A desperate Marlins team -- that's when they've been at their best -- takes on a legend, as Roger Clemens makes his final big league start.
Soriano stepped into the bucket on Pavano's second pitch, but fisted it up the middle for a base hit. Pudge very nearly picked him off first, then called a pitchout. I've always thought Rodriguez doesn't pay as much attention to his pitch calling when runners are on, but there's no way to prove that.
Jeter stood in the box watching his weak flare to second, and it was much too late to start running when he realized it wasn't going to be caught. Though it might have been a DP anyway, the captain looked foolish. Giambi then lofted one to center to end the inning.
Jeter stood in the box watching his weak flare to second, and it was much too late to start running when he realized it wasn't going to be caught. Though it might have been a DP anyway, the captain looked foolish. Giambi then lofted one to center to end the inning.
The rookie Cabrera blasted a 3-2 pitch to right for a 2-run shot to cash Pudge's 2-out single. The Marlins have really made Roger work, going deep into counts.
Sign held by a spelling-impaired Florida fan: "Diffuse the Rocket."
Tim McCarver, making a valiant effort to pronounce "au revoir" when it came up on a Clemens graphic, came out with "ah-re-wah."
No matter how you say it, Roger might be making an early exit. He's given up five straight hits now, is over 40 pitches, and trails 3-0 after one.
Tim McCarver, making a valiant effort to pronounce "au revoir" when it came up on a Clemens graphic, came out with "ah-re-wah."
No matter how you say it, Roger might be making an early exit. He's given up five straight hits now, is over 40 pitches, and trails 3-0 after one.
3-0 after one but most importantly, that took Clemons 41 pitches.
42 pitches. Meanwhile, is Jeff Weaver still warming up?
I'm guessing the answer's no since Clemons batted for himself.
It was nice to see a young feller like Cabrera to dig in after Clemen's first pitch to him and finally hit that outside pitch out.
Is it just me or has Jeter's defense looked even worse than normal in this game?
By the way, I've been lurking here a few months now. Great site, guys.
Is it just me or has Jeter's defense looked even worse than normal in this game?
By the way, I've been lurking here a few months now. Great site, guys.
Gotta give Pavano credit for hanging in through three. Clemens is hanging tough as well. The uncertainty of both is making this game interesting.
The surprise is that Cabrera didn't get a bean ball then next time up ;-)
Roger running the bases should be interesting...
Jeter really should've had Lee at second base. That's at least four mistakes (two bad throws he made earlier and the statueplay in the box) he's made in this game.
That was a pathetic attempt to hit all three pitches that weren't close to the zone but even worse was McCarver trying to tell us that hitters try to "limit their weaknesses".
Roger running the bases should be interesting...
Think he'll go into third like Todd Stottlemyre? Nope. The DP took that possibility away, dangit!
Think he'll go into third like Todd Stottlemyre? Nope. The DP took that possibility away, dangit!
That defensive crouch/slide by Clemons was great. He hit the deck like he'd been shot. Oh how pitchers amuse me.
Johnny Mack, welcome. I agree, it hasn't been Derek's night, and now he's hit into two double plays. On the other hand, he did carry his team last night. It's a funny game.
Aside from the union, is there anyone that advocates publicly for the DH other than DH's and some pitchers (though many of them like the idea of hitting)? Anyone in these parts?
Thanks, Coach. Glad to be here. Yes, Jeter's got a great bat. That thing at the plate really surprised me. I've never seen anything like that from him before.
Sign held by a spelling-impaired Florida fan: "Diffuse the Rocket."
Ha, it's an unintentional reference to the Space Shuttle Challenger.
How about that near 2-4-6 double play? Of course, Jeter made a terrible tag, sort of reverse making up for that nice quick-release throw on that high chopper in an earlier inning.
Ha, it's an unintentional reference to the Space Shuttle Challenger.
How about that near 2-4-6 double play? Of course, Jeter made a terrible tag, sort of reverse making up for that nice quick-release throw on that high chopper in an earlier inning.
is there anyone that advocates publicly for the DH
Adam, I just want the rules to be the same in both leagues. My first choice would be for AL pitchers to hit, but if they added the DH in the NL, it would end this nonsense in the postseason and interleague play.
Adam, I just want the rules to be the same in both leagues. My first choice would be for AL pitchers to hit, but if they added the DH in the NL, it would end this nonsense in the postseason and interleague play.
If they get a runner on base, I'd pinch-hit for Clemens this inning. He's hung in there after the nightmare start, but the Yankees need a run a lot more than another inning from Roger. So fellas, that may have been his last batter -- fittingly, a strikeout.
I guess we'll see the big man for three more outs. What a job by Pavano; it's hard to justify pulling him after retiring eight in a row, but this is his longest outing in quite a while, and he's supposed to lead off.
This time it's really over. In the glare of thousands of flashbulbs, Clemens fans Castillo and gets a well-deserved ovation.
I would have hit for Pavano. He's thrown over 100 pitches, and the top of the order is coming up.
I would have hit for Pavano. He's thrown over 100 pitches, and the top of the order is coming up.
On a perfect 2-2 pitch that may have been low but was too close to take, Jeter is punched out looking. The biggest night of Carl Pavano's life, I'm sure.
Unless the Yankees rally in the ninth, my five game prediction is toast. But guessing right isn't nearly as important to me as watching great baseball, and I really don't care who wins, so I'd like nothing better than a Beckett-Mussina rematch in Game Seven.
Unless the Yankees rally in the ninth, my five game prediction is toast. But guessing right isn't nearly as important to me as watching great baseball, and I really don't care who wins, so I'd like nothing better than a Beckett-Mussina rematch in Game Seven.
Yes, it was good to see Florida give the Rocket such a classy send-off.
Top of the ninth now. Two on. 2 out. Posada at the plate. Is UUU a drama queen, or what? First and third now. Dellucci running for Posada, the tying run. And Sierra pinch hitting. Hmmm, that 3-0 pitch looked like ball 4. Double down the line. So much for Pavano's great effort. Yep, Drama queen.
Top of the ninth now. Two on. 2 out. Posada at the plate. Is UUU a drama queen, or what? First and third now. Dellucci running for Posada, the tying run. And Sierra pinch hitting. Hmmm, that 3-0 pitch looked like ball 4. Double down the line. So much for Pavano's great effort. Yep, Drama queen.
Urbina doesn't seem to trust his fastball enough to go inside on lefthanders. His command of the change-up was awful today.
It might be that Pudge doesn't trust Urbina's changeup.
Unbelievable. With a single and a walk, the Yankees got the tying run aboard with one out, but the Posada ground ball fielder's choice didn't help at all. With two away, Sierra thought he walked to load the bases (both the 3-0 and 3-1 pitches looked outside, but the ump didn't agree) so Ruben fouled a couple off until he got a fat pitch from Urbina, which he drilled into the corner and Cabrera kicked around.
Contreras doesn't seem to care that it's an important situation; he and Rivera give Torre the upper hand. As I've said so many times in this postseason, what an amazing finish.
Contreras doesn't seem to care that it's an important situation; he and Rivera give Torre the upper hand. As I've said so many times in this postseason, what an amazing finish.
Tremendous pitching by Pavano. Man, the Red Sox were suckers to only get that Pedro guy in return ...
The Marlins just aren't showing a lot of life right now. They were nervous with the lead, and are nervous without it. They need to hold the fort and get somebody on for Pudge.
The Marlins just aren't showing a lot of life right now. They were nervous with the lead, and are nervous without it. They need to hold the fort and get somebody on for Pudge.
So we have UUU as goat. Will there be a hero in teal and black? Or does one of Soriano's random swings finally connect? Stay tuned.
You're right, Coach. The 3-0 and 3-1 pitches were in the exact same location as balls 1 and 2. I bet that in retrospect, Urbina would have taken the walk and faced Boone with the bases loaded.
And that pitch Sierra hit was ridiculously fat. The Rich Garces of pitches -- belt high, inner half, not much heat.
Terrific catch by Pierre, but it doesn't bode well for Chad Fox that John Flaherty hit the ball so far.
Without the umpire's brutal call in the 2nd, the final score of this game would already be: Marlins 3 Yankees 2.
The Rich Garces of pitches
Good one, Mike.
Will there be a hero in teal and black?
If one of the rabbits gets on, Pudge could be Da Man again. If they don't win it right now, the Yankees will score soon and bring on Rivera.
Good one, Mike.
Will there be a hero in teal and black?
If one of the rabbits gets on, Pudge could be Da Man again. If they don't win it right now, the Yankees will score soon and bring on Rivera.
If I'm the Yankees, I walk Pudge and don't think twice about it.
Rabbit Pierre answers your call, Coach. Rabbit Castillo moves him over.
Good work by FOX, telling us it's been 39 years since the Yanks lost an extra-inning WS game. Contreras, paying plenty of attention to Pierre at second, threw a laser beam past Pudge -- it was clocked at 97 but in that location must have looked like 105 -- then almost got beat with one bad pitch, but Cabrera pulled it foul. Then he had no chance against the high heat.
39 years since the Yanks lost an extra-inning WS game
Amazing, but true. By the way, I'm waiting for FOX to tell us that the Yankees have the chance to make history: No team -- no team -- has ever won the World Series with a payroll above $160MM.
Amazing, but true. By the way, I'm waiting for FOX to tell us that the Yankees have the chance to make history: No team -- no team -- has ever won the World Series with a payroll above $160MM.
Well, I was proven wrong on my "walk Pudge" plea. Now I say don't walk Rivera -- you can coax a K or popup here...
...Rats. And to make matters worse, McCarver agrees with me.
Awesome night for Bernie Williams. It looked like they gave Matsui a quasi-intentional walk, and Dellucci dropped a beautiful sacrifice. However, this is where another lefty bat on the bench would help the Yanks a lot more than those three lefty relievers they never use.
Walking Rivera to set up the double play? I would have gone after the strikeout.
Walking Rivera to set up the double play? I would have gone after the strikeout.
McCarver's Biography? Fox and The Blind Squirrel.
Boone went up there foolishly hacking. He swung at three straight inside pitches, but was lucky enough to foul off the third one. There was no reason for Looper to throw it anywhere else until he got him.
So Looper negates McKeon's overmanaging and keeps Rivera out of the game for at least another inning.
Johnny, I don't think the move to Looper was overmanaging; nor do I feel that way about the double switch. I wouldn't have put Juan Rivera on, though.
Has anyone else noticed that Mike Lowell looks like Merle Haggard?
Mike. Putting Rivera on is what I meant by overmanaging. It was unnecessary. Just gave the Yankees an extra runner. He's not much of a hitter, should've let the pitcher go right after him.
By repeatedly cutting away to those morons at YYZ, Toronto1 has ensured that I will never watch their station again.
I thought it was all over when Weaver came in, but he was brilliant. There's only one sure thing in baseball -- youneverknow.
I thought it was all over when Weaver came in, but he was brilliant. There's only one sure thing in baseball -- youneverknow.
Well, I lucked out on my night off. This might be the only game of the Series I get to see. Couldn't picked a better one!
Johnny, you might end up getting two games out of this one.
The worst hitting regular on either team hits a walk-off. Truly, youneverknow.
Weaver comes through as expected, just one inning late.
Well, seems you used the right tense, Coach. Weaver was brilliant in his first inning of work. Alex Gonzalez. Great game!
Amazing. These are the games that the Yankees of the Torre era simply do not lose.
Well, Mike, as Cohen said, "There's a crack in everything -- that's how the light gets in." It'll be interesting to see how much the Yankees spend on stucco this winter. Vladimir Guerrero, seamfiller?
Vladimir Guerrero, seamfiller?
Only if there is no God, Johnny.
Only if there is no God, Johnny.
What a swell ball game. Joe Torre, "...if Weaver isn't in there in that spot he shouldn't be on the roster." Nice. Is Joe a Hall of Fame Manager?
Only if there is no God, Johnny.
So, pinstripes it is then.
So, pinstripes it is then.
The series is about where it should be expected to be. With Penny/Wells and Pettitte/Redman, the Yankees have to be considered favorites in each game. Charitably, the Yankees have a 60% chance of winning each game. The most likely outcome still is a Game 7 with Beckett and Mussina, with Pavano available. If it goes to game 7, the Fish should be narrow favorites (Beckett's dominance diminished by the presence of Rivera and the Yanks home-field advantage).
As I said at the beginning, the Yankees should still be narrow favorites, but my nickel is on the Fish.
As I said at the beginning, the Yankees should still be narrow favorites, but my nickel is on the Fish.
By repeatedly cutting away to those morons at YYZ, Toronto1 has ensured that I will never watch their station again.
To be fair, Coach, I don't think you're their target market... which appears to be the fashionistas and the short bus kids. Actually, are those the same group of people?
Is Joe a Hall of Fame Manager?
I think he at least close, even though will take a long time to wipe out the memory of his stint with the Mets.
But adding in his accomplishments as a player, I do not see how you can keep him out of the Hall.
To be fair, Coach, I don't think you're their target market... which appears to be the fashionistas and the short bus kids. Actually, are those the same group of people?
Is Joe a Hall of Fame Manager?
I think he at least close, even though will take a long time to wipe out the memory of his stint with the Mets.
But adding in his accomplishments as a player, I do not see how you can keep him out of the Hall.
For a great baseball story arising from the NLDS, check out Dan Werr's contribution at http://www.baseballprimer.com/articles/danwerr_2003-10-21_0.shtml. Enjoy.
Is Joe a Hall of Fame Manager?
Joe, an MVP and career .297 hitter who spent a lot of time as a catcher, was close to being a HoF player, which will carry some weight with the voters when he is finally enshrined. Tommy Lasorda is in, presumably for being, well, famous. Torre is a much better manager with twice as many rings, regardless of what happens in the next three games.
he shouldn't be on the roster
Torre's line about Weaver can be interpreted a lot of ways, but it suggests that he wasn't thrilled about being painted into that corner, and hints of passing the buck to Brian Cashman. The only other options were to use Rivera for an indefinite number of innings (ridiculous, after he pitched two the night before) or bring in a mediocre lefty. Having White, Heredia and Hammond all active against a predominantly right-handed lineup didn't make sense before the Series, and it looks like a colossal blunder right now. If the Fish win, Weaver's gopher ball (to a guy whose postseason average is now up to .111 but is slugging a robust .222) will be the turning point, yet Joe had no choice. Whose fault is that? We may not know until George starts firing people.
Joe, an MVP and career .297 hitter who spent a lot of time as a catcher, was close to being a HoF player, which will carry some weight with the voters when he is finally enshrined. Tommy Lasorda is in, presumably for being, well, famous. Torre is a much better manager with twice as many rings, regardless of what happens in the next three games.
he shouldn't be on the roster
Torre's line about Weaver can be interpreted a lot of ways, but it suggests that he wasn't thrilled about being painted into that corner, and hints of passing the buck to Brian Cashman. The only other options were to use Rivera for an indefinite number of innings (ridiculous, after he pitched two the night before) or bring in a mediocre lefty. Having White, Heredia and Hammond all active against a predominantly right-handed lineup didn't make sense before the Series, and it looks like a colossal blunder right now. If the Fish win, Weaver's gopher ball (to a guy whose postseason average is now up to .111 but is slugging a robust .222) will be the turning point, yet Joe had no choice. Whose fault is that? We may not know until George starts firing people.
By repeatedly cutting away to those morons at YYZ, Toronto1 has ensured that I will never watch their station again.
Craig's right when he brings up your serious collection of years. I'm in their target demographic and am impressed with their thorough establishment of street cred, their excitability and proper use of fun fur and animal prints, their glorification of heavy drinking (because non-users are losers) and use of pretty lighting and shiny objects.
There's no hope for my generation is there?
180 degree turn...
Hasn't Fox's camera work been amazing this postseason? The slo-mo camera shots are brilliantly beautiful. I'm thinking specifically of being able to see Tim Wakefield's knuckler sans rotation in the ALCS and watching Bernie Williams connect last night, sending the ball back whence it came in a poof of red clay dust.
Craig's right when he brings up your serious collection of years. I'm in their target demographic and am impressed with their thorough establishment of street cred, their excitability and proper use of fun fur and animal prints, their glorification of heavy drinking (because non-users are losers) and use of pretty lighting and shiny objects.
There's no hope for my generation is there?
180 degree turn...
Hasn't Fox's camera work been amazing this postseason? The slo-mo camera shots are brilliantly beautiful. I'm thinking specifically of being able to see Tim Wakefield's knuckler sans rotation in the ALCS and watching Bernie Williams connect last night, sending the ball back whence it came in a poof of red clay dust.
To be fair, Coach, I don't think you're their target market
Then why did they buy the World Series? The fashionistas aren't watching; they hate baseball.
Once again, I left a half-finished comment on my desktop for a while and didn't see what others had written before posting it, so I apologize for "repeating" Craig's remarks, but I'm glad we agree.
Then why did they buy the World Series? The fashionistas aren't watching; they hate baseball.
Once again, I left a half-finished comment on my desktop for a while and didn't see what others had written before posting it, so I apologize for "repeating" Craig's remarks, but I'm glad we agree.
What about Chris Hammond? If you've got 3 bullpen lefties and none of them have thrown a SINGLE PITCH in the series, doesn't it make sense to try at that point. Hammond is reportedly better against righties than lefties.
If you must have 11 pitchers on the roster why not go with an extra righthander? I'm not sure which one of De Paula or Osuna was post-season eligible, but I think there was another option there. Or maybe 15 position players was a better choice.
Who decided that Rivera should pitch the bottom of the ninth in game 3 with his team up 6-1? As it was he only threw 23 pitches in that game, hadn't worked since Thursday (Game 7 ALCS) before that and was probably good for an inning or two. The problem was Torre had Rivera warming up starting the 8th and that constant stopping and starting in the pen probably took his edge off. Torre also had the option of going with Nelson for one more inning, but he decided to pinch run for Posada (a questionable call) which necessitated Flaherty's entry and then chose to bat Flaherty in the pitcher's spot (because he was running out of position players).
If it's my game I bring Rivera in in the 9th - have him go two innings and then turn it over to Conteras. Then I go to Hammond. It would be the 15th inning before Weaver or someone else would have to come into the game.
If you must have 11 pitchers on the roster why not go with an extra righthander? I'm not sure which one of De Paula or Osuna was post-season eligible, but I think there was another option there. Or maybe 15 position players was a better choice.
Who decided that Rivera should pitch the bottom of the ninth in game 3 with his team up 6-1? As it was he only threw 23 pitches in that game, hadn't worked since Thursday (Game 7 ALCS) before that and was probably good for an inning or two. The problem was Torre had Rivera warming up starting the 8th and that constant stopping and starting in the pen probably took his edge off. Torre also had the option of going with Nelson for one more inning, but he decided to pinch run for Posada (a questionable call) which necessitated Flaherty's entry and then chose to bat Flaherty in the pitcher's spot (because he was running out of position players).
If it's my game I bring Rivera in in the 9th - have him go two innings and then turn it over to Conteras. Then I go to Hammond. It would be the 15th inning before Weaver or someone else would have to come into the game.
This is getting scary, the more I listen to McCarver the less I dislike Faulds
I've been accessing Batters Box for a couple of months and have enjoyed it very much. This is my first comment.
I must agree (at age 49) that the YYZ bunch are irritating to say the least.
Another comment about Toronto 1 - my sons (ages 8 and 9) play baseball and love watching on TV, especially in the playoffs, at least up to their 9:00 pm bedtime. Each game so far on Toronto 1 has featured ads early in the broadcast for either The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Silence of the Lambs - ads which have rather bothered and disturbed my boys. I notice that those ads are not repeated in the later parts of the broadcast - mostly hair dye etc. by then.
I sent an e-mail to Toronto 1 on Tuesday but haven't heard back yet.
A small point, but if we want kids involved in baseball again and if TV is the main place they'll get to see it, why do dumb things to turn them off the broadcast?
Keep up the good work.
I must agree (at age 49) that the YYZ bunch are irritating to say the least.
Another comment about Toronto 1 - my sons (ages 8 and 9) play baseball and love watching on TV, especially in the playoffs, at least up to their 9:00 pm bedtime. Each game so far on Toronto 1 has featured ads early in the broadcast for either The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Silence of the Lambs - ads which have rather bothered and disturbed my boys. I notice that those ads are not repeated in the later parts of the broadcast - mostly hair dye etc. by then.
I sent an e-mail to Toronto 1 on Tuesday but haven't heard back yet.
A small point, but if we want kids involved in baseball again and if TV is the main place they'll get to see it, why do dumb things to turn them off the broadcast?
Keep up the good work.
Osuna was certainly eligible for the postseaon, and while he didn't have a great year, he'd be a better option out of hte pen than Weaver. Hammond himself pitched better against righties this year limiting them to 1.06 WHIP with more K/IP's verus righties than lefties, and over his career his stats are very close to equal. However, over his career Osuna has been very good against righties, striking out over a batter an inning, and limiting them to a 1.11 WHIP. The question is, if you think, for whatever reason, that Hammond's stats this year indicate he is better against righties than Osuna right now, why aren't you using him? If not, why add the third lefty to the postseason roster? I'm not complaining though. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Weaver serve up a gopher ball to Alex Gonzalez, of all people.
I don't see Redman starting game 6. The question in my mind is will McKeon go with Dontrelle Willis, will he bring back Beckett on short rest (and then Pavano in game 7 if necessary), or is there a chance he'd go with some third option like Rick Helling? I very much doubt the latter, but I also don't see Redman starting after his last two performances, so it's a question in my mind of Willis versus Beckett. Willis is a valuable lefty to have in the pen, but the history of having people start on 3-days rest in the playoffs, while reasonably small, I think, indicates they pitch worse than they would regularly do.
I don't see Redman starting game 6. The question in my mind is will McKeon go with Dontrelle Willis, will he bring back Beckett on short rest (and then Pavano in game 7 if necessary), or is there a chance he'd go with some third option like Rick Helling? I very much doubt the latter, but I also don't see Redman starting after his last two performances, so it's a question in my mind of Willis versus Beckett. Willis is a valuable lefty to have in the pen, but the history of having people start on 3-days rest in the playoffs, while reasonably small, I think, indicates they pitch worse than they would regularly do.
Hasn't Fox's camera work been amazing this postseason?
I agree the slo-mo looks great but where are the overhead shots? In Florida they don't seem to have the overhead camera so we don't really know whether all these pitches on the corners are balls or strikes.
Also why doesn't Fox open their wallet and license the strike zone box that EXPN uses on the Sunday night game of the week? I like that box (I also like DaBox). Most traditionalists appear to dislike the strike zone box, but I think it is great.
I agree the slo-mo looks great but where are the overhead shots? In Florida they don't seem to have the overhead camera so we don't really know whether all these pitches on the corners are balls or strikes.
Also why doesn't Fox open their wallet and license the strike zone box that EXPN uses on the Sunday night game of the week? I like that box (I also like DaBox). Most traditionalists appear to dislike the strike zone box, but I think it is great.