The 2009 MLB Postseason Thread: New York Yankees, Champions

[Hobbes]

Okay, so now that the playoff teams are set, let's use this thread for discussions about the postseason playoff races.

[luvdembravos]

Good idea for a thread.

For what it’s worth, my predictions are:

PHL over COL
STL over LAD
LAA over BOS
NYY over MINN

STL over PHL
NYY over LAA

NYY over STL in 5

Hopefully, now that I've picked the Yankees to go all the way, I have jinxed them.

[Middle Man]

PHL over COL
LAD over STL
LAA over BOS
NYY over MINN

PHL over LAD
NYY over LAA

NYY over PHL in 6

double jinx

[Lauren T.]

As usual, I'm cheering for the players I like over whole teams. I don't care about the Rockies or the Angels -- every other team has at least one player I'm very excited to watch!

There are 3 games on TBS today. I sure wish I could be home to watch them all!

ETA: Does anyone know where to find which broadcasters are calling which game? I wouldn't mind listening to Joe Simpson, and I'm not looking forward to Chip Caray.

ETAA: Announcers (http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2009/10/your-full-yet-conditional-mlb.html)

[absintheofmalaise]

I would pay to listen to Ron Darling dissect a game. He is the only reason I would have the sound on during a game that Chip Caray is announcing. He needs his tongue removed.
Read Darling's book, The Complete Game.

Orsillo is a pretty good announcer and Verducci does a good job when they let him.

For predictions:
Cards over LAD
Phils over Col
Sox over LAofAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
MFYs over Twins

Phils over Cards
Sox over MFYs

Sox over Phils

And I do admit to a Sox bias

[Chris_Moderato]

Here's my take, for what it's worth:

St. Louis over Los Angeles
Philadelphia over Colorado
Angels over Boston
New York over Minnesota

St. Louis over Philadelphia
New York over LA

St. Louis over New York

[Hobbes]

Here's my take, for what it's worth:

St. Louis over Los Angeles
Philadelphia over Colorado
Angels over Boston
New York over Minnesota

St. Louis over Philadelphia
New York over LA

St. Louis over New York
These are my picks as well, although I might pick the Yanks over the Cards in the WS.

[Hobbes]

Chip Caray's hair is all gel'd up.

[Middle Man]

Here's my take, for what it's worth:

St. Louis over Los Angeles
Philadelphia over Colorado
Angels over Boston
New York over Minnesota

St. Louis over Philadelphia
New York over LA

St. Louis over New York

These are my picks as well, although I might pick the Yanks over the Cards in the WS.

Dang. Apparenlty those picks are worth quite a lot. I'm betting my life savings. Well, not really. I could never bet on the Cardinals. They might be my least favorite team after the 2 NYers. The Marlins have been moving steadily up the list too.

[JanShan12]

Cardinals swept by Dodgers. All of St. Louis (beside me) is in mourning. :)

[Hobbes]

Cardinals swept by Dodgers.
I didn't see that happening.

[JanShan12]

I didn't see that happening.

Me either, but glad it did. :)

[Dreamscape]

My preseason pick was Red Sox over Dodgers.

Still have hope for one of them...

[Wahoo]

I'm a little late to this party, so all I am saying is that the Yankees are winning this thing. Probably a Yankees-Dodgers World Series.

[bravos4evr]

I'm actually gonna call this an all california world series. The Angels have the Yankees number pretty good.

Angels over Dodgers in 6

[-Dr. Brave-]

I'm actually gonna call this an all california world series. The Angels have the Yankees number pretty good.

Angels over Dodgers in 6

Yippee! I'll get to stay up until 4am to watch each game!

[Dreamscape]

It's amazing how bad baseball ratings are getting for the postseason and they still think starting a game on the east coast at 8:00 is a good idea.

[Middle Man]

PHL over COL
LAD over STL
LAA over BOS
NYY over MINN

PHL over LAD
NYY over LAA

NYY over PHL in 6

double jinx

Hey, do I win a prize yet?

[Hobbes]

Hey, do I win a prize yet?

I think there's a McCann jersey floating around somewhere.

[Middle Man]

I think there's a McCann jersey floating around somewhere.


Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm still feelling pretty confident with the remainder of my picks too, although if I was granted one post-season wish, I would wave a magic wand and have the Angels whip the Stankees.

[Hobbes]

Please, please don't make this a Stankees-Philthies World Series. It's very difficult to root against both teams.

[Hobbes]

Yay, Dodgers win game 2.

[Devil Wears Prado]

I'm a second-hand Yankee fan. I would love to see the Yankees face the Dodgers in the World Series! Torre and Manny vs. the Yankees!

[Dreamscape]

There is something I just absolutely love to see about Joba struggling.

And I'll say this about Fox...they get some of the best camera work in television.

[Hobbes]

Worst part about the Yankees being in the postseason is the absolute love-fest the broadcasters have over Jeter every game.

[JanShan12]

The umpires have been HORRIBLE this post season! I can't get over some of their obvious mistakes!

[Hobbes]

Please, please don't make this a Stankees-Philthies World Series. It's very difficult to root against both teams.
Not looking good. :no:

[-Dr. Brave-]

The umpires have been HORRIBLE this post season! I can't get over some of their obvious mistakes!

This series has had the worst post-season umpiring since Eric Gregg in 1997.

[ScooterBrave]

Well, Yankees/Dodgers would have been worse for me. Don't like either team, but really, really hate the Yankees!

[KB 34]

If the Yankees lose the postseason was a success.

[Hobbes]

I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to root for the...*gulp*...Yankees.

[luvdembravos]

I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to root for the...*gulp*...Yankees.

Shameful.

[Hobbes]

Shameful.

Living here, I simply can't abide back-to-back wins by the Phillies. Yankees fans will be obnoxious whether they win or not. Phillies fans will be much more unbearable if they win, and I'll have to live with it every day.

[JanShan12]

I agree, Hobbes. As bad as I hate to do it, I'm rooting for the Yankees too.

[Hobbes]

Well Cliff Lee certainly had the Yankees' number tonight.

[Middle Man]

I can understand where you're coming from Hobbes, but I would root for the Cuban National team before I'd root for the Yankees.

[Chris_Moderato]

Personally, I'm hoping Philly goes up 2-0 and are out in front in Game 3 before Jim Leyritz comes out and crushes a home run late in the game, leading the Yankees to four straight wins, and snuffing out this burgeoning Philly dynasty in it's infancy.

[Dreamscape]

I'm rooting for the Senators to rise from the grave and win this World Series.

Not that I put money on that or anything...

[absintheofmalaise]

The first pitcher from my home state pitched a masterpiece. Here's to the next pitcher in this series from Arkansas ****ting the bed tonight. Go Phillies!

[Lauren T.]

AJ Burnett does not have an attractive face. Can we see Cliff Lee again soon? ;)

Also, a friend of mine works at Yankee Stadium and said Michelle Obama was there last night. Was that mentioned on the broadcast? I didn't get to see the entire game.

[Hobbes]

Also, a friend of mine works at Yankee Stadium and said Michelle Obama was there last night. Was that mentioned on the broadcast? I didn't get to see the entire game.

Yeah, she and Jill Biden accompanied Yogi Berra out to the mound to be some sort of welcoming committee for the disabled and decorated Iraq veteran who threw out the first pitch.

[luvdembravos]

Recommendation to Mrs. Obama: Don't wear pants in public.

[The Rap]

I have been watching the Series and try not to root but can't help myself. On one hand I have close friends who are Yankee fans so I want them to be happy. On the other I always have rooted against them and old habits die hard. Thing is though this is a terrific matchup which is very good from the puritan point of view. This thing should go seven gamesand the only blemish is the umpiring which does surprise me because it used to be that you earned it to umpire these games and now it looks like they were selected by lottery.

[Hobbes]

Actually, after the umpiring problems in the playoff rounds they changed the umpire selection for the WS to ensure only experienced umps were being used. But even experienced umps get calls wrong.

[The Rap]

Right but it seems like their blown calls are always at a crucial moment and they are such clearcut gaffes.

[Middle Man]

I didn't see much of game 2 but I remember thinking that the home plate ump in game 1 was excellent and I can't remember any bad calls in the field.

Has the umping gotten worse in recent years? I know there were some major screw ups in the playoffs that got all the attention, but I thought the the umping was pretty bad all season. Is it really worse, or is it just more obvious with the better technology?

I used to defend baseball umps as the best officials in any sport. It seemed like when TV showed the slo-mo replay, the umps were almost always right, even on the very close plays. It doesn't seem to be that way any more. Is it my imagination?

I'd be interested in knowing what others think.

[Hobbes]

I actually agree that calls seem to be getting worse. I wonder if the advent of technology and the umpire review process has caused them to overthink things and not trust their initial judgement as much.

[ScooterBrave]

Is it just me, or does this article (http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091101&content_id=7592608&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb) seem to be all but slathering over the Yankees? Hardly seems appropriate for a MLB site article.

[The Rap]

This series is eesentially over because there is no way the Phillies can sweep 3 from the Yanks. The reason is something we need to learn from. What truly separates the Yanks from other teams is one guy; Mariano Rivera. Just imagine what goes through the minds of the Phillies when they watch Rivera pitch while they have to watch the adventures of Brad Lidge.

[jlcct]

Mario is way better than Luidge.

[Hobbes]

This series is eesentially over because there is no way the Phillies can sweep 3 from the Yanks. The reason is something we need to learn from. What truly separates the Yanks from other teams is one guy; Mariano Rivera. Just imagine what goes through the minds of the Phillies when they watch Rivera pitch while they have to watch the adventures of Brad Lidge.

Not really. Rivera just puts a face on it, but he is not the difference. The difference is good starting pitching and an outstanding offensive lineup. Rivera is one part of the puzzle, but he is not what separates the Yanks from other teams.

[luvdembravos]

Rivera is one part of the puzzle, but he is not what separates the Yanks from other teams.

What separates the Yankees from other teams is the almighty dollar.

[Dreamscape]

What separates the Yankees from other teams is the almighty dollar.
Yep, that's why they haven't lost a World Series since they started to spend more than every team in baseball.

[luvdembravos]

Yep, that's why they haven't lost a World Series since they started to spend more than every team in baseball.

Yep, that's why they've only missed the playoffs once since you were in puberty.

[Dreamscape]

I'll have you know I reached puberty at a very young age. I cried in a very low tone and had a goatee at two years old so ha, wrong again.

[luvdembravos]

My apologies, Benjamin Button ;)

[Middle Man]

It's all a crap shoot. I've proven this conclusively, but you've all apparently forgotten.

[Wahoo]

All I know is that I am starting to think that Cole Hamels may go down in Mark Wholers type infamy, but in a different type of way. I am beginning to question whether he has the fortitude to perform in light of any expectations. The statements he's made over the past week make me question his mental toughness.

[The Rap]

Rivera doesnlt just pout a face on it. Some don't understand the ramifications of having the luxury of a Rivera in the bullpen. Hell we havenlt had even close to that until maybe Wohlers and then he threw THAT pitch to Leyritz.

[luvdembravos]

Rivera doesnlt just pout a face on it. Some don't understand the ramifications of having the luxury of a Rivera in the bullpen.

I agree. What a luxury it must be to have Rivera at the back of your bullpen for so many years. Of course, if the Braves or any other team had Rivera in the 90's, he would've been long gone upon becoming a free agent ... the Yankees would've snatch him up in a heart beat.

[Lauren T.]

Thoughts on the results of the World Series...

1. My dad is very happy the Yankees won. He's a Mantle fan from back in the day, and he likes Derek Jeter more than any player in MLB today.

2. Cliff Lee and Chase Utley are awesome.

3. I didn't expect Ryan Howard to strike out 13 times. I didn't think he'd do well against Yankee pitching, but I didn't expect him to perform so poorly either.

4. I didn't expect to see A-Rod crying on the field after the win. What an emotional 2009 he's had.

5. I'm very glad the Phillies didn't win out this year. Two straight years of WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS would have been difficult to swallow. (TWSS.)

6. Glad for Joe Girardi -- I always liked him. (Can't believe he got pie-d!)

7. Glad for Andy Pettitte and his record-setting.

8. A replay of Boog interviewing A-Rod on the field was on Sports Center this morning. Boog asked some insightful questions, and A-Rod kinda blew him off. Poor Boog. :D

9. I wasn't really cheering for either team; I was just hoping for a good competition. I feel like we got one, and I'm looking forward to Valentine's Day now! :)

ETA: 10. A friend of mine works for the Yankees part-time, and here is her picture from last night:

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs063.snc3/13058_10100100822627520_7910485_56725488_7024123_n.jpg

[warefreak]

For me it was a lose/lose, but if the Phillies won that would be less of a lose.

I was listening to the broadcast and Matsui can't hit the changeup. Yet almost every pitch Pedro and Happ threw to him were fastballs in his sweet spot. The Phils lost that game more than the Yanks won it. Either Pedro ignored the scouting report or somebody didn't translate to him. Also, the Phillies just didn't have the pitching to get it done. I predicted that from the beginning of the series and I think the Cardinals were the only team that could have beat the Yanks.

Regardless, at least it's been awhile since they won it. I just hope the Red Sox and Rays come back next year and knock them out of the picture before it gets to the playoffs. Hopefully the Sox/Rays will trade 2-3 of their top prospects to us for Javier Vasquez.

I'm a fan of anybody who plays the Yanks...

[luvdembravos]

PHL over COL
LAD over STL
LAA over BOS
NYY over MINN

PHL over LAD
NYY over LAA

NYY over PHL in 6

double jinx

Nicely done! How's that jersey fitting?

[Hobbes]

Nicely done! How's that jersey fitting?
You'll have to ask Don. He's been wearing it for a couple of years now. ;)

[luvdembravos]

Probably smells real bad by now.

[Middle Man]

I'm willing to have it dry cleaned.

[Lauren T.]

Be careful, though, the autograph might come out at the cleaners!

[Middle Man]

Be careful, though, the autograph might come out at the cleaners!

probably not an issue since my cleaners never seem to be able to remove the stains from my shirts

[The Rap]

Not from the Ted Turner owned Braves though.

[Middle Man]

My cleaners isn't owned by the Braves or Ted Turner, I don't think. They use this new environmentally responsible cleaning method, which is nice, but the shirts don't seem to come as clean. I guess that's just the price we pay for living in Al Gore's world. I wonder if Ted Turner believes in the global warming thing.

[luvdembravos]

My cleaners isn't owned by the Braves or Ted Turner, I don't think. They use this new environmentally responsible cleaning method, which is nice, but the shirts don't seem to come as clean. I guess that's just the price we pay for living in Al Gore's world. I wonder if Ted Turner believes in the global warming thing.

I don't know how Turner feels about global warming but he's an astute business man who has to be impressed with the $100+ million that Gore has pocketed while saving the planet.

[Hobbes]

I believe Rap's post was in response to luvdem's last post on the previous page.

Or else he is just confused about the business relationship between Ted Turner, the Braves and Middle Man's dry cleaner.

[luvdembravos]

I believe Rap's post was in response to luvdem's last post on the previous page.

Or else he is just confused about the business relationship between Ted Turner, the Braves and Middle Man's dry cleaner.



It's amazing how the conversation can quickly change from the MLB playoffs to Ted Turner, Al Gore and Middle Man's dry cleaner. Only at ChopNation!;)

[Wahoo]

My cleaners isn't owned by the Braves or Ted Turner, I don't think. They use this new environmentally responsible cleaning method, which is nice, but the shirts don't seem to come as clean. I guess that's just the price we pay for living in Al Gore's world. I wonder if Ted Turner believes in the global warming thing.

Just out of curiosity, where you get it done at?

[Middle Man]

Just out of curiosity, where you get it done at?

Hmmm, they've changed names so many times I can't remember. It's the place in the Deer Run shopping center on Hull St. I wasn't entirely serious about the shirt stains - they do a pretty good job. But they are more expensive since they went to the new environmentally friendly cleaning method or whatever they call it.

[Middle Man]

Dang, speaking of deer, I've never come so close to hitting one as last night. I was on Hull St. about 9pm and the stupid critter jumped out right in front of me- I was probably going about 50 mph at the time. The anti-lock brakes got a workout. It just cleared the front bumper by inches.