Athletics Nation

On a real team?

No.

You're being mean again

For once I am listening to the announcers and they’re not that bad, they certainly don’t get on my nerves. I’m surprised, it’s informative on occasion too.

Of course I have nothing to compare against, Bill King Radio really doesn’t count, so maybe Buck and McCarver do suck. But I don’t mind, they’re good enough.

Go Cupcakes. Go America.

did you rcently have a lobotomy?

that would help me listen to those people

Another meanie

An’ no, motherfarker, it’s called medication, Jesus.

I hope you brought extra, because by the end of the night, we all may need a strong dose.

paris7 - November 1, 2009 reply

[nods] yeah

Yankee hitters are deep this year, who denies it?

my stategy is to turn it on watch a couple of pitches in the 1st.

turn it off have dinner, read to the kids, ctch up on real housewives of atlanta, turn the game back on for the bottom of the 2nd.

Oh, poo... The games have been better than that, luckily!

paris7 - November 1, 2009 reply

THe games have been better, but loooooong

I'm spozed to get laid tonight

It’s time for hamburgers, I have to get moving. I’ll prolly mess it up, oh well, whatever.

You're dating a cow?

maybe he could be for a team in Japan.

Please win Phillies

I want so badly to see the Yankees lose a WS in their brand-new tax-payer-funded monstrosity.

Will they tear down the house Ruth built?

Doesn’t make sense they’d just leave it sitting there forever. Man, that is messed up.

Watching at the Grand Tavern

Meridian has bigger TVs but Grand Tavern is walking distance from home.

Let’s Go Cupcakes!

OaklandSi - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Probably for the best, OaklandSi

Blanton on a huge screen is not for the faint of heart.

Why not?

At least Cupcakes will fit in a huge screen.

walkoff baltimore chop - November 1, 2009 reply

I think he would the food here

OaklandSi - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

God I'm hungry.

Where’s the SNF? Damn you World Series!

OldhamA - November 1, 2009 reply

GO CUPCAKES!

Poor Country Joe

I guess this short rest stuff might actually be better than less talented energetic guys.

This looks oddly familiar

Beanball war coming later?

not if the unps have anything to say!!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Excellent intentional walk!

"The Yankees take the win"

good, we can all go home now.

Philly fans love it that he beaned A-Rod

Stupid folks don’t realize that could hurt their chances of winning the WS!

Veteran umps making a rookie decision

agree

CC should get a chance to drill Werth (below the shoulder, of course) before the warnings come out.

Poor start for Blanton

I wonder if this is a sort of secret strategy: retaliate so CC is tossed

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Well this is not looking good.

Boo.

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

that was yesterday

Lol

This is getting pretty scary for the phillies today though

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Maybe the inverse of yesterday

Phillies up by three, Hamels throwing a no-no through three, then it all went Yankees.

walkoff baltimore chop - November 1, 2009 reply

LOL

You can tell joe and tim,

Blanton is nothing if he is not a gutty performer

Too bad the Phillies don't have more ex-A's

we normally dominate CC Sabathia.

I'm actually curious to see him bat

Remember the monster slam last year at dodger stadium?

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

I didn't see it but there is always youtube

It was a serious shot

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Johnny fail

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Shane-r-ino with a double! Let's get it started.

Johnny doing the same backward somersault Swish did at home plate yesterday.

Trying for style points.

SO CLOSE.

Damnit. That needed to get out.

Unfortunately, there were no cameras on that part of the RF wall

yay

Amazing that the WS was able to include the two worst fanbases in the MLB

Nice Utley. Can we have him please?

would be tied in NY

reverse Minute Maid park

They're hitting him around some...just need ot string a few together

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Three feet too low

Now let’s see what version of cust Howard will imitate here

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

the full count swing and miss

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

C'mon Howard. You're due.

What the hell is going on here?

CC gave up to loud hits in a row? This could be interesting.

I thought maybe

but no

And cust K's

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Wow, Howard's not having the greatest postseason, is he?

But this guy is!

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Yeah, wow.

Did they say 7 HRs this postseason for Werth? That’s unreal.

Surprised they walked him

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

being super careful?

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Dammit

just replaced the bulb in my LCD and it keeps changing brightness. Best Buy probably throws a remanufactured one in with warranty TV’s.

Blarg

At least they got one

Thank you, Chase Utley, for blocking the view from the JeterCam™

there will be a fine upcoming

So, I take it that no other SS in baseball calls things out on the field

not in the way of His Wonderfulness

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

He has the Directv blimp view because of his heightened sensory

He's a field general.

Like Tom Brady. He has leadership. And intangibles.

He can talk and play baseball! At the same time!!

Englishmajor - November 1, 2009 reply

so I made cupcakes last night.

Hopefully they will bring Joe good luck.

…speaking of, I think I shall eat one of my cupcakes now…

whiteshoes40 - November 1, 2009 reply

One huge problem here is that

both Howard and Ibañez are so predictably helpless against Sabathia.

Didn't Howard get a hit off him in game 1?

OaklandSi - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Ah, Nick Swisher.

I hate that our relationship has become a love/hate one.

Is that the first they've faced each other?

OaklandSi - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Hmm.

I’m poking around in Baseball-Reference to see if I can find out something like that.

Cupcakes vs. Swish. [sigh]

whiteshoes40 - November 1, 2009 reply

Sniff.

They grow up so fast.

They leave town so fast ;-(

make us dream of our past...

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

this is getting depressing

whiteshoes40 - November 1, 2009 reply

Something weird about seeing Blanton

Strikeout Swisher

Wasn't Swish his best man?

Yay Joe! I was napping, so I've only just turned on

I’m going to assume the Phillies have Blanton batting at four and he hit a solo home run, right?

Oh, and I scored a goal in our soccer game today

we still lost, though

You are turning into bobsomething

let's not get carried away

I also gifted the opposition a couple of easy opportunities, too

HOW IN GODS GREEN EARTH

IS DEREK JETER THE BEST HITTER IN THE AMERICAN LEAGUE??

He won the Hank Aaron award, presented to the “best hitter” in the league. Pujols won for the NL. Jeter…..is the 5th best hitter on his own team. Yet that means hes the best in the AL….god i hate all mlb awards..

PL78 - November 1, 2009 reply

I appreciate the motive behind the Hank Aaron Award.

Cy Young = best pitcher
Hank Aaron = best hitter

That leaves MVP to be defined as “most valuable”, whatever that means. But the Hank Aaron award has gotten so many years wrong that it’s obvious why no one cares about it. I mean Aramis Ramirez won last year.

wait, Aramis Ramirez?

That totally passed me by

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/mlb_awards_content.jsp?content=hank_aaron_history

Oh yeah, I believe you... I just have zero recollection. Perhaps the two things are tied together

wow

I thought the more traditional awards were screwed up. I knew something was off when they said Pujols had won it for the 2nd time….2nd? He should have 7 by my count.

PL78 - November 1, 2009 reply

More Buck stupidity

There’s a concert at the Spectrum tonight, and that’s the last event …

Actually, Joe, according to people who actually know what they are talking about, that was last night.

Maybe it's a, uh, private performance

Just him, a chair and a man named Derek

What are they going to do with it?

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

...

Joe reads AN!

Englishmajor - November 1, 2009 reply

Aha.

Blanton faced Swisher on July 4, 2008 three times (CHI vs. OAK).

Strikeout swinging
Single to RF
Flyout to CF

For as much as I hate the Yankees

I can’t help but root everytime Swish is up. And he looks awful with that Yankees clean shaven look!

He looks the same as Giambi did when they went to the Yanks:

Neutered. And soulless.

but it's still Swish

and well, he’s my man crush, damnit.

And that's why it hurts so much.

:-(

Eh, he'll never be a 'true yankee'

He’s too cool for that.

"Just high" - ha

But ump gave him a makeup call on the next pitch.

I thought they were both strikes, personally

First was definitey a strike

I thought the second was more borderline and could go either way depending on the ump. But my boy Fat Joe got out of it so I won’t hate on the ump. Just the Fox announcers.

*definitely

Looks like the low strike is in play tonight

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

poor pearl jam

now everyone knows that muppet listens to you

Eh, they haven't made a good album in 15 years.

I love the guys, but I can’t say I like the way they’ve gone.

I suspect Pearl Jam are in my top ten of artists that I can't stand

Wow, that's harsh.

Up there with Lady Gaga, Fergie, and, say, the Backstreet Boys?

Nah, I don't really care about any of them enough to dislike them

And, yknow, this is just my own take on them, which obviously counts for little, if anything

Don't forget nsync and 98 degrees and hanson

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

ok, two out of the three of those bands I kinda love

I’ll leave you to guess

"Don't forget' and "and" are band names?

Learn something everyday on AN.

Nsync and hanson

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Right on

Wow, CC's strike zone is as wide as his trousers

"Mark Teixeira, a vaccuum cleaner at first base"

what, he sucks?

If Blanton was on the Yankees

They’d have a special clubhouse guy to clean his cleats.

With a $79.99 Yankee-branded microfiber cleat-polishing cloth?

Made from puppy fur

So that's what Joe Buck is doing on his knees in front of Jeter

and there was I, thinking something else

SHUT YOUR FACES, GILETTE

I don’t need more Jeter searing my retinas.

Is it just me, or is the phrase 'a man's face sure takes a pounding'

somewhat homoerotic?

A-rod is gonna have some serious frown lines....

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

I'm convinced that A-Rod must have slept with Charlie Manuel's wife or something.

3 hit by pitches in 2 games? Hilarious.

siddown, bitch

I thought the ump was going to start moonwalking

I approve of his enthusiasm as long as he does it on Blanton strikeouts.

especially when it pisses of Posada

I think he’s passed Jeter and Rodriguez in the list of ‘Yankees that piss me off’

He's a jerk

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

let's go Joe

Nice K for Joe

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Augh, the blimp is falling into the crowd!

Run for the exits, Phillie fans!

CC Sabathia?

Jamarcus Russell?

Hmm, I wonder who would win if they were doing a weigh-in?

And by ‘win’ I mean weigh more.

Wow, Blanton's rolling.

Keep it coming, cupcakes!

Nice inning kentucky Joe!!

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

one for each strickout

Nice!

Dear Ryan Howard

Can you start being awesome, please?

love, 45 minutes ago.

he's the rich man's jack cust.

so no. only good.

Dear Mr Sabathia, please hit a Phillie (I'd like to suggest, Mr P Felix)

and we can get a rumble started.

This game needs some livening up.

Thanks,

The neutral fan

Hey Joe, where you goin' with that ball in your hand

I’m going down to strike out some Yankees
You know, I’ve caught them swinging around with bats in their hand

Nice.....

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

I wonder if in that spot with rollins et al

They used their real little league pictures? They could have used anyone for all we know

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

I've been on a conference call since 6pm. It's kinda nice watching with the volume off.

I watched most of this game with the sound off! I agree

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Best way to watch Fox

You have good discipline though, obviously. I mean let something like, “jeter sucks!” slip if I was on the phone.

110-120 pitches

Hope Charlie Manuel is listening

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

that's a lot of soccer fields!

Let's see Cust do THAT!

ha, I was about to say, that steal was decidedly Cust-esque

Mad speed!

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

That SB

Kept the Phillies out of the Double Play

Howard was the MVP in the last series....I bet the team is wondering where THAT guy went

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Ack! Don't leave him stranded there!!

This is guy is due too!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Thank you!!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

PUNCH POSADA, QUICK

HELLLLLLL YEAH.

It was really hard to stay quiet just there!

no mute button?

I can’t survive conference calls without my mute button.

stormtown - November 1, 2009 reply

yes, but i am trying to participate

not very hard. obviously.

I just stay on mute until I have something I really need to say

keeps me from interrupting and spouting off and all that other stuff.

stormtown - November 1, 2009 reply

nice!!!!

Happy Peter

go Happy Pete!

stormtown - November 1, 2009 reply

Yes!!!

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Dude, he didn't touch the plate.

He's doing his best Holliday impression for you

JLaff - November 1, 2009 reply

imissyoumattholliday

not

Was anyone else screaming at Howard to go back and touch the plate?

And did he ever go back?

WOW......I was yelling at him to do that!

NEVER TOUCHED IT!! Gift run there.

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

yes, I shouted. out loud.

Plus, I wish he’d just ploughed through Posada, for the hell of it

He still tagged Posada pretty good in the side

I'm still wishing he full-on shoulder tackled him.

seriously

I’d really like to see a fight in this game.

Is that bad?

Hell no.

I want them to plunk A-Rod enough so that his skin is as purple as his lips.

I'd kinda like to see Sebathia bodyslam someone

A cartoon, flattened-out Posada would have been funny to see

with the birds around his head

Good.....let's hope they have the chance to do it a few more times...

I wouldn’t be sad if he went back to NY all bruised and sore!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Hahaha!

Like a train.

Damon should have dove for that.

It bounced about a foot from where he was standing.

Don't know how he

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Missed the plate there

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Yeah, it's like every body part individually jumped over it.

Not like they have the "broke the plane" rule!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

he just kinda hovered.

Red Bull.

It gives you wings.

That should be his nicknamr

The red bull

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

I'm not complaining in this case

But these umpires are not good.

Englishmajor - November 1, 2009 reply

[shakes head]

It’s been a bad year, change is coming after this. Right?

electronic strike zone, for one

If only.

I thought maybe it was just me...

But there have been some really bad calls. And even if the calls are more often in favor of the Phillies, I do want to complain.

What was the bad call, though?

The Yankees chose not to tag Howard. Clearly Howard wasn’t out (the ball got away).

I guess the bad call was the "safe" call right away

It’s the Yankee’s fault for not tagging him, but he was called safe. And I’m more frustrated about the balls and strikes being called. So I’m extra sensitive and irrational.

vote for an electronic strike zone

if the buzzer in the ump’s pocket buzzes, he calls a strike. Otherwise, everything looks about the same (check swing, hbp etc)

Maybe not the ump's bad call

The correct call is to make no call until either Howard comes back and touches the plate or a Yankee goes over and tags Howard. As soon as they threw a pitch to Ruiz, the play was over and Howard had to be safe.

So logical.....that was a Posada fail then...hahaha

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

His second of the inning

Don’t forget his dropping of the ball on the Howard steal.

Double hahahaha

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

I noticed, live, that Howard had missed the plate

I can’t believe Posada didn’t go over and tag Howard just in case.

I also can't believe Howard didn't hedge his bets by coming back to touch home plate

after the ball got away.

This.

Totally

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

He should have been listening to our yelling

Or someone from the bench should have reminded him.

if they hadn't thrown down could they have appealed?

Like when someone left 3rd early on an SF

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

Time to popout, Nicky.

aw crap.

Shades of Matt Holliday

WTF??

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Yeah, was there not time to make a proper transfer?

It would been veeeeeery close

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

That play sounded so much cooler in Utley's head

Than it ended up being in execution.

Too cute, Chase!

I’ve seen him do that flip before. Can’t do it every time, dude.

Huh?

What happened to the DP I ordered???

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

The chef apologizes, but Chase Utley burned the kitchen down.

Ha ha ha ha

Re-fire please!?!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

That was a CC fail!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Nice bunting CC

cuppingmaster - November 1, 2009 via mobile reply

There's something really funny about CC trying to bunt with two strikes,

failing, and yelling to himself.

One of these days, Jeter's head is going to end in the catcher's mitt

As he looks the ball into the mitt.

darn...

and I can’t really be mad at swish. :(

EllisFanatic - November 1, 2009 reply

Frick.

Was anyone else expecting a lawn dart?

I was hoping for one

Just for the LOL-factor.

expecting, or hoping?

There’s been too little comedy value, thus far

Double-frickin' fail

I thought Rollins was going to be in position to get that ball. Can’t blame him though.

I heard sometimes bad things happen when you give up leadoff walks

yeah, like infield hits, bloop singles

HBPs, Catcher's interference, strickout+passed ball

"Lead-off walks always score"

facepalm

LOL.

I seriously just facepalmed.

Typical Blanton

I expect another inning or so …
6-7 IP, 3-4 R .. Blanton is consistent like that.

Rickeyfan - November 1, 2009 reply

5th inning......who said he'd fall apart in the 5th?

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

everyone.

Except he didn't -- that inning was complete and total luck

A chopper over the mound, a seeing eye grounder to LF, and a bloop to right.

Yep.

Manuel better not pull him. He’s only at 68 pitches.

I did.....WHY DO IT???

He always had about “10 straight retired” in him, then….BOOOOM!!

Damn.....I HATE this frickin team

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Hmm, feels like the ump's strikezone got smaller this half of the inning?

Haha, get the hell back, Derek.

Hmm Melky went back...

I'm glad Blanton got out

But I really wanted to see A-Rod get plunked again.

You might have to wait until another game

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

when Blanton's tired and they want to take him out

They should just plunk A-rod instead

or jeter

hey there

and yes!

Yeah, it's like a signal

Saves the manager a trip to the mound.

Unless you count the benches clearing as a trip

Gets all the bench players properly warmed up

Only 72? Come on they gotta hang 25+ on his this inning

Let's go Phillies!!!!!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Let's go, Ut-ley

Okay OAH, will another HR from Utley. He needs your blessing.

ok chase, hit it!!!!

Maybe you need to be more specific

Like, hit a HR!!!!

ok, next at bat

Let's go, OAH

sorry, guess i don't have it tonight

neither does utley.

did you see the glove flip fail earlier?

no i missed it

It's so surreal to be rooting for a team

and not have that sinking feeling in your stomach that they’re going to let you down. Very un-Oakland

dang

jinx much?

C'mon CHASE!

fail

Blargh.

It's time, Ryan.

phail

Hmm, seems like these lefties are not listening to their hitting coach

again, so much like an A's game

Next guy grounds weakly to 2B

dammit

I WANT A BOMB RIGHT THE FARK NOW

And not just f-bombs of frustration

I have your f bombs of frustration right here

fuck fuck fuck

And here's Jeter running in

not minding is own effin business .. ;)

Rickeyfan - November 1, 2009 reply

JUST THROW A FRIGGIN PITCH ALREADY

Werth is making CC work a little

Sing with me
“He werths hard for the money
Tho hard for the money”

But not hard enough

Ohferchrissakes.

Fail

paris7 - November 1, 2009 reply

that was craptastic

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

I like that commercial. With the dad. And Cole Hamels.

Very Athletic-like

At least they made Sabathia throw a lot of pitches?

i didn't even realize the yankees had a 4th run

they're insidious like that

flipping between mad men

no spoilers please! ;)

no problem, i like to watch it @ 7am in hi-def

okay joan

va va vooooom!

Shut the F up, Posada.....

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Yeah

Don’t recall him complaining when CC was getting those calls.

7 strickouts for Cupcakes

I LOVE that curve ball...

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

It's modeled on Joe's physique

Curvy.

I thought he caught it

At least Cupcakes kept running.

They said short hop - it looked caught even on slo-mo. But i only saw it that once.

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

I'm bored.

yeah, likewise

this game needs more fighting

Time for the Phillies to make it EXCITING!!!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Joe appears fond of Swisher

Keeps putting him on base.

Attaboy, Joe

Best.FAILhat.Ever

Just found this on failblog.

that had needs some lithium

hat

baseball all year long???

i wish!

Hammie......

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

Now's a good a time as any, Phils.

Good start!!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

yay Happy Peter

Decent job by Cupcakes.

well that was over in a hurry

any more scoring?

nope

one on, one out in the top of the 7th. damon up.

I've never understood pinch-hitters who make outs on the first pitch

Almost as bad as taking five straight pitches with two outs in the 9th inning.

Surprised they didn't pinch for Sabathia.

He’s already at 95 pitches, and on three day’s rest.

That's like 70 pitches for a normal pitcher

girardi had said 110-120 earlier

guess they’re really getting their money’s worth tonight

Um: not good.

Wow, Chan Ho's got crazy eyes.

Stretch, then runz plz.

That almost caught A-Rod night in the ruts

Hope he’s not pulling a Beltre tonight.

c'mon utley, hit a Homerun!!!

OMG I LOVE YOU

i called it!!!

Uncanny!

Yes he cann!

luckily it was a commercial break from mad men

And thou shalt receive

You did it!!!!

Way to go, OAH.

there you go

it took specificity!

SMOKED

That was a bomb.

CHASE.

Game's not over....let's go B2B!!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

ok, time for a Yankess bullpen meltdown, right?

My guess: If Marte gets Howard, Rivera starts the 8th.

I'm not interested in your 'reality'

I want a plague of flies! at the least!

Hmm...More likely a plague of broken-bat grounders.

right!!!

BERRYJO - November 1, 2009 reply

i swear it looks like utley barely swings

and it still goes 410 feet+

He has about the quickest, most effortless swing in the game

And the quickest, most effortless glove in the game.

Insta-mancrush.

Well...If he takes the fricking ball out of his fricking glove

on Cabrera’s bouncer, we might be tied right now.

except when he flips it ;-)

I like how the Phillies have scorched every ball this inning,

but the Yankees lead because they hit two seeing eye bouncers and a flair.

ok ryan howard, hit a Homerun too!!!!!

it only works on utley, maybe again in the 9th

Hmm it seems to work more if you say it every time Utley gets up to bat...

Straw grasping time - the fact that they've seen Rivera quite a lot recently means they'll be able to hit him, right?

Right???

Or the fact that Rivera's pitched a million innings in the last million consecutive days

means that he’ll be off today?