Quit your whining and embrace the new playoff format

Baseball had just had an amazing end to the season. A heart stopping race to the final day where nobody knew which way the post season would shape up.

One of the best teams in the game, or at least a consensus pick, would be on the outside looking in. And the balance seemed to tip from game to game.

It was the perfect exhibition of why the current playoff system worked!

And then they changed it. Added more teams. And fans couldn't believe they were watering down the post season, especially after we just saw that the old system not only wasn't broken but worked perfectly.

The new format would deny us such a great finale.

What year am I talking about?

Am I talking about the new one game Wild Card playoff to finish the year?

Or am I talking about the introduction of the Division Series right on the heels of the amazing NL West race in 1993, where the 103 Giants missed the playoffs completely?

Or am I talking about the beginning of Division play in 1969, when the furious American League race of 1967 had four teams going into the final weekend with a shot at the pennant before the Red Sox won it?

Take your pick.

It could be any of them. Whenever a new wrinkle is thrown into the playoff system, people will complain and act like the playoffs will never be the same and that undeserving teams will advance.

And those same people will then defend the system they used to bitch and moan about.

I think the new change is good.
It puts a premium on winning the Division and every year gives us a do or die shot at the playoffs which will probably mean starting a pair of aces.

And it means that 1/3 of the teams will technically be a playoff team.

Conspiracy theorists are saying this is a ploy to make sure the Red Sox and Yankees make it every year.

But this format would have given some small market teams a shot at October. The 2007 and 2010 Padres would have been in. The 2000 and 2005 Indians would have given fans some hope. The 1996 Expos would have played. Who knows? Maybe they would have advanced and save baseball in Quebec!

Either way, the change is here. And why be the person who complains? There will be more exciting baseball down the stretch AND in October.

And I guess we can't have that.

Girardi is not so dumb now, is he?

When the Yankees and Rays were going down the stretch, there were a lot of Yankee fans killing Joe Girardi for not playing all of his veterans in every game. "They HAVE to win the Division!" was the rallying cry.

I heard one person KILLING Girardi for not using Mariano Rivera in both games of a double header in the last meaningless weekend of the series.

The Rays won the Division... the Yankees are the Wild Card... and it doesn't matter.

Who is looking good now?

The Yankees need one win at home and they are off to the ALCS.
The Rays can't afford to lose on the road or they are playing golf.

It is like when the Twins caught the Tigers for the Division Title on the last day of the 2006 season... but the Twins got swept out of the Division Series and the Tigers won the pennant.

Which team would you rather have followed? The Division winner who couldn't win a post season game or the team that went to the World Series?

Joe has been there and done that... that 28 on his back isn't for Division Titles.

Joe thinks it is more important to have Mariano ready for THESE games rather than the tail end of a "who cares?" double header in Boston.

I have a feeling most Yankee fans agree.
(So would Tampa fans.)

Hey Tampa... you are welcome

A disappointing season has come to an end. Devastating injuries, some subpar performances and the fact that the Rays and Yankees were just better did the Sox in.

All things considered, 89 wins and not being eliminated until the last week wasn't too shabby.

But hey, the Sox won 4 of their last 6 against the Yankees (and the two losses were extra inning losses.) So they showed a little bit of heart at the end.

And oh yeah... they knocked the Yankees out of the Division and into the Wild Card. Not that it matters... but if having the Yankees do some extra traveling makes them miserable, then that is all this petty Red Sox fan needs to know.

Thanks for the season, Red Sox. It wasn't pretty and the results weren't what we hoped... but there were some fun games.

And hey, after all those years just wanting a shot at a title, it is good to have a year that tests the true fans.

Now fix the outfield.

Can the Red Sox make up a week in 19 games?

The Red Sox trail the Yankees by a week of games... 7 to be exact.

There are 19 games left... and that is darn near impossible to make up that many games.

The Red Sox haven't exactly shown the killer instinct this year and the Yankees are loaded with talent. The only way that can happen is if the Red Sox win a bunch of games and the Yankees lose just as many.

But have you noticed something?

The Yankees HAVE been losing a lot of games lately. They've lost games where Mariano Rivera has the lead in the 9th. They lost tonight when C.C. Sabathia pitched a masterpiece. They can't drive in a big run and they are playing solid teams who want to BEAT this Yankees team badly.

They play Tampa 6 more times in the next 10 days while the Sox play Seattle, Toronto and Baltimore.

And with A. J. Burnett, Dustin Moesley and Javier Vazquez pitching most of the games, Phil Hughes being almost shut down and Joba Chamberlain being as close to worthless as you can get... the Yankees pitching staff has to be considered average at best.

And the Red Sox pitching is looking better. Lester has won his last 4 starts and has 10+ strikeouts in each game. Maybe they can get on a roll.

You telling me the Red Sox can't cut it to from 7 to 5 games in that stretch?

Let's say the Red Sox get it down to 5 games by September 24th.
Guess what?
The Red Sox and Yankees will be playing each other.

Let's say the Sox win that series... down to 4 games.

The Red Sox and Yankees will finish the season against each other for 3 games at Fenway Park.

You telling me there's NO hope? NO New York team can blow a 7 game this late?

Oh really?

Burnt to a Coco Crisp

Our old friend Coco Crisp did us in tonight.

Going 3 for 3 and stealing a homer?
How could you Coco?
Don't you have any sentimentality?

The Sox were done early tonight and the people of Alderaan put up more of a fight than my boys did.

And Trevor Cahill moved closer to 20 wins as Clay Buchholz stays stuck on 15.

Cahill will probably start 4 more times in the A's final 22 games this year. If he goes 4-0, then he'll be a 20 game winner and probably get some Cy Young Votes.

While the A's climbed back to .500, the Sox are now 10 games out of first place with 21 left to play. And 8 games back in the loss column with 21 left to play for the Wild Card thanks to the Rays bizarre blown lead yet still winning the game victory in Toronto.

I'm not saying they are dead, but let's just say their kids are making arrangements.

I'm pumped for Red Sox and Rays! Oh who am I kidding...

For God's sake, the Red Sox are in third place. Not just for the Division but in the Wild Card hunt. The White Sox leap frogged the Red Sox this weekend.

My team is 8 games back in the loss column on Labor Day. And last time I checked, the Rays aren't the Padres and won't be dropping 10 games any time soon.

It's time to play for pride and count down our TRAGIC number.

So in honor of Fred Lynn, the Red Sox tragic number is 19.

Any combination of Red Sox losses and Rays wins that equal 19 will put this season out of its misery.

(Which means a sweep by the Rays will make the number 13!)

Then again a Red Sox sweep will put the Sox 5 games back in the loss column with 23 to play.

That's it. I AM pumped for this series!

Let's go Lester! Go for win #16!

Alright Red Sox... you are either in or you are out... right now

They need to win tonight.

It is the definition of a must win. Lester on the hill coming off a grotesque outing.

Going into Tampa to face David Price and the Rays.

If this season is going to amount to anything, they have to win this series.

I mean a sweep would be awesome, but 2 out of 3 is essential and our nominal ace is going tonight.

A sweep would put the Sox 2 1/2 back, 3 in the loss column of a playoff spot with a month to go.

Winning the series would put the Sox 5 games back in the loss column.

Losing the series would mean the Sox would be 7 games back in the loss column.

A Rays sweep would make it a 9 game gap in the loss column and time to shut down the veterans.

Win tonight and I'll get excited.
If not, the year might be done.

No pressure.


I don't often quote Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald... but THIS IS IT.

Giants fans, In Honor of Rich Aurilla

The Magic Number to Clinch a Playoff Spot is 35.

It's late August and if the playoffs started today, the Giants would be in.
OK, they are tied in the loss column with the Phillies.
(The Giants should send a fruit basket to the Astros, Pirates and Nationals for making the Phillies and Cardinals go a combined 1-7 this week.)

Stay focused Giants... there's October baseball in those hills, but don't let the Diamondbacks relish the role of spoiler.

It's magic number time.
Don't blow it.

Ahhh yes... the SLUGGING Giants!

This is how people imagined the Giants moving into a tie for a playoff spot late in the season, right?

With their big bats blasting home runs and overcoming their underwhelming starting pitching staff.

That's just how the team was designed right? With the same blue prints as the Texas Rangers of the late 1990s: Bombs away!

Don't complain Giant fans. There are no ugly wins at this point of the season. And if they need to bludgeon the opposition for W's in late August, take them with a smile.

I said this last Sunday if the Giants weathered this storm and stayed within striking distance of a playoff spot, they'll have a chance with a relatively easy September.

Well as long as the Phillies don't score runs for Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt is in left field, they could be in first place by themselves before you can light a candle to the memory of Bobby Thomson.

There are no ugly wins nor honorable losses.
Pile up the Ws and hope the pitching comes back.

Go for the sweep tomorrow.

And remember, when you think "Explosive offense" you think San Francisco Giants baseball!

Um... hooray?

The Red Sox clinched a playoff spot last night... so I should be celebrating, right?

Maybe that is a bad way to phrase it.

The Rangers were eliminated by the Angels.

That's more like it.

The Red Sox didn't win ANYTHING last night.

They haven't won a game in nearly a week.

I know that in the end it doesn't matter. They did what I wanted them to do. 

They have a playoff spot with nearly a week to go. They can line up their rotation anyway they want. They can have their bullpen rested and ready and give anyone in their lineup  a day to catch their breath.

But it's hard to fist pump in the middle of a 5 game losing streak.

It's hard to say "Woo Hoo!" when the team seems to be going through the motions.

I wanted a clinching game. Was that too much to ask for?

Well, I am going to call this the last teeth grinder of the year... because the rest of the games of the regular season are literally meaningless.

The Sox are the Wild Card team. 

The Yankees are the top seed in the AL but they can't play each other in the Division Series.

The Angels will have the second best record, ergo play the Red Sox for the 83rd year in a row.

If the Sox win all of their games or lose all of their games, nothing will change that scenario.

The only games that matter are the Twins and Tigers games... and figuring out which one has a better shot against the Yankees.

So here we go... the final Dodged Bullet/Teeth Grinder tally.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 26

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

July 10 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Pedroia drives in the only run with 2 outs in the 8th.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

August 18 - 10-9 win at Toronto. (Ortiz homers and the Jays defense collapses, saving Beckett from a bad start.)
August 24 - 12-8 win against White Sox. (Red Sox overcome early 4-1 lead and a bad Buchholz start.)

August 25 - 6-3 win against White Sox. (Red Sox win with 4 unanswered runs despite some sloppy defense.)

August 26 - 3-2 win against White Sox. (Wakes pitches 7 strong and Papi homers twice including a walk off)

August 28 - 6-5 win against Toronto. (Sox come back from early 3-0 hole and Paps wiggles out of a bases loaded jam in the 9th.)

August 29 - 3-2 win against Toronto. (Buchholz dominates but needs help from Paps to finish the 9th)

September 1 - 8-4 win at Tampa Bay. (Papelbon enters the game with the bases loaded, nobody out and go ahead run at the plate... and gets a 2 innings save.)

September 9 - 7-5 win against Baltimore. (Martinez's double gives the Sox the lead and Papelbon wiggles out of two jams.)

September 13 - 3-1 win against Tampa Bay. (Pedroia's 8th inning homer off of Matt Garza breaks a 1-1 tie)

September 16 - 9-8 win against the Angels. (Red Sox make three comebacks including a rally with 2 outs and nobody on in the 9th.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 28

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

July 9 - 8-6 loss to the Royals. (Bullpen blows early 4-0 lead.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)

July 29 - 8-6 loss to Oakland. (Down 5-0 in the first, Sox comeback falls short)

August 4 - 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Longoria hits 13th inning walk off with first base open.)

August 5 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox gets swept in a 2 game series with the tying run at the plate).

August 7 - 2-0 loss in New York. (A-Rod's walk off with 2 outs in the 15 ends a teeth grinding marathon.)

August 9 - 5-2 loss in New York. (4 outs from avoiding a sweep, Bard lets up back to back homers to Damon and Teixeira.)

August 13 - 2-0 loss to Detroit. (Verlander wiggles out of early and late jams.)

August 16 - 4-3 loss at Texas. (Red Sox can't rally and fall behind the Rangers in the Wild Card race)

Setpember 2 - 8-5 loss at Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox recover from a bad Beckett outing to tie the game in the 8th, only to give back the lead the next inning.)
September 17 - 4-3 loss to Angels. (Tek allows tying run to score on a wild third strike. Sox lose in the ninth.)

September 21 - 12-9 loss in Kansas City. (Sox blow an 8-2 lead in the rain.)

September 26 - 3-0 loss in New York. (Sox waste terrific 7 inning performance by Dice-K)

Setpember 27 - 4-2 loss in New York. (Yankees rally to clinch division and Sox fail to win the season series.)

Setpember 29 - 8-7 loss to Blue Jays. (Youk strikes out with the winning runs on base, spoiling the chance of an on field celebration.)

So it finishes up at -2.

Which means of the 91 regular season wins, 26 of them were games they pulled out of the fire and 65 of them were not exactly suspenseful.

And of the 66 losses, 28 were games they should have won and 38 of them were no brainers.

I wonder if other teams have a similar ratio.

Something to ponder in 2010.

Shame on Jim Riggleman

That's right Riggleman. You had better hang your head.

You took over the worst team in baseball and they are indeed going to finish this season as one of the worst if not the worst team in the game.

That's not why you should hang your head.

We are at the end of the season.
The Nationals have only 9 games left.
They've already lost 101 games.
Needless to say they don't have a lot of meaningful games left.

Yet the Nats find themselves in the middle of a pennant race. Maybe not for themselves, but they are playing the Braves 7 out of the last 10 games of the season.

And with the Braves now only 3 back in the loss column for the Wild Card, each one of these games affect Atlanta and Colorado.

They also affect who plays whom in the Division Series. A Braves Wild Card would mean the Dodgers would play Atlanta in the Division Series while the Phillies and Cardinals would face off.

A Rockies Wild Card would mean the Dodgers and Phillies would meet in the Division Series and the Cardinals would go to Colorado.

These games could affect the balance of the NL playoffs.
These games could affect which teams would be resting starters and which ones would be going at full speed in the last week of the season.

So what did Riggleman do today?
He is resting Ryan Zimmerman!

The Nationals are practically fielding a AAA line up and just about the only hitter who could make any difference on his roster is taking a breather... a week before he takes a 5 month break.

Um... WHAT IS HE RESTING FOR?

Shouldn't he put a lineup on the field that, I don't know, could beat the Durham Bulls?

In a game that could have a chain reaction affect on the National League playoffs, Riggleman said "You know, now could be the day to give Pete Orr some at bats!"

This is a disgrace and if baseball actually had a commissioner, then he would have been fined.

Hey Rigs!
The Nats play the Mets next week. Those games will be played in front of friends and family and won't even affect the Nats nor the Mets.

You can send Zimmerman to Bermuda for those games.
How's about he plays in the games that matter?

The pennant race is THAT way

Who would have thought that a Braves vs the Nats game in late September would suddenly be meaningful?

But while the Giants couldn't get out of their own way and the Marlins just couldn't put together a long enough win streak, the Braves find themselves just 3 back in the loss column of the Rockies.

And the Rox play most of the season against the Cardinals and Dodgers... the best teams in the National League

And the Braves play 7 of their last 10 games against the Washington Nationals... the worst team in baseball.

Can you imagine Bobby Cox going to the playoffs without Glavine, Maddux OR Smoltz?

Time to do the unthinkable... check with interest on a Washington Nationals game!

Can we PLEASE just start the playoffs now?

Seriously... after tonight there is officially no suspense left in this 2009 regular season.

THE RED SOX ARE NOT CATCHING THE YANKEES

It's not happening. 

If they swept the Royals and were within a few games in the loss column for this weekend's series, then it might be possible.

But if the Sox can't win the series in KC, then they just aren't going to do it. 

Tonight's game didn't get me mad. The Sox were up against the guy who will probably win the Cy Young Award and Paul Byrd was pitching.

He has as much chance of pitching in the playoffs as Robin Byrd (no, I am not posting a link you pervert!)

THE YANKEES WILL HAVE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE THROUGHOUT THE POST SEASON

As well they should!

They are the best team in baseball and they gutted out a tough win tonight in Anaheim.

Hate them all you want (and I do) but they have a good product on the field. And if you think money buys you happiness, go across town and ask the Mets how they are doing.

THE TIGERS ARE NOT GOING TO BLOW THIS DIVISION LEAD

The Twins needed to sweep them last weekend. Instead they only got 2 out of 3... which wasn't enough.

OK fine, they have 4 games head to head next week. Just splitting that series at home would trim 4 off of their magic number which at this writing is at 10.

It's safe to say the Tigers will lower that number to single digits by next week.

The Twins made it interesting but alas will fall short. It would behoove the Twins to come out of the gate quickly next year.

I'M SORRY RANGERS FANS... IT IS NOT HAPPENING THIS YEAR

The Rangers have held on a lot longer than anyone could have imagined going into this year.

They pitched, they hit and they made Red Sox and Angels fans wonder if a return trip to the playoffs was in the cards.

But alas they couldn't take advantage of the Red Sox AND the Angels losing. They are a week behind the Halos in the loss column for the AL West.

They are also a week behind the Sox in the loss column for the Wild Card.

With less than 2 weeks to go, that's just not enough time. The foundation is set for 2010... but the suspense is over this year.

THE SUSPENSE IS OVER FOR THE NL DIVISION RACES

All of them are done.

The Cardinals can clinch tomorrow with a win and a Cubs loss. 

The Phillies can whittle the magic number to 3 with a win tomorrow.

The Dodgers have a 5 game lead with 11 to play.

And none of those teams seemed poise to do a 2007 Mets impersonation. I suppose there is some suspense on who will have the best record... but that is overrated.

Besides, in 2006 the Twins passed the Tigers on the last day of the season. Both were post season bound, but the Twins got the better match up with the A's while the Tigers were stuck playing the powerhouse Yankees.

Remember what happened? The Tigers beat the Yankees and the A's swept the Twins.

Match ups are overrated. You've got to beat a good team to win the World Series anyway!

IT JUST ISN'T THE GIANTS YEAR

I'm sorry Poppy.

The Giants had a terrific building block season and had some memorable moments from Sanchez, Sandoval, Lincecum and Big Unit's 300 win.

But when there is no margin for error, you just can't lose a game where you score 8 runs and have Matt Cain on the mound.

The Giants have fallen into a tie with the Braves. If the Marlins and Braves get hot, the Giants could fall to 4th in the Wild Card Race.

As it is, the Rockies have this locked up.

So there you have it... the 8 playoff participants have the season locked up barring a cataclysmic collapse.

And the last 12 games of the season would essentially be a formality.

Let's skip all of that and start the playoffs this weekend!

Maybe that will assure us all that the World Series won't go into November!

When winning 2 out of 3 just isn't enough

Usually Meat Loaf is right. (All blog posts should start with that sentence.)

But almost always, 2 out of 3 Ain't Bad.

And the Giants showed guts. They won the first two games against the Rockies convincingly. And they stage a gritty comeback in the 9th where a single would have tied the game and fell just short.

And it wasn't enough.

As I wrote earlier, they needed all three of these games. They needed to make it 1 game in the loss column. The chances of making up 3 in the loss column with no more head to head games will probably be too much to handle.

And poor Nate Schierholtz struck out and essentially dashed the hopes of the Giants AND the Marlins, who needed the Rockies loss to inch closer.

The real goat was Edgar Renteria who couldn't advance the runners with nobody out. But it is hard to dump on Renteria after his slam against the Rockies last month.

In essence, there is nobody to blame. The Giants have overachieved this year and have given their fans some magical moments. The sweep of Colorado at the end of August. Randy Johnson's 300th win. Lincecum's Cy Young-esque season. The rise of Pablo Sandoval. The Sanchez no hitter.

But is this really a playoff team?

Well... can we sleep on that?

The Marlins are NOT flopping

When Leo Nunez got Matt Holliday to ground into a game ending double play this afternoon, the Marlins, the Fish improved to 77 and they moved closer to having their 5th winning season in 7 years.

Good for them, especially with their miniscule payroll.

But another interesting thing happened.

Let's say the Giants win tonight against the Rockies and complete their sweep. And with Matt Cain pitching for Los Gigantes you've got to give them a chance.

Well a Giants win would mean San Francisco would be 1 game back in the loss column.
Guess what?

A Giants win would mean the Marlins would only be 3 games back in the loss column.

3 games back in the loss column with 2 weeks to play.

3 games back in the loss column with 4 games against the lowly Reds starting tomorrow.

3 games back in the loss column with a 3 game set against the Phillies coming up, but one of the games being a double header... so Charlie Manuel would probably rest his regulars in one of the games.

3 games back in the loss column with a three game set against the team formerly known as the Mets on the horizon.

I'm not saying they are the odds on favorite to win. Nor am I saying they are going to pull off a big playoff push.

All I am saying is 3 games back in the loss column isn't a lot.
And the Rockies aren't reminding anyone of William the Conqueror these days.
And the Giants offense is prone to disappearing.

Keep an eye out for the fish.

The Braves blew it

The Braves were just on the edge of the playoff race anyway... but here's a tip.

When you are on the cusp of contending, try not to lose two straight to the team right in front of you.

And if you do, and you go home and play three games with a playing out the string Reds team... try not to get swept.

There is never a good time to lose 5 straight, but a really BAD time is when you are trying to climb back into the race and not being able to take advantage of the Phillies 4 game losing streak.

It's a nice rebuilding year for the Braves, but put away those foam tomahawks. This team isn't playing in October

I AM ROOTING FOR THE YANKEES! And Giants Fans Should Root For The Dodgers!

You read that right!
You pal Sully... a classic Yankee hater... is pulling a Johnny Damon and putting on pinstripes!

For the next three days I am rooting for the Yankees.

I see the pinstripes and I think PRIDE!
TRADITION!

And I feel a little teary eyed when I think of all 26 of those titles... like a little part of me helped win each one of them.

Heck, I might even pop in Pride of the Yankees to get myself pumped up!


And Giants fans tending to their wounds after tonight's brutal loss to the Rockies...

It's time to bleed Dodger blue.

It's time to think of the heroism of Jackie Robinson.

It's time to think of the artistry of Sandy Koufax.

It's time to think of the magic of Fernando, Orel and Gibson!

It's Dodgertown! It's Mannywood!

High five Lasorda and know that Monday isn't just a day of the week... it's the guy who homered in 1981!

Why would I suggest two preposterous notions as Sox fans cheering on Jeter and Giants fans saluting Manny?

Big picture, folks!

The Red Sox aren't catching the Yankees. It's not happening. The Yankees are a full week ahead of the Red Sox and there are only 6 weeks left.

Even if Boston makes up a game a week, they'll fall short of the division.

And the Yankees are on a rampage these days... so might as well have them rampage over the Rangers and carve a few games off of the magic number.

Same thing with the Giants who are also 7 back of the Dodgers. Yeah it is sexy to think of passing the Dodgers for the Division, but it is even sexier to get INTO the playoffs with a rested and ready Lincecum and Cain! And after dropping the last 3 gut wrenching games to the Rockies, they are 4 out.

They need the Dodgers to help do what the Giants bullpen couldn't manage... stop the Rockies. Or at least throw some strikes.

The only thing that matters are wins... and if we need to switch sides momentarily when it helps our team, then think of it like Clint Eastwood in Fistful of Dollars.

It was necessary at the time for Clint to switch sides and in the end, he was the only one to survive.

So GO YANKEES! And my dad better be saying GO DODGERS!

Sure the Wild Card may bring about some strange bedfellow... but I want a fistful of World Series rings!

Wins are wins... even ones this ugly

When the Red Sox fell behind 4-1 early to the White Sox, I started muttering in my car.

This might be it, I thought.

This might be the 2006-esque collapse that puts the Red Sox out of their misery and gives me a productive October.

It took a brutal 3-0 swing by Papi and an equally brutal butchering by Jose Contreras to wake the Sox bats up... and they needed every run because evidently Clay Buchholz's role as an ace is still in the future!

Either way, it's nice to get an ugly win and because I waved the white flag early, I need to call this a dodged bullet!

With pleasure I update the board!

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 18

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

July 10 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Pedroia drives in the only run with 2 outs in the 8th.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

August 18 - 10-9 win at Toronto. (Ortiz homers and the Jays defense collapses, saving Beckett from a bad start.)
August 24 - 12-8 win against White Sox. (Red Sox overcome early 4-1 lead and a bad Buchholz start.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 22

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

July 9 - 8-6 loss to the Royals. (Bullpen blows early 4-0 lead.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)

July 29 - 8-6 loss to Oakland. (Down 5-0 in the first, Sox comeback falls short)

August 4 - 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Longoria hits 13th inning walk off with first base open.)

August 5 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox gets swept in a 2 game series with the tying run at the plate).

August 7 - 2-0 loss in New York. (A-Rod's walk off with 2 outs in the 15 ends a teeth grinding marathon.)

August 9 - 5-2 loss in New York. (4 outs from avoiding a sweep, Bard lets up back to back homers to Damon and Teixeira.)

August 13 - 2-0 loss to Detroit. (Verlander wiggles out of early and late jams.)

August 16 - 4-3 loss at Texas. (Red Sox can't rally and fall behind the Rangers in the Wild Card race)

-4... Bit by bit... moving closer to even par.

The only thing that matters is the post season! And right now the magic number is 38.
(In 2007 I honored WSBK when the magic number got to 38.)

In many ways, these are my favorite kind of games to win

Seriously, when you looked at the match ups this week and you saw Clay Buchholz vs. Roy Halladay, if you were a Red Sox fan you'd put a big fat L next to that one!

So when the Red Sox not only win... but win convincingly... and don't have to use Papelbon... and I can take my kids for a nice walk during the 9th inning because I am not sweating bullets...

It wasn't even a dodged bullet game (even though Buchholz did a Mr. Magoo impersonation avoiding danger). It was an old fashioned clear cut win, with Lester and a rested Papelbon ready for the sweep.

And oh yeah, Papi and Bay are heating up.

Am I asking too much for a sweep?
And then would I be asking too much for 2 out of 3 from the Yankees to win the season series?

Maybe I am.

But the Magic Number is now 43... the Minnesota Twins have been the comeback kids against the Rangers and the Red Sox control their own destiny.

Man, the Wild Card race sounds so regal when I use terms like "control their own destiny!"

FORE!

So it has come to this...

It is mid August and if the playoffs started today the Red Sox would be playing golf.

Oh they had their chances today but man they squandered inning after inning.

They hit into 10 double plays in 9 innings. I may have to double check that but I think it is true.

I swear the lead off hitter hit into a double play one inning.

And if it wasn't a double play than it was a called third strike.

All the while on a broiling day in Texas they managed 3 stinking runs... and now are behind Texas for the Wild Card.

So this is it folks... either the Red Sox show some guts or work on their putts.

Either way, being down 1/2 a game going into August 17 is worth grinding some teeth

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 16

April 17 - 10-8 win against Orioles. (Overcame 7-0 deficit.)

April 24 - 5-4 win against Yankees. (Bay homers off of Rivera in 9th to tie it.)

April 25 - 16-11 win against Yankees. (Overcame 6-0 deficit.)

April 29 - 6-5 win at Cleveland. (Overcame 5-0 deficit.)

May 12 - 4-3 win at Anaheim. (Down 3-1 in the 8th.)
June 11 - 4-3 win against Yankees. (Down 3-1 in the 8th. Rallied against Sabathia.)

June 12 - 5-2 win at Philadelphia. (Overcame Ryan Howard's 9th inning shot to win in 13)

June 21 - 6-5 win against Atlanta. (The wind turns Nick Green's fly ball into a walk off shot)

June 27 - 1-0 win at Atlanta. (Masterson and Papelbon wiggle out of late jams.)
July 1 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Sox score 4 in the 9th and Lugo wins in in the 11th)

July 8 - 5-4 win against Oakland. (Wind keeps Hairston's 9th inning go ahead homer in the ballpark)

July 10 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Pedroia drives in the only run with 2 outs in the 8th.)

July 30 - 8-5 win against Oakland. (Ortiz tests postive then hits a 2 out 3 run go ahead homer.)

July 31 - 6-5 win at Baltimore. (Youk's 2 run homer saves Smoltz from another bad start.)

August 10 - 6-5 win against Detroit. (Sox snap 6 game losing streak with 7th inning rally.)

August 14 - 8-4 win at Texas. (Victor Martinez hits a 2 run 2 strike 2 out double to take the lead and make up for Buchholz's baserunning mishap.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 22

April 14 - 6-5 loss at Oakland. (Sox blow early 3-0 lead. Lose in 12)

April 28 - 9-8 loss at Cleveland. (Sox blow early 5-1 lead. Lopez drops 3rd out.)
May 14 - 5-4 loss at Anaheim. (Ortiz goes 0-7 stranding 12 runners.)
May 15 - 5-4 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox blow their second 4-0 lead in three days.)

May 17 - 3-2 loss at Seattle. (Red Sox strand two in the 9th. Lose in the bottom of the 9th.)

May 23 - 3-2 loss to the Mets. (Papelbon lets up a 2 out 2 run homer in the 9th to Omir Santos)

June 18 - 2-1 loss to the Marlins. (Rain washes out a tight game after 5+ innings.)

June 28 - 2-1 loss to the Braves. (Tying run on base in the 9th. Solid Penny outing wasted)
June 30 - 11-10 loss at Baltimore. (The Red Sox blow a late 10-1 to the lowly Orioles.)
July 3 - 7-6 loss to Seattle. (Red Sox comeback in the 8th only to lose in the 11th.)

July 4 - 3-2 loss to Seattle. (Saito walks three in the 9th as the Mariners rally to win)

July 9 - 8-6 loss to the Royals. (Bullpen blows early 4-0 lead.)

July 21 - 4-2 loss at Texas. (Beckett loses a complete game and the Yankees take over first.)

July 22 - 3-1 loss at Texas. (Sox are swept for the first time all season.)

July 28 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox blow 3 run lead in 9th. A's rally with 2 outs in 9th and 11th.)

July 29 - 8-6 loss to Oakland. (Down 5-0 in the first, Sox comeback falls short)

August 4 - 4-2 loss in Tampa Bay. (Longoria hits 13th inning walk off with first base open.)

August 5 - 6-4 loss in Tampa Bay. (Sox gets swept in a 2 game series with the tying run at the plate).

August 7 - 2-0 loss in New York. (A-Rod's walk off with 2 outs in the 15 ends a teeth grinding marathon.)

August 9 - 5-2 loss in New York. (4 outs from avoiding a sweep, Bard lets up back to back homers to Damon and Teixeira.)

August 13 - 2-0 loss to Detroit. (Verlander wiggles out of early and late jams.)

August 16 - 4-3 loss at Texas. (Red Sox can't rally and fall behind the Rangers in the Wild Card race)

-6... I'm not losing hope, but there's not a lot of wiggle room.