PLAYOFF BOUND*

Now, really, was there any question? There really has not been. Have the Yankees dragged themselves across this first plateau? Sure they have, but it’s not like the Rays or the Twins look like they are driven to have the best record in the AL and the home field advantage through the playoffs, either.
And yes, Girardi changed his mind and pitched Hughes on Sunday night vs. the Sox and Hughes pitched very well, gained confidence and although he didn’t get the W, the team won and essentially knocked most of the slight breeze out from under Boston’s broken wings.
I did not have problem – at all – with Hughes making the start despite the innings limit that Girardi never actually disclosed anyway.
And last night? CC started, did what an Ace is supposed to do, the bats looked relaxed and the team rode Sabathia’s big-enough-to-carry-it shoulders to a 6-1 win and a clinch of a playoff spot. I would rather look at it this way: the games that Girardi and the team declared they were taking seriously, they won. And even if CC is not set up ideally to start the first game, he’s still going to start it and I have no doubts he will step up like he has since he’s pulled on the ‘stripes.

I am looking forward to those Giant/Phillie soccer matches that could be the NL playoffs road. Even with those big bats of Philly, you really have to expect some really low-scoring games with both teams front line starters being completely capable of shutting down just about any offense* (not the Yankees of course) but that’s getting ahead of things…

In Sin House news, “negotiations” with the company that I want to supply the “talent” for the movie have begun, sort of. I’ll play the cards a little close to the vest as well I should.
Okay, it’s better than it’s been in the studio, but it’s still too warm to be out here long, so th-th-that’s all folks…
*I don’t have permission to use the © images and text on the baseball card, but I worked for Topps once so I’m gonna call it even.

HOW I SUFFER FOR YOU

So far from post-season baseball weather out in LA it isn’t funny and because of stupid MLB package restrictions I am forced, first on Saturday to listen to Sterling & Waldman’s CBS radio broadcast and then yesterday, the insufferable Morgan on the ESPN Sunday night game.
Oddly enough, the Yankees broadcasters spent all game bad-mouthing the home team and wringing their hands loudly and often. Sterling further tarnished my opinion of him by singing a bit of “Candyman” when Curtis hit his meaningless homerun, changing it to “The Grandyman can…” and I’d bet this little ditty of his has caused at least twenty-three car accidents along the way.
Apologies for the brevity of Friday’s post; I had meant to mark the end of summer and then it slipped my mind. The official end of summer was noted in the lower section of seats on the 1st base side of Yankee Stadium. How do I know this? The very pretty, Robin Givens’ doppelganger, who works that very TV-friendly angle had to switch from her sleeveless tops (which I am sure they gave her extra summer combat pay for) to regular sleeves, and then last night, in a showcase of autumn, even into a fleecy pullover. Yes, summer is over; the Playoffs start in a little more than a week. If you watch YES broadcasts than you know of what I speak.
It used to be nice like that up in Toronto. The Blue Jays used to employ only the cutest of little brunettes to work the seats behind the plate; sometimes they could be a little distracting. But perhaps with the switch to the Rogers Centre and all, they’ve let some blondes in and ruined the game…
Joe Morgan must fear this blog as he was noticeably quiet in last night’s broadcast. Or, perhaps he’s afraid of Hershiser? This verbatim from yesterday’s amazing and tense game: “Joe, I think you may be a little bit right.” I’d love to hear Kim Jones says that to Kay.
But Girardi finally looked like he wanted to win a game and shut people up for the rest of the week. Swapping Hughes back in as starter instead of Moseley sent the right signal and Phil responded giving the skipper and the team exactly what they needed.
Of course they still needed some A-Rod and he, too, came through in the clutch with a come-from-behind two-run in the 7th. And yes, that should have been all they wrote, but this is Yankees/Red Sox on a national broadcast no less so figure in blown saves by two of the top tier closers and an extra inning walk-off run-scoring walk to Juan Miranda and the Yanks have essentially knocked the Sox out and secured the playoffs; they will win a game this week even if they don’t actually try. The Sox will lose one, too.

Thelonious Monster on Saturday night at Spaceland sounded great, although that could be nostalgia and too many martinis speaking, but I had a great time singing along. And Bob Forrest afterwards was rather nice. How drunk was I? I did mumble something to my cocktail waitress about buying the solo redhead at the bar a drink. Not sure if she accepted and I didn’t even trouble myself, or, more importantly her, to even say hello. Real smooth move there.
I did ask the cute goth chick to sit down at my table, but I swear it was only because she was pregnant. Yeah, that was the only thought on my mind…

YOU CANNOT LOSE IF YOU THROW THE RACE

Getaway day game with the Mariners and Jays and King Felix proves the point that he’d make a good Giant, but if he was a Yank, he’d have 20 wins. And yes, I agree that most of the stats are very impressive, but how do you give the Cy Young award to a .500 pitcher? You can’t in my book…

Thames two-run shot off Price put the Yanks up and was about as good as it got all night. Thames, by the way, is having a really great season off the bench and when used sparingly, and he’s doing it quietly; definitely one of the better off-season acquisitions.
Perhaps it’s not the quiet, but the fact that Swish is just really loud. He K’s in the 3rd; I hear, “Fuck!”
And it looked pretty good up until the 6th with CC holding a 3-1 lead over Price and then Sabathia does an Ivan Nova impersonation and just falls apart. Joba comes in and puts out the fire with gasoline.
And then Ed Whitson--- oops, I mean Javier Vazquez? Well, he did something I had never seen before: hit three guys in a row. The line for the first six guys he faces in the 7th is as follows: BB, HBP, HBP, HBP, SF, BB—it’s more little league than race for the AL East Championship. Javy makes a real good case to have himself left off the Playoff roster.
Girardi leaves Javy in for the last three innings, sucking it up for the bullpen. The other eight in the field behind him are like something out of a Spring training game: Thames, Golson, Curtis, Moeller, Pena, Nunez, Miranda and Russo.

Maybe it’s me. I watch the Giants and they’re a soccer team; I miss their game and they score like a football team while still having that insane pitching. Although the Phils really seem like the team to beat, a series between those two teams could be something else…

Caught a little getaway day ball from Oakland; looked like a pretty day, wish I had been there for the $2 tickets and the $1 hotdogs although the most interesting thing in the “contest” was Oakland’s September call-up pinch-running in the 9th. Guy’s last name is BE AZA and it mostly just looked like a letter had fallen off the back of his uniform and no one cared enough to notice or tell him. If the Giants can misspell their city, why can’t the team across the Bay misspell a player’s name? Works for me.
Obviously a very crucial game between the front-running Yanks and Rays. How could I tell? After the 2+ hour rain delay knocked AJ out again (second time for a rain-shortened start for him recently) Girardi has to turn to his bullpen in the 1-0 game. Or, rather, should I say he turned to Scranton Wilkes Barren’s pen with Ring, Moseley, Gaudin and Abeladejo coming in succession.
At least Berkman finally got his first Yankee homer which put us back in the game briefly.
I know I am biased, but I swear it sounds a lot as if both color-man John Flaherty and sideline reporter Kim Jones are both sick of Kay’s shit and can’t wait for the season to end.
George Hendrick, the Rays’ first base coach, is generally the most chill of all of them. He won’t flinch at balls hit toward him, he will never even attempt to pick a foul ground ball coming his way. But he sure was forced to hit the ground when a line drive was heading right for him. His helmet flew off, exposing his ‘do rag and a smile as the Rays’ bench gave him a standing O.
So quiet later in the Stadium after the long rain delay and the Yanks down and looking like coming back was not an option. Swish pops up and, clear as day, you can hear his: “Awwwww shit!” Not quite Dave Winfield’s “That’s bullshit, Jerry” in regard to a called strike, that I recall as the first time I could clearly hear a ballplayer curse on TV.
I wish I had a friend in the 5th row last night that I could have called to konk the bald guy in the 4th row in the head and tell him to stop fuckin’ waving. You’re not six years old. Leave that kind of obnoxiousness to the kids, right? I mean, I was thirteen (and I still think within my rights) when I spent quite a bit of time during the pre-game of game 6 of the 1981 World Series from the left field bleachers at the old Yankee Stadium heckling the previous night’s starter, Jerry Reuss. I think it was probably about the twentieth time that I bellowed, “Hey Jerry – you’re really fooled Bobby last night!” that he ducked out from under the bullpen awning, located me and flipped me the bird.
I must admit a good point in regard to Hamilton over Cano for the MVP. He was so valuable to Texas that he was able to propel his team to such a commanding lead in the weak AL West that even though he’s missed pretty much all of September his team has such a lead that they can’t blow it. I suppose that is also a very valuable player, but I think if Cano stays hot, gets to 30 homeruns, that it could be a very interesting two-man race.
During the Yankee rain delay, I turned to the Giants/Cubs match – watching the WGN broadcast to maybe change things up for the Bay Area squad. And although I will admit the Cubbies’ announcers are pretty entertaining, and Buddy Guy singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was swell, the Giants still couldn’t score. And the useless Dodgers did nothing to help them out vs. the Padres; I swear I read Donnie Baseball’s lips as he spoke to Mr. Torre in the dugout, I swear he said, “Take me with you.”
Yahoo podcast interview with Boomer Wells is worth tracking down. First fourteen minutes he just talks baseball, but then Mr. Torre’s name comes up. Apparently, David is not a fan. First he calls him a “coward” for having pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre tell him he wouldn’t be pitching in the 1st round of the 1997 playoffs, and then he really lowers the boom. Although Boomer was wrong about the Yankee fans reaction to the former manager when he showed up for The Boss’ monument unveiling; it was the biggest cheer of the night and not the boo’s that Boomer predicted. But he is right about the whole manager vs. pitching coach thing about chain of command.

Yanks score five in the first, make James “No More Big Game” Shields throw over forty pitches and even score four of those five on two-out hits and still, nothing close to the laugher we could use. The Rays start chipping away at Hughes, who’s good, but not great with five walks, with single runs in the 2nd and 3rd and before you know it, the tying run is at the plate. And it’s Dan Johnson who took Hughes deep twice in his previous start, but this time he gets him.
It’s a bloop to left, but here it does look like a line drive, and Cano plates two more later in the game to put Yanks up 7-3. Deep breaths. And you know it’s a game that Girardi really wants. How can I tell? He puts Javy Vazquez in.
And Joba pitches out of some of it in the 8th, and comes back for the 9th and picks up the save, 8-3.

Holy crud! First there was Miguel Olivo who passed some stones and then went right back out and caught the rest of the game. Yesterday word hit that Jerry Hairston had been playing with a broken leg for two months; he had just thought it was shin splints.
And there’s Bochy feeling he has to pull his starter for a pinch-hitter again. It irked me a few days back when he yanked The Freak; personally I’d be pissed if I went to the game to see Lincecum pitch, only to have him pulled after five good innings because the team simply can’t score runs.
Last night it was Cain getting the same treatment: pulled throwing a 2-hit shut-out after six innings pitched. I’d fathom a guess that Cain could’ve grounded meekly to first like pinch-hitter Ishikawa.
Cody Ross could steal second base a lot if it were only fifty feet from first base…
Fortunately for the Giants, Posey puts one out to dead center and the Giants win the match 1-0


So, after being so far back on the burners that the pot will never boil, perhaps “Sin House” is heating up. I had been seeking a solid production staff to back me so that I could just direct the picture and maybe, just maybe, I have found that- and in the weirdest of places.
I never cross the streams of Burning Man friends and work, but I have been recently told that I am a fool for not doing so.
New year, new tactics: and perhaps in one fell swoop maybe I have found the staff and a route to the funding (and more than I ever considered but enough to not only do it correctly, but also to get paid some upfront so that I can be available to do so) and even a line toward distribution.
And yes, the above is peppered with quite a lot of “maybes” and “perhaps” but I learn those lessons the hard-freaking-way, so I remain cautious always, but can still be optimistic. I’ll keep you posted as Sin House percolates…

IS THAT A HUGE MONUMENT or: ARE YOU JUST HAPPY TO SEE ME
Oddly enough, thirty years to the day that the New York Yankees unveiled a monument out in centerfield to their fallen leader, Thurman Munson, a seventh one was presented in honor of George M. Steinbrenner. I had already left my own out in the Temple at TTITD, so there.
And I was pleased that YES and the MLB TV package included yesterday’s pre-game ceremony; it was a pretty impressive line-up. Yogi lead the way with Reggie, but Stick, Roy White, Boomer, Tino and Lee Mazzilli did a great job of representing the former players and managers. And the Yanks did the right thing by inviting both Don Mattingly and Joe Torre who flew in from Los Angeles just for the ceremony (and for the well-deserved cheers they received). Need more proof of let bygones be bygones? Billy Martin’s widow was present and accounted for, as well.
As for the monument? It is freakin’ huge, dwarfing the ones for the Babe and the Mick. But that’s George’s way; even in death. There were some great moments spied by the YES cameras: Posada gripping and squeezing Mr. Torre’s shoulder was one, Mo staying out long past the rest of the current players just gazing intently at the monument; that left me with the thought that Mr. Steinbrenner did something for Mo that we don’t know about. When it came to GMS’ stand on charity, he was a very good Jew…
West Point Color Guard showed up in tribute and held the flags as Frank Sinatra Jr. performed the National Anthem, quite poorly I have to say. When he wasn’t missing notes, he was attempting to mimic his dad, like a bad Vegas impersonator. And apparently, not only do me and Michael Kay not watch the same game, we don’t listen to the same one, either; the big-headed bastard called the performance “amazing” and “stunning.”

As for the game, the Yanks took a 4-0 lead early, the big blow a 2 run shot by Granderson for his 20th, and Nova was cruising until hitting the wall again. He blew up in the 6th and took the pen and the lead with him. Not sure what’s wrong with this kid. The stuff and his poise are great up until the point it all crashes down on him. He has that “one bad inning” and it doesn’t seem that anyone can put their finger (not even me) on what his deal is.
And then there’s Gardner on first in a tie game and Cervelli comes to the plate looking to move him up with a bunt. And I’m talking back to the TV because when you’ve got one of the leading base-stealers on base, let him run, let him swipe the bag and then if you want Cervelli to get him to third with a sac bunt that’s a whole other matter.
Fortunately the count got in the Cisco kid’s favor and they executed a perfect hit ‘n run, moving Gardy to 3rd with no outs. And Granderson’s second dinger of the game, a 3 run shot, pretty much put the game out of reach considering that most of these games vs. the Rays go down to the last pitch.
Tex back in the lineup looked like he could use some more time off. If I were Girardi, I’d rest him a week and see if the toe and thumb don’t respond favorably before the post-season.
I cannot believe I missed one of my all time fav’s as an answer to the Yankee trivia question. Name the 4 Hall of Fame pitchers who played for the Yanks during Steinbrenner’s tenure? I got Catfish and Goose easy, but totally blanked on Phil Niekro (even thought I know I went to at least one, perhaps two games trying to see him get his 300th win) and Gaylord Perry. Shame on me…
Speaking of shame: I swear I don’t hear the announcement before the singing of “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch, but really, do you need to make that song your own? Do you know whose rendition is played most nights at this point in the game? Kate Smith’s if you don’t know. But this was awful! Right? And then Kay comes back gushing over a “superb performance” and it’s revealed who he’s kissing up to—George’s granddaughter – but I’m thinking “The Boss” would’ve fired her.
At least Frank Sinatra Jr. didn’t attempt “New York, New York.” By the way, they did play Frank’s “My Way” during the monument ceremony which was more than a little appropriate. And the Yanks won 8-6, moving a game and a half on top and Yankee fans in attendance got “New York, New York” anyway…

STILL ON TOP, BUT…
Accentuating the positive and it’s a really big positive: Andy Pettitte returned from his 2-month stint on the DL and pitching the Trenton Thunder through the first round of the AA Playoffs and looked like the very same, on top of his game hurler he was when he went down with an 11-2 mark and throwing as well as he ever has.
Pettitte shook off some rust and gave the Yankees exactly what they had hoped for: 6ip, 3h, 1r all in the allotted 79 pitches. He left with a 3-1 lead that should have been bigger; again, the Yanks left far too many men on base, failed in numerous attempts to widen that gap.
But can’t blame my MVP candidate, Robinson Cano who knocked in the first run in the opening frame with a two out single for his 102nd rbi. Wish I could say something similar about Lance Berkman. Yes, I wanted him since June, but unlike Swisher (who I campaigned for) the Puma, or should I say Fat Elvis, has about as much clutch in him as a Dodge Vegematic. Showalter is obviously aware of his failures too: he walked Jeter & Tex intentionally to face the switch-hitter with the bases loaded in the 11th. Fat Elvis obliged by bouncing into a tailor-made DP.
And yes, Wood gave up one, but was able to strand the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position. But Mo has been less-than-lights-out on this road-trip and gave up the tying homerun leading off the bottom of the 9th to Luke Scott.
The failure to get Nunez in from 3rd with nobody out was a ball-crusher leading to another walk-off, extra inning loss for the Yanks. Feh.
Of course, the Yanks loss meant the Giants would win and even score a week’s worth of runs after another of my scoldings. Thank me, Giants fans…
Of course, Joe Morgan couldn’t come out and say it, but at least Orel Hershiser said that he thought both the AL MVP and Cy Young award winners could both be NY Yankees this year.
Speaking of Yankee/Dodger connections, Mr. Torre steps down and Donnie Baseball slides into the manager’s chair in Los Angeles. Hard to root against either of them and glad it’s not in Boston, but seeing either of them in Dodger-blue is just plain wrong.
What’s not wrong is that both of them are supposed to be at the new Yankee Stadium this evening for a ceremony honoring George M. Steinbrenner III and for the unveiling of the monument to “The Boss.” But, if Yogi and even Dave Winfield could accept George’s apologies, Misters Torre and Mattingly should as well, and seemingly have. If he was still alive, and not managing those Redsox, I’d bet good money that even Billy Martin would have accepted apologies from Steinbrenner, too and that would have been sweet to witness. Not quite up there as the top secret Old Timer’s Day announcement of Billy’s eventual return, but these are calmer days than those.
Yanks/Rays four game series starts tonight in the Bronx and could very well help determine the AL East winner. Then again, they’ll probably split, each game decided by a run, a few of them in extra innings as the beat goes on…

WEEKEND EDITION

This is the sick-on-the-couch edition; watching lots of baseball, but you’re getting short-shrift on news.
Yanks have taken the first two games from the O’s – as they should – but the Orioles are not the same team under Buck Showalter as they were earlier in the season. Having just swept the Blue Jays, the O’s were looking good.
On Friday, AJ has enough to keep it close, even with the black eye that he says is not baseball-related, but won’t talk about, and then it turns into the A-Rod show. A long ball earlier in the game, but he saved the dramatic shot for the 9th. With two out, two on and two strikes, Al took a close pitch that had a few players in the home dugout jumping over the rail in celebration of a victory. But the next one was what A-Rod was looking for and he drove it out, leading to Mo closing it out for the 4-3 win.
Saturday was CC again looking for his 20th victory of the season and this time the Yankee bats ensured he got it, 11-3. As I trumpet Cano for MVP, I knew that Guthrie was getting tired and was going to leave one up for Cano, who turned a 4-2 game into a 6-2 one and CC and the pen sailed from there.
And yes, again I must show my bias and the fact that I get to see him play day in and day out, but how can Cano not be the frontrunner for the 2010 AL MVP? Bautista and Cabrera are having monster seasons, but for .500 teams that are 4th and 3rd in their respective divisions. On the Yanks, you have Jeter and A-Rod having subpar seasons, Tex has been so streaky all season and Posada and Swish have been banged up. Cano, hitting in the 5th spot has been consistent all season, carrying the team from time to time when it’s been needed and playing a remarkable second base. I know there’s an anti-Yankee sentiment and the World Series ring is the thing, but Cano and CC (for Cy Young) have got to be first and foremost in the award discussions.
So, how are no homeruns and one run batted in “a good month” according to Kay? I am all for Berkman, but hitting a weak .300 is not what you want from your number three hitter even if he’s only subbing for the broken-toed and slowed Tex.

I suppose I should rag on the Gigantes’ bats more often. After comparing them to a soccer team, they showed me and the Dodgers by putting up a ten-spot, but after that, the Cerveceros came to town and turned the home team’s bat to the Whiffle variety. You score one run per two games, you’re not going to win any and the Rockies and the Braves will score.
Even though Scioscia pulled out all the stops – as in 5 guys in the infield – the Rays come back on them in the 9th to tie it and then win it in the 10th on a throwing error. Big win for TB to keep within a half game of the Yanks.
This kid named Henry Rodriguez comes out of the Oakland pen to face the Twins and Mauer in the 7th yesterday and his first seven pitches are clocked at 98, 99 (5 times) and 101. Watching the rest of his frame I have to say this: He throws 99mph consistently…

No Yankee game on the schedule yesterday as they travel from Tampa to Baltimore; a perfect opportunity for Girardi to rest the guys without getting anxious reports from the New York beat writers. So, I scout the Twins vs. the Chisox for a little while.
The Twins are throwing “their ace” Carl Pavano, and yes, I am biased against the now-mustached pitcher, but really? He’s their ace? Would you want to see him up against Sabathia, Price or Lee in the opening game of a playoff series?
And then – holy shite – Pavano hits Konerko in the face with a pitch. And Guillen and the trainer are out there and the trainer’s trying to pull Konerko away from the plate and toward the dug-out and the big, badass just won’t go. He does permit the trainer to retrieve a towel, but Konerko stays in the game.
And it proves my point about Pavano right off the bat: let’s put it this way: do you think if you got hit in the face by a pitch thrown by Sabathia, are you going to be able to stay in the game? Are you even going to want to? CC hits you, you go down and you stay that way…
Oh, Manny looks so good in Chicago. Two weeks in the windy city and the dumb thug doesn’t even have an extra base hit yet. He doesn’t have a single run batted in. Things may be awful with the Dodgers, but at least Mr. Torre doesn’t have to deal with Manny being Manny any more.

“Machete,” the new Robert Rodriguez flick that had started out as one of those kick-ass trailers from Grindhouse, is a whole lotta fun and I have to recommend seeing it. Pulling chunks of pages from QT’s book, Rodriguez fills his cast with a bunch of older actors (okay, and Lindsay Lohan who only seems young; she doesn’t really show much in the chops department (and at least one of “her” scenes comes straight from the trailer and isn’t HER in the role (the LA Weekly took a shot at Rodriguez for this, but I think it was just fun)) but she does show off her chest far more than you’d expect) like Don Johnson and Robert DeNiro and it’s the first time in a long time that I could get through a movie with DeNiro and like what he’s doing. See it for a good, action-packed, time…

Got tickets to see Thelonious Monster next Saturday at Spaceland; it’s been ages since I have seen that beloved band. I think more people know Bob Forrest from his part in that Celeb Rehab TV show. No, he’s not a patient, but an adviser to the doctors and staff as he’s been through it all. Occasionally (in the couple episodes I watched) it would come up with some of the famous rock n’ roll fuck-ups that Bob was one, too in his day. The one time I recall seeing T. Monster – and this was a long time ago at a LA invades NY show featuring TSOL, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Monster that the Peppers were the opening act) he fell from the high stage. It took me and about 2-3 other guys to haul his dead-drunk weight back onto the stage. It was impressive in the way that really only Shane MacGowan could do. I love Lucero and I appreciate Ben Nichols’ claims to his drunken spirit, but compared to the aforementioned singers, Ben is just a pischer, but I am still looking forward to seeing Lucero at SFO’s Hardly Strictly BlueGrass Festival October 1-3.

FLIP-FLOP
Maybe Cano is the only person actually reading this blog; he seems to be listening to my take on what he needs to do to garner the AL MVP. His personal high 99th rbi gave the Yanks a 1-0 lead before Berkman bounced into a rally-killing double-play. Could’ve used another one of those early runs or two…
Early on, Kay is beating the whole Crawford-getting-nailed-at-third thing like the dead horse rider he is. Broadcast highlight for me is when Kay’s trying to get to the bottom of it – trumpeting his own opinion on Maddon as he does – when sideline reporter Kim Jones, who usually kowtows to the big-headed one, says, “Beg your pardon, but Michael you’re wrong.” She had been the one who interviewed the Rays’ skipper so she should know better. Of course, Kay gets his revenge by offering to let Kim do play-by-play for the middle innings of an upcoming game vs. the O’s if she would get into the fish tank from where she was reporting. She smiled and laughed, but I would have called him – again – on his bs.
Kay mentions that Hughes is “perfect through four” which, of course, leads immediately to a hit followed by a 2-run shot. All I want is a roll of good duct tape perforated into Michael Kay mouth-long strips.
Al Leiter makes a very good point about shaking off catchers that I’ll share here when I have a little less to say for myself. If you really want to know: ask.
It seems very clear that the YES cameramen and announcers have been instructed to treat Don Zimmer as a non-entity. They never even mention him and the cameras rarely find his very familiar mug. I’d like to believe that by game 3 in the series, Zim had figured that out and moved to a spot in the dugout that got him some New York TV-time. He obviously has just too much Torre-cooties on him…
Jeter sold a HBP in the 7th like an Oscar winner. The ball hit the knob of the bat, but Jeter cried out in pain, spun away (eyeballing the ump to make sure he was paying attention) and even got Gino out to check on him. Jeter also got Maddon out – as in tossed out – for arguing the play. That Jeter scored the tying run on Granderson’s laser shot to the right field seats only goes to underscore just how many ways the Captain can and does help the Yankees win.
But Hughes’ second gopher-ball to Dan Johnson put the Yanks down 4-3 and that was how it ended.

Sorry, but watching the SF Giants is kind of like what I think watching soccer is like. And I don’t like soccer and I thank God that I was born a Yankee and AL fan. But at least the Giants were able to pack the park unlike those Rays.
Joe Montana, freezing his ass off next to his bitchy-looking blonde wife, answered the poll and stated that he thinks his neighbor, Aaron Rowand, should be leading off for the local team. It’s kind of like the choreography of a sex scene in a porn flick when you’re asking a retired QB to make your lineup decisions.
“THIS IS ACTION!” screams the Giant announcer on a double, which was the “drive of the game.” Soccer. But the Giants actually score 2 whole runs and win 2-1 after Brian Wilson gives up the insurance run in the bottom of the 9th. Oh, and there was this “kid”, a September call-up named Lindsay who pinch-hit for the Dodgers. Lindsay, a la Balboni, is something of a minor league homerun hero who had spent sixteen freaking years in the minors before this call-up.

** I meant to write about "Machete" today; see it tonight so I don't spoil it for you tomorrow... **

BACK ON-TOP
WWOR broadcast means Kay’s back assaulting my ears, insulting my Yankee acumen. What I want for Chanukah this year is a button to just turn him off; I will gladly accept that particular gift early…
Yanks hang a 4-spot on the Rays in the 3rd for what looks like some breathing room. Singleton, who’s been threatening this since the 1st pitch is finally able to say, “Someone’s gotta pay,” which is what he said the Yanks would be thinking/saying following the 12 inning shut-out the previous night.
Cano’s 2-run shot, the big blow in the inning, is headed for the wall and I’m starting to think about the AL MVP again. I think the big award is open to whoever gets hot and carries his team down the home stretch. Cabrera’s got the numbers – for certain – but he’s doing it for the go-nowhere Tigers. Hamilton is in the running, but not if he’s hurt and not playing. Who else, then?

Nova’s cruising along, 1 hit into the fourth, when he either gets those young guy 5th inning blues when they see a W on their record or just runs out of gas. He doesn’t seem to yet be a distance guy. And although it was obvious that Pena talked Girardi into letting Nova face one more batter in the 5th frame, trying to let the kid get the victory, Nova can’t nail it down. Logan comes in and gives up a 3-run dinger which wrecks Nova’s line, is the first run Logan’s given up in a while, and there went the breathing room as well as the lead.
But, the catch Granderson makes in the right-center field gap to close out the bottom of the 9th still tied at 6 is “Holy Cow” worthy. And as I hand out that new award, another goes to Hip Hip Jorge, who came off the bench to lead off the 10th and blasted a solo shot far over the centerfield wall, for what turned out to be the winning run.
The last “Holy Cow” goes to the kid in for defense in right, Greg Golson. Flat-footed he sends a laser to A-Rod at third nailing Crawford attempting to tag up. End of game as Crawford violates that cardinal (see Yanks; see Rays) sin of making the 3rd out at 3rd base – and to end the 1-run game. Thanks Carl!
Yeah, he gave up 2 runs in 5 innings pitched, but still – how freaking unfair is it to make the AA Playoffs only to wind up facing Andy Freakin’ Pettitte? Yeah, he’s only the man with the most W’s in MLB post-season history. Take that Altoona…
The Rays can’t sell out their joint for this series? Pathetic! It really is. Rays fans stay away in droves (crowds of 26-28K) and watch on their televisions…
Poor Giants. They hold the dread Dodgers to one freakin’ hit, but lose 1-0 on Uribe’s error back of second. Much like the Yanks the night before, you have to score a run at some point or you are going to lose; it’s how the game works…

PENNANT RACE?

Neither Girardi or Maddon will say it, but I will: taking the Wild Card has some distinct advantages over winning the mighty AL East outright. With Cliff Lee looking like the one who dominated for the Phillies last October and November, they have become the team you would rather not face in the shorter, first round of playoffs. Not taking anything against the Twins, who are more equipped for a longer series, they just don’t have that Number One Ace who can be a major difference maker.
The Yanks have faced Lee and David Price back-to-back and made them both look like, well, Lee & Price. Twenty innings and one run, you cannot expect to win too many games that way. CC Sabathia and Price hooked up in one of those pitchers’ duels match-ups like two of the top CY Young candidates they are.
And even though the Yanks dropped their 4th in a row for the first time all season, and are the last team to have a losing streak of that length, I didn’t have to hear Michael Kay babbling in my ears about it, so that was a positive.
The first “burst” of action didn’t come until the 5th inning when Jorge tried to surprise the Rays and steal second. It’s not an awful idea, but he’s nailed.
The “awful” idea came later and by the brain and feet of Gardner. He pinch-runs for Berkman, who had pinch-hit and reached via a base on balls. And yes, Gardy does have forty steals this season, but I can’t for the life of me figure out why he stands there for a few pitches as Posada flies out on the second pitch. Gardy swipes second on the first pitch to Kearns, setting up a runner in scoring position—even if it’s now two outs. And I suppose I should’ve just left him alone, because there goes Gardner trying to steal third and he’s nailed for the third out, breaking that old cardinal sin that stands true for the other twenty-nine ball clubs, as well.
And someone had to score. Girardi leaves Robertson, Joba and Mo in the pen as Mitre gives up the walk-off dinger in the 11th; these walk-offs against the Yanks are getting old…
Watched the end of the Padres/Rockies game, scouting for the Giants and it was funny to hear the San Diego announcers intone “Troy Tulowitski” as if they were saying “Derek Jeter.”


Tried to watch a low-budget thing called “Several Ways to Die Trying” that Netflix sent my way. I could only get through about 45 minutes of it, and only a couple ways, before the whole thing became trying. Am I really supposed to take a high school student’s novelist aspirations seriously? I shake my fist and mumble, “Grow up,” and press the eject button, slipping it into the red envelope to return with a sneeze…


New Ted Leo cd is out; hope that means they’ll come back and play Los Angeles again; I’d be down for that. Hoping somehow that a Pavement/Sonic Youth ticket comes my way for the Hollywood Bowl, although I may already be bound for San Francisco and the Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival where I shall get my fill of guitar rock ‘n roll.

This blog is now officially off hiatus and as prepared as possible for keeping you up-to-date on what matters to me (and what should matter to you) down the home-stretch. If you have to know: I spent the last few weeks preparing, participating and recovering from TTITD. This was the first time in 9 years that I checked my email while out there; I also checked the AL East standings twice, too and with good results.
The movie “Kick Ass” really is and was, yet again, more evidence that Hollywood can sometimes make a good, entertaining, not-for-kids movie and still have no idea how to sell it to us. The posters and ads that I recall from the theatrical release made me think this was a piece of fanboy, fluffy comic book entertainment.
I suppose I am supposed to say: “Some spoilers below; jump to the next section if you haven’t seen “Kick Ass” and intend to.
What it really is is a pretty dark and quite violent, odd little movie masquerading (due the tone the ads sent) as something else. I wonder how many parents walked out with their little ones when the lead kid gets stabbed quite realistically and then run over. Worse still: I wonder how many parents stayed in their seats as the movie quite possibly got far more intense than what should be handled by young children.
I remember seeing some piece of crap horror thing (A Haunting in CT, maybe?) at the Uni-shitty multi-plex (free, though) and there were some young kids sitting near me. As the movie got scary to an 8 year old, I can still clearly hear the kids crying and begging to leave. The parents’ reply? Shut up and sit down. Sure wish I had the button and those “parents” seats were wired like in William Castle’s “The Tingler.” I would have given them something to remember; I would have made it rather difficult for them to “shut up and sit down.”

There shall be no further updates and no further kvetching* about Furion Entertainment Group or their representatives Georgie George or Lisa Wilson. I gave them the opportunity this past week to put up or shut up. After more than half a year of having smoke blown through every open orifice, of being strung along and treated completely unprofessionally, I employed the old salesman trick of the “take away.” I would say that about 10% of me was hoping that it would be “successful;” that they would respond with the long delayed check and contract.
But I was more than equally prepared for the “best of luck with your career” voicemail that my fuck off and die, “put all my materials in the shredder” email I sent on Friday at the close of business elicited. Good riddance to more bad rubbish! On to the next…
*excluding references made, excerpts posted from the fringe screenwriting book.

Yes, the announcers were all aflutter about this past weekend’s Yankees/Rangers series as being a “playoff preview.” And it very well may have been that and there was playoff-like intensity for some of it, especially with Ron Washington using his expanded (bloated?) bullpen for match-ups like it was a game 7. But here’s the thing: had this actually been the playoffs, Girardi wouldn’t have rested Jeter, A-Rod and Swisher for a game a piece over the three.
And although the Rangers came at the Yanks with their top 3 frontline starters, the ones in the gray uni’s countered with Vazquez, Burnett and Moseley (aka known as numbers 5, ? and 7 in the Yankee starting pitcher depth charts) who are not exactly the Murderer’s Row of arms.
Picture-in-Picture WIN! Saw the Jay’s Adam Lind’s walk-off two run shot of TB’s stud closer Soriano as Thames was batting vs. Lee in the Yankee game.
Holy crud! No worse sight in MLB than having to watch David Eckstein playing in those Sunday Padre fatigues…