 Sunday, September 23, 2007
Why the Mets need to win
Eleven days ago I was in a bar in Seattle watching the Mets on national TV come from from behind to defeat the Braves and lower their magic number to 11 and extend their NL East lead to a comfortable 6.5 games with the Phillies coming to town. I have tickets for Tuesday's game and 11 days ago I was worried that the Mets would have clinched last week and I would be watching a meaningless game. Eleven days later, after another sweep by the Phillies to start a five game losing streak, the Mets are only up by 2.5 and the magic number is 5. While it is technically possible for them to clinch on Tuesday night when I am there, I am not holding my breath. The Mets can't collapse, like they did in 1998 and 1999, when they had horrible finishes to miss in '98 and force a 1 game playoff in Cincinnati in '99. The Mets can't collapse, they have never won two division titles in a row, and to blow it now would send them spiraling as a franchise. Forget about the playoffs this year, that is not important. What is important is winning the NL East. Not giving up. Not collapsing. Boston collapsed in 1978 and we all remember Bucky Dent. Right then and there, the Red Sox joined that ultimate choke list, the one that includes the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies, 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1995 California Angels. Boston was cursed, doomed to fail. From Bill Buckner in 1986 to Pedro Martinez in 2003. Even last year they blew the East and nobody was surprised. They are a franchise scared by 1978. The Mets can't become a franchise scared by 2007. Posted by Steve in Amsterdam.
It's Not Over Until the Lady Ran Onto the Field
My friend Otto and I hadn't watched a game in over a year so Friday's extra innings game was the perfect opportunity to catch up. Aces Halladay versus Wang pitched well. The game was deadlocked until the Jays take a late lead with two runs in the seventh and eighth each.
You know the Tank put on his rally cap for the bottom of the ninth. Will my rally cap work its magic (God Willing, touch wood, lucky rabbit's foot, etc.)
Buckle up kids, here we go.
Damon doubled, Jeter grounded out to advance him to third. Abreu singled. A-Rod singled to score Damon. Matsui grounded out and Abreu scored. Posada got to first on the error the Cano singled. Giambi singled to tie the game. Cabrera flew out to end the ninth. Yankees 4- Blue Jays 4. Wow, the rally cap worked. Wooooo!
The Yankees bring in Mariano in the 10th. One, two, three.
Damon had a 2-0 count when a woman ran onto the field. I've seen men run onto the field but never a woman. In the spirit of gender equity, the police and security escort her from the field.
It is unclear who she wanted to talk to or meet. However, Damon's momentum stopped as he flew out to left center field. Jeter grounded out to short. Abreu walks on a full count. A-Rod grounded out to third to end the inning.
Joba time. Motley Crue's "Shout at the Devil" comes on the speakers. He comes in with 1 ER in 18.1 innings with a .49 ERA. The only run was the Red Sox last Sunday night.
One down, Thomas walks, Hill struck out. Adams struck out.
Guns N Roses "Welcome to the Jungle" blares in between innings the top and bottom of the 11th.
Matsui comes to the plate to ACDC's "TNT". Hideki flies out to shallow center. Molina, who entered in the 10th for Posada, grounded out to second. Cano flies out to deep left.
Joba struck out the first two batters and the third flew out.
About half the crowd left but those of us who did were treated to more "Rocky Balboa" clips in between innings.
Giambi grounded out to the second baseman playing in short right center. Cabrera flew out to left on a 3-2 count. Damon flew out to left.
Al Leiter is featured in between the top and bottom of the 13th.
Luis Vizcaino comes in to pitch to Reed Johnson. Vizcaino strikes out Johnson. Lyle Overbay grounds out to Giambi who blocks the ball with his body and tosses the ball to Vizcaino for the second out. Alex Rios walks on a full count. Joe Inglett is DHing for Frank Thomas. A Yankees fan yells to a Jays fan to who is Inglett. Who is Inglett? Darned if I know. Inglett singles to Damon in left. Aaron Hill grounded out to Molina who throws it to Giambi who makes a great catch.
Brian Wolfe comes in to pitch to the Captain, Derek Jeter. Jeter's single just passed him with 2,343 hits for 118th place on the all time hit list.
Abreu grounded to first who threw to second but Jeter's slide and Abreu's hustle kept Abreu safe. A-Rod flew out to short. Matsui walked. Molina struck out to end the 13th. Darn it!
Brian Bruney comes in for the top of the 14th. Ugh, he gave a home run run to give the Blue Jays the 5-4 win. Though the Yankees lost, we showed lots of heart to comeback when all was lost in the 9th.
Posted by the Tank reporting live from the Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
NFL Week #3 Fearless Picks
I was 2-1 in my picks last week.
This week's Fearless Picks:
Jets will squish the Fish at the Meadowlands. JR and his brother will be rooting on the Jets onto victory.
The Giants woes continue. (Never bet against the Gunslinger, Bret Favre.) The Giants lose at the Redskins. Tom Coughlin is a good guy but Bill Cowher or even Bill Parcells maybe the coach next season if the Giants can't turn it around.
The Bills lose big at New England.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Week #4 College Football Picks
I was 5-1 last week. The only loss was Georgia Tech at home against Boston College. Darn it!
This week's fearless picks are as follows:
National:
#16 Alabama beats visiting #22 Georgia. Roll Tide!
Local:
Syracuse loses at #18 Louisville.
Kathleen, Rutgers is off this week.
Posted by the Tank in NY.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Andy was Dandy
Andy Pettitte returned to his old form last night and helped the Yankees to a 2-1 victory over the Orioles. Coupled with the Red Sox 6-1 loss at Toronto, the Yankees closed to within 1.5 games behind the Red Sox and only ONE game behind the Red Sox for the AL East lead. Is this 1978 all over again? Possibly, but the Yankees have a four game set against the Blue Jays starting tomorrow night at the Stadium. You know where the Tank is going to be. Right, at the Stadium in the Boogie Down Bronx.
As I consoled Steve and other fellow Mets fans yesterday, the Mets beat the Nationals 8-4 and Phillies lost 2-1 in 10 innings. The Mets lead is now 2.5 games. While the Mets clinched last season's NL East in April, they are working into late into September to clinch this season. This will serve them well in the post season because they'll have enough time to rest next week while keeping sharp for the post season.
Posted by a cautiously optimistic Tank in NY.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
The Moose is Loose and Don't Panic in Prague
Mike "Moose" Mussina pitched seven brilliant innings enroute to the Yankees 12-0 and Moose's 249th career victory and 10th of the season. According to the television broadcast, it was his 16th consecutive season with 10 or more wins. Amazing!
Moose had all pitches and great fielding going. According to the radio broadcast (full coverage and analysis by yours truly), Moose needed the two weeks off to heal his groin, back, and other injuries. The Moose can still thankfully pitch, touch wood.
I don't want to put the cart before the horse BUT, if Moose can get one more win this season and at least 12 in his next two seasons (2009 is an option year), he will have 274+ career wins. He is among the AL leaders in strikeouts. If the Yankees win a World Series this year with Moose on the roster AND the closer he gets to 300 wins, the stronger his Hall of Fame case would be. I'm not saying he is a first ballot guy but might get in on the first try depending upon the competition in that year's class.
Anyhoo, enough of the future, let's hope he can continue to be the Moose of old the rest of this regular and post season.
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The Mets needed to win last night and didn't. It was their fifth consecutive loss. The Phillies won their extra innings game against Saint Louis so the Mets lead the NL East by 1.5 games.
Fear not fellow Mets fans because the Phillies bullpen sucks. They have several of over-the-hill relievers you have booed in the past.
Can the Mets screw up? Yes, but not likely and the Wild Card is the failsafe. Since Steve is travelling for work in Prague, I have five words for him: "Don't Panic in Prague, Steve!"
Go Yankees ! / Mets!
The Tank
Posted by the Tank on the sometimes rocky and stressful road to Subway Series closure in NY.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Breathing Down the Red Sox Necks
The Yankees didn't let a two run deficit get in their way and beat the Orioles 8-5. The Red Sox lost to the Blue Jays 6-1 so the Yankees are only three games back on the loss side. Therefore, if the Yankees go 10-2 in their last 12 games and the Red Sox go 7-4 in their last 11 games, their would be a tie atop the American League East. This is not likely but you never know.
The Yankees are in the Red Sox rear view mirror and closing fast. As they say in the UnderArmour commercials, "click, clock, click, clock".
Posted by an optimistic Tank in NY.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Weekend Baseball Rivalry Wrap
Linda and Steve's concern about the Mets bullpen was unfortunately confirmed on Saturday as the bullpen wasted Pedro's great start. Though the Mets have lost eight straight to the Phillies, the Amazings still lead the Phillies by 3.5 games.
On the bright side, congratulations to Steve's favorite player, David Wright for joining the 30/30 Club. According to Sunday's WFAN's radio broadcast, he was congratulated by his "baseball father" and 30/30 Club Member, HoJo - Howard Johnson, who managed DW in the minor leagues. Darryl Strawberry is the third Met member of the club.
The Yankees didn't sweep the Red Sox but won two out of three even though Pettitte and Wang had subpar performances. The Red Sox didn't have Many but the Yankees won the season series 10-8 and five out of the last six. This bodes well for the ALCS if both teams advance that far. Captain Clutch Derek Jeter came through with a three run home run in the eighth inning on Sunday. Though Jeter's home run was more dramatic, Friday may have been a slightly better because the Yankees rallied from a 7-2 deficit in the eighth inning to win 8-7. "Winners never quit and quitters never win!" I am very proud of the Yankees.
Bottom Line: The Mets are going to be fine, touch wood, and the Yankees are making the playoffs barring a collapse, God Forbid. The best hope for the Mets is NOT to play against the Padres in the first round and for the Yankees NOT to play against the Angels in the first round. OK, the Yankees are 4.5 games behind the Red Sox for the division BUT 2.5 games ahead of the Tigers for the Wild Card. The Indians must win the series from the Tigers starting tonight to improve their record, knock the Tigers out of contention, and have a better record than the Angels so the Yankees don't have to play them in the first round. This presumes that the Yankees are the Wild Card.
Posted by the Tank "Keepin' the faith, yeah, yeah, keepin' the faith" (Billy Joel lyric) for a Subway Series in NY.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
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