson for one. Excellent pitching kept the Oakland hitters not only at bay, but overmatched. Mike Timlin’s performance might rank as one of the ballsiest pitching performances out of the bullpen all year.

Jason Varitek BOS
He made two heads up plays during the game, that really saved the game for the Red Sox. On the first interference call, when Hernandez threw the ball to Chavez, alot of guys would have tryed for the plate again, but Varitek essentially drew the interference call by running back to third. The second is blocking the plate when Byrnes tryed to score. He didn’t get caught up in the macho “I look like a rough surfer” Eric Byrnes shove to go and get the ball and tag Byrnes.

Goats
A’s defense
Normally sure handed, the A’s ‘fence was terrible last night. However, the only one that can really complain is Ted Lilly. The Sox only scored one run despite the extra four outs.

Red Sox offense
Welcome back! There were four well hit balls by the Red Sox last night. Johnny Damon’s first inning double, a David Ortiz fly out in the sixth, Doug Mirabelli’s singling in the eleventh, and Nixon’s homer. Remember when they set the AL record for slugging?

Eric Byrnes OAK
Nice shove tough guy. Try touching the plate next time rather then pick fights with a catcher and then limping towards the dugout. Carlton Fisk would have tagged him and then strangled him to death with his batting gloves.

Turning Point
Um…probably Nixon’s home run.

Take that, conventional wisdom!
Chad Bradford is fast becoming one of the most dominant bullpen arms in baseball. He has made many righthanders look absolutely foolish all year. Yet people still think he’s garbage because he throws underhand and because he only throws 83. These are also the same people who don’t realize that Byung-Hyun Kim is an excellent closer.

Jeff’s Take
The game speaks for it self. Trot Nixon hit a homerun to win. Ted Lilly, and Derek Lowe pitched outstanding baseball. The umpires made correct, but controversial calls in the game (Umpire head Steve Palermo explained the rule and lauded the umpires).

Insted I will talk about the two non-baseball controversies.

On the jackets of Doug Mirabelli, Lou Merloni, Tim Wakefield, and Adrian Brown was some masking tape. The tape sayed Lil–ly, after the A’s pitcher Ted Lilly. The crowd loved it. Sean McAdam didn’t. I don’t care. The game is supposed to be fun, and stuff like that is fun. It isn’t “bush league” and it isn’t “disrespecting your opponent”. It’s just something goofy that these Red Sox did with the fans. Call this a pre-emptive strike against all those who like to pretend that baseball is more important then it is.

The next is actually more serious. Reliever Byung-hyun Kim was introduced and booed pretty hard. Kim tipped his cap, and then flipped the bird to the booing fans. This is obviously an obsence gesture, that shouldn’t be taken lightly. But isn’t the cause just as obscene as the result? The fact that Red Sox fans booed a guy durning his introduction is shameless, and I was actually embarrassed to be a fan there. Mike Timlin was embarrassed to be his teammate. None of it means anything. I actually think that it’s pretty immature to boo a person, rather then a play. Kim shouldn’t of responded as he did, but there is no reason to expect more of him then the idiots that booed him.

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Some quick notes today…

I ended up getting a ticket to the Red Sox game today. There is only one way I could be more pumped, and I dare not say it, lest I jinx the band and they break up.

I’ll have one of those in depth thingies tomorrow, with my usual charm and panache. Or I’ll just drop some f-bombs.

DeweyVision vs. Jeff
Marlins 2, Giants 1
Jeff: Giants
DV: Marlins

Cubs 2, Braves 1
Jeff: Braves
DV: Cubs

Twins 1, Yankees 1
Jeff: Yankees
DV: Twins

A’s 2, Red Sox 0
Jeff: A’s
DV: Sox

I’m beginning to hate DeweyVision.

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What a depressing game…

Heroes
Barry Zito OAK
Barry the Weird fought through his early struggles to pitch a gem. His hook was absolutely nasty once the fourth inning started. When Zito is on, he is nearly unhittable. He also only walked two guys, and struck out nine. I don’t know if that is a testament to his goofy curve ball or a hacking Red Sox offense.

Eric Byrnes OAK
Surfer boy knocked in two runs with a double to left. From the nine hole, he was 2-4 with that double. Considering he was 0-second half, it sure was annoying to see him actually be able to put some wood on the ball.

Johnny Damon BOS
Really the only Red Sox to contribute to the offense. Damon’s automatic double knocked in Mirabelli, for the single Sox run. I hate the auto. double rule, because Damon was gliding halfway between second and first when the ball bounced over the wall. He would have had a triple with Nomar up. Sad.

Goats
Tim Wakefield BOS
Not really fair to call him a goat, since he didn’t do much wrong except no be able to control an uncontrollable pitch. Some of his knucklers just stayed up in the second and they got hit. If not for the second inning, then Wakefield gets the win, and is a hero.

Red Sox offense
Guys? Guys? Where are you? Guys?

Jeff
I watched both games. I can only blame myself.

Turning Point
In the top of the third, Mirabelli was in, Damon was on second and Nomar walked. Walker grounded out to third, and Manny hit a line drive into the left field gap that was stabbed by Guillen. The Sox never threatened after that.

Take that. conventional wisdom!
Grady Little hit Nomar second again, despite the fact that Walker and Ortiz really can’t hit lefties. That left Nomar and Manny with absolutely to fall back on. Nomar and Manny: 2-6, 2 walks. Ortiz and Walker: 0-8.

Ken Macha decided that Keith Foulke’s (free agent this offseason) arm was made more of rubber then anything as he pitched in the ninth despite a four run lead. Foulke wasn’t very sharp, but only gave up a single to Mueller.

Jeff’s take
I don’t think the season is over.

I prepared myself to be able to drop these two games in Oakland, as long as the Red Sox themselves stay up, and realize they own in Fenway. It’s looking promising, so far, as Derek Lowe’s little hissy fit on the mound about walking Terrence Long is the kind of mentality this team needs.

As for game 2, it was a horrible game to watch. The last time I saw something like this was June 20-21, when the Red Sox played the Phillies. The end result of that extra inning one run loss, and a uninspired effort was a five game winning streak, culminating in a 25-8 battle against Florida.

I don’t fault Grady’s strategy in this game. Psychologically, moving Walker from the three hole might have been a bad move, considering the night he had the other night, and one of his homeruns was against a tough lefty. I’m just saying a real case could be made that that move was counterproductive. I just don’t agree with that argument.

Ken Macha, who I think has done an outstanding job as A’s manager, gave me a head scratcher when he brought Foulke into a four run game the day after he threw 51 pitches. Conventional wisdom is that you need your closer for just those situations. The A’s team however might have been better served if they used one of their lesser bullpen arms.

This series isn’t over, no matter what some “fan” sites and curly haired Boston Globe columnists tell you. Sox just need to play like they did to get here.

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There was comedy. Doldmoose34 from SOSH posted this and it made me laugh out loud. I changed the names from management to players cause I wanted to, and dammit, its my blog.

Manny: War’s over, man. Zito dropped the big one.
Millar: Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Nomar: Germans?
Walker: Forget it, he’s rolling.
Millar: And it ain’t over now. ‘Cause when the goin’ gets tough…
[thinks hard]
Millar: the tough get goin’! Who’s with me? Let’s go!
[runs out, alone; then returns]
Millar: What the fuck happened to the Sox I used to know? Where’s the spirit? Where’s the guts, huh? “Ooh, we’re afraid to go with you Millar, we might get in trouble.” Well just kiss my ass from now on! Not me! I’m not gonna take this. Hudson, he’s a dead man! Zito, dead! Lilly–
Nomar: Dead! Millar’s right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part.
Millar: We’re just the guys to do it.
Lowe: Let’s do it.

I’ll have the game review a little bit later.

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Here are some away messages that graced my buddy list this morning:

excruciating…
a f*cking bunt…..
what a let down
unbelievable….AND….David Justice is a Moron!
SOX….time to cowboy up….
A bunt?! Are you kidding me?! Who bunts?!…. friggen A’s…GO RED SOX!!!

and then my favorite:
A’s just delaying the inevitable…
By the way, who’s winning the other series?

Anyway, here now the thoughts on the game:

Heroes
Ramon Hernandez OAK
He saw Mueller playing back with the bases loaded. The bunt was just ballsy, heads up baseball. Ken Macha said he did it on his own, and the Athletics have him to thank for their one game lead.

Eurbiel Durazo OAK
Key hits in the third and ninth of two of Boston’s best pitchers drove in three runs. For what its worth, Durazo’s patience at the plate stymied Pedro Martinez, and was a key part in driving him from the game after seven.

Todd Walker BOS
Probably the player of the game. Went 4-5, with two homers, one of them off one of the toughest lefties in the game. Walker’s play in the last month or so is starting to make me feel bad about the death threats from July and August. Heeeeeeeeyyyy Walkaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Goats
Grady Little BOS
God, where to I begin? The vomit is at the top of my throat thinking about it. Just see below.

Manny Ramirez BOS
I love Manny like he was my autistic Dominican brother, but come on. Manny went 0-5, including ending innings with the bases loaded once and with runners on 1st and 3rd once. The only think that is keeping me from going into all out rant mode is that he busted his ass on Kapler’s grounder to Chavez in the 12th, and almost beat him to the bag.

ESPN
Not only were Brantley and Justice terrible last night, but they cut to the pregame for the Red Sox and left the Bear Cubs fans watching that instead of their game. To top it off, we are subjected to Joe Morgan today. Why doesn’t ESPN just put Tim McCarver, George Steinbrenner, and Satan in the booth together? Plus their game story on this game sucks. I’m actually stealing their sidebar content to save you guys from having to go to the site.

Turning point
When Grady Little decided it was better to have your Game 3 starter come in the game to pitch then one of your relievers.

Take that, conventional wisdom!
Keith Foulke pitched great for three innings and 51 pitches. Brantley said how stupid it was, because the A’s lost their closer…in the 9th.

Jeff’s Take
Grady Little blew this game.

He blew it long. He blew it hard.

I will itemize the managerial decisions I questioned:
*Starting Nixon in right when the calf was obviously bothering him.
I was wrong here. Nixon is still a better defensive right fielder with a hurt calf then anyone but Brown and Kapler, and his bat was needed against Hudson. Having Kapler or Brown against Hudson scares the shit out of me.

*Not pinch running for David Ortiz in the 8th.
Lessee…you need insurance runs, and you keep your slowest guy at 1st. Mueller doubled and Oritzzle only made it to third. If the worry was burning players, then Grady shouldn’t have wasted two hitting for Nixon with one out. Adrian Brown shouldn’t hit in the playoffs. There is a reason he is Adrian Brown.

*Pulling Byung-Hyun Kim in the 9th.
This boggled my mind. Embree was called on to face Eurbiel Durazo despite two facts. The first is that Durazo hits lefties better then righties. The second is that Kim retires lefties at a better rate then Embree. Grady, if you don’t trust Kim and you insist on having a closer, then make Williamson/Embree/Timlin your closer. Don’t jerk BK around. Kim retired Hernandez with a flyout, walked Billy McMillion, hit Chris Singleton, and then struck out Mark Ellis. Grady actually waited for Kim to get an out before the call. Horrible decision. Sauerbeck or Williamson would have been better choices.

*Bringing in Derek Lowe in the 11th
Listen, managing a bullpen can’t be this hard. You have a long man in your bully, plus a game 4 starter. If you are worried about experience, then bring in Burkett. If you are worried about sucking, then bring in Arroyo. I don’t know how anyone can defend bringing Derek Lowe out of the bullpen for the first time in two years to pitch the extra innings of a playoff game. For the record, of Lowe’s four walks in 1.7 innings, one was intentional. Williamson could have worked the 11th as well.

*Intentionally walking Terrence Long
If you look at the blog Beaneball, they have a Jail Terrence Long graphic. The reasoning is that Long is a horrible hitter. Now, since Grady was in the mood to micromanage last night, he could have pulled Lowe, brought in Sauerbeck. Sauerbeck still can get lefties out, and if you walk him, so what? You were going to intentionally walk him anyway. Then you can bring in Bronson Arroyo for Hernandez. Or you can pitch to him when he has a 0-1 count. DON’T INTENTIONALLY WALK TERRENCE LONG. There were two outs, and runners on first and second. Chavez stole third, then Hatteberg went to second on defensive indifference. With a 0-1 count, Grady decided the best course of action would be to walk one of the A’s worst hitters. This is the winner for bonehead move of the game.

I really don’t have the energy or patience to talk about the Giants and Bear Cubs falling into ties against their opponets. Just so all of my readers know, just because ESPN (Joe Morgan today will harp on this) says the A’s and Braves won their games with smallball doesn’t mean that’s the way to play (or true). The A’s won on a fluke suicide squeeze in the 12th inning, and the Braves still had 13 hits. The Marlins, Giants, Cubs, and Twins won with Bigball this weekend. Don’t listen to the myth propagation.

4pm today in the Al Davis Egoplex…Tim Wakefield vs. Patrick Duffy nephew Barry Zito. Insert Step by Step joke here.

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This is being reported other places, but here is the Red Sox Playoff Roster:

Arroyo, Bronson
Brown, Adrian
Burkett, John
Damon, Johnny
Embree, Alan
Garciaparra, Nomar
Jackson, Damian
Kapler, Gabe
Kim, Byung-Hyun
Lowe, Derek
Martinez, Pedro
McCarty, David
Merloni, Lou
Millar, Kevin
Mirabelli, Doug
Mueller, Bill
Nixon, Trot
Ortiz, David
Ramirez, Manny
Sauerbeck, Scott
Timlin, Mike
Varitek, Jason
Wakefield, Tim
Walker, Todd
Williamson, Scott

I don’t know why I did last name first. I did get a chill up my spine when I typed Pedro’s name in. I hope thats a good sign.

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Sometimes I hate Blogger. I spent the last 40 minutes writing some good stuff about the games last night, and I accidentally hit the wrong button, and poof…all gone. You guys miss out on good playoffs, so I will just write my notes in and you will have to insert your own jokes.

MIN 3 NYY 1
Good pitching from Min. Santana had leg cramp. LeCroy single, scored on Hunter triple. Hunter got a triple? Why no error on Bernie? Soriano overthrow scores Hunter. Stewart robbed Matsui of extra bases. Man on first, Godzilla=double play. Do intangebles have a shelf life?

SFG 2, FLA 0
Schmidt pitched great. Cabrera is a good leftfielder playing third. Walking Bonds in 8th is stupid. Alfonzo doubles in Bonds. I hate all teams that walk Bonds with 2 out and no one on. Excellent job by Berman, Sutcliffe, and Gwynn.

CHC 4, ATL 2
I hate Atlanta. Fans are dumb. Tomahawk Chop is racist and stolen from Fla. St. Alot of Cubs fans there. Thought Kerry Wood homered in the 5th. Dusty Baker left him in when he was clearly out of gas. Farnsworth throws unnaturally hard. Braves were completely hadcuffed by Wood, but could have hit Borowski, lost all ability to hit smartly. Vinny Castilla and Alex Gonzalez are horrible.

See, that wasn’t as much fun.

I usually write my posts at school, in one of the computer labs on campus. I live in a house off campus, so I walk into the lab from the parking lot. In the short walk, I noticed something I never did before. Everyone is wearing Red Sox hats. And not the trendy “I don’t want to bend the brim” garbage, but actual, worn Red Sox hats. Not only that, there is a certain hum to campus now. People are excited about the game tonight.

I don’t have any more analysis in me. Sorry folks, but I will tell you something. I haven’t been this excited for a Red Sox game since Game 3 in the 1999 ALCS. I actually don’t mind the start time being 10 because it builds the drama all day, and my Yankee fan housemate will be asleep. Really, 10 is probably the best time they could have started the game, because of the other games they have on the docket. However, Thursdays game should be in prime time on the East Coast. Fox likes the Yankees better from a money making stand point. Sigh. Oh well, I’ll be a happy zombie tomorrow.

Pedro Martinez vs. Tim Hudson at 10pm tonight. I can taste it already.