Open Thread: World Series Game Four

October 28, 2012 by Mike Axisa 215 Comments

Tim Lincecum — World’s most overqualified middle reliever. (Christian Petersen/Getty)

At some point in the next few days, the Giants will beat the Tigers to win their second World Series in the last three years. No team who has taken a 3-0 series lead in the Fall Classic has ever needed a Game Six, nevermind a Game Seven, so expect it to happen soon. San Francisco has completely outclassed Detroit all series long, and frankly it annoys me that the Yankees looked so helpless against these same Tigers a week ago. I feel cheated, kinda.

Anyway, Game Four starts at 8pm ET and can be seen on FOX (Cain vs. Scherzer), plus the late NFL game is the Saints at the Broncos. Talk about that stuff or anything else (non-politics) right here. Have at it.

CANOlli

When does free agency start if it ends tonight?
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Saturday (to be able to sign other team’s free agents)
  There’s a 5-day quiet period after the conclusion of the World Series.
  - forensic
    
    At least in those 5 days we’ll hear about who is offered qualified offers, so that’s a little something.
Alkaline

It’s been a fun World Series. I’m looking forward to the offseason and seeing some of the outcomes. I don’t post often but I do want to thank Mike and everyone for all the work they do here.

Also, props to some of the sane posters on here. It makes going through the comments much more enjoyable when I lurk. Hope everyone is doing well with this storm blowing through.
- jjyank
  
  A big +1 on that.
  
  Best baseball blog, bar none. Big ups to Mike, Joe, and Ben.
  
  Also, go Giants. Both of them.
  - forensic
    
    Unfortunately the football giants are in the process of trying to throw away the gift blowout win the cowboys were begging them to take in the first quarter.
    - forensic
      
      Well, they did their best to give it away, but were able to hold on by a fingernail, literally.
      - Kempire Strikes Back
        
        +100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
  - Austin Aunelowitzky
    
    +1
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  + 80,000
Jersey Joe

I read an article on B/R today that Allen Craig is blocking Matt Adams. I don’t agree with it, but if Cards ownership agrees with it, what would it take to get Craig and put him in right field/DH.
- Rey22
  
  The answer is way too much.
OMG! Bagels!

I’m glad the Giants are kicking their asses. Detroit didn’t have to do much of anything to win the series with the Yankees. The Yankees brought pitching and forgot to bring hitting. Can’t get to the WS like that, nor can you win it against a team like SF. I’d rather lose the ALCS then the WS.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  You are wrong.
Mattchu12

Watching the Giants has been making me think about contact/speed offensive players, so I offer this as a cost effective idea: An Ichiro/Nunez platoon in the outfield next year.

Thoughts?
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  You’d be calling for their heads by May 1st.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  I’d be fine with platooning Ichiro with someone, but it sure as hell isn’t Nunez.
  - Mattchu12
    
    I assume because of his defense? The way I see it, he isn’t playing shortstop while Jeter is around, and Jeter isn’t going anywhere.
    
    Cashman said he doesn’t see Nunez playing multiple positions, so that counts out utility infielder. His bat should be in the everyday lineup, and would be on almost any other team in baseball. Why waste him at Triple-A?
    - forensic
      
      Cashman said Nunez won’t be playing any position other than shortstop, not just that he won’t be playing multiple positions. So why even debate this?
      - Mattchu12
        
        It’s not a debate, I know what Cashman said. It’s just a conversation. If Nunez is only allowed to play shortstop, he’ll be at Triple-A. I’m simply wondering if in an OF platoon, he’d help the offence while helping stay under $189M.
        
        Mike HC
        
        If we don’t include Nunez in a trade this off season, which I think is a very legitimate possibility, I don’t see why the Yanks wouldn’t give him another chance at the super util role. If it doesn’t work out again, then move him to AAA to just work at short and end the experiment. Yanks seem willing to end the experiment after just that one shot at it though.
        
        forensic
        
        He might help the offense, and he’d definitely help stay under $189. Unfortunately, the way they’ve handled him and how he’s developed, the only way he’ll probably help the team from now on will be as a trade asset (or short-term injury replacement for jeter), and his value right now is probably as low as it can get after they’ve avoided trading him at his higher value times.
        
        Mattchu12
        
        That’s kind of my thought as well. At this point, it’s hard to imagine getting anything all that valuable, so why not try and find a way to make him valuable for us? I know his defense was scary in LF, but his value is zero at Triple-A and we gotta do something if Swish walks.
        
        Mike HC
        
        I don’t see why his value would be all that much lower than previously. His bat seems even more Major League ready than in the past, and while he has legitimate defensive concerns on throws, he seemed to improve enough that the Yanks trusted him at short during the ALCS. His value should be ok.
        
        MannyGeee
        
        ‘Trusted’? Or ‘forced into playing due to the relative offensive limp wristedness of the rest of the team’?
        
        Mike HC
        
        Either one, ha
        
        Mattchu12
        
        For me, it’s the injury that caused him to miss a good chuck of the year and the lack of a long stretch of playing time. I’m actually a fan, hence why I’d like to see him in the lineup at the MLB level instead of waiting for a Jeter injury.
        
        Mike HC
        
        I think many people think like you in that they see value in Nunez. He is an infielder though, so I’m not in love with moving him strictly to full time or platoon outfield. But would definitely give him a couple starts out there if need be for rest or whatever.
        
        MannyGeee
        
        For the record I am a fan of Nunez too, but I have no doubt that Girardi doesn’t trust him, was forced by the situation to play Nunez over Nix against Detroit, and may be on borrowed time here in NY.
        
        And also, you fuckers HATED him in May. loathed him with a passion… Now he may be the savior…
        
        Mike HC
        
        Mattchu12 said he would like to see him as a platoon outfielder. I am suggesting to trade him, and if not, a super util role. Nobody is claiming him a savoir.
        
        MannyGeee
        
        It’s amazing how ONE triple has everyone all date-rapey for a guy that everyone wanted banished back in May. OK dude can hit and run, but you all had me sold in his abortion worthy defense. Which way is it? Can’t have your ass on both chairs.
        
        Mattchu12
        
        I assume you’re talking about Blanco? I’m more interested in the putting ball in play than that. The strikeouts are what made our ALCS sting so bad, so I’d like to see more contact, even if it means less power. As far as Nunez is, I can’t speak for everyone else, but I’ve always loved his bat, it’s just the throwing that makes me cringe. Not a very accurate arm at all.
        
        MannyGeee
        
        No…. The aforementioned Nunez… One triple in the ALCS has him at Honus Wagner status around here… Just funny is all.
        
        Mattchu12
        
        Oh, I was thinking the “Giants-Contact” comment was what you were talking about with that triple Blanco hit the other night. I was more impressed with Nunez’s at-bat against Verlander when he just kept making contact until Verlander missed and gave up the homer.
Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)

Sandy, bitch, bring it on.
- jjyank
  
  It’s still not even raining here. Lame. I don’t want to go to work tomorrow, WHERE ARE YOU SANDY?!??!!
  - MannyGeee
    
    Every school here in NH is already closed… Good thing we aren’t gonna get 88 feet of snow this season…
    
    Also, fuck this hurricane. All you boys be safe, stay low and dry… Except for Eddard, fuck Eddard…
    - OldYanksFan
      
      Where in NH are you? I’m in the Concord/Manchester area.
  - Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
    
    It’s not even windy. I swear we are so aimless right now.
    
    My wife won’t even open the alcohol since we want to save it for tomorrow.
Eddard

I’ve been pleading with the Jets to start Tim Tebow. After today’s embarrassment they have to have to have to start Tim Tebow. Sanchez has ran this team into the ground. Tebow proved he can bring a team back to the dead and lead them to the playoffs. What they’re doing isn’t working. Tebow inspires everyone else to do better. Coach Dungy agreed. Save your job Rex and start Tim Tebow.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  http://www.ganggreennation.com/
- jjyank
  
  Tebow sucks.
- MannyGeee
  
  Face it, you have the 5th & 6th worst QBs in the. AFC East, possibly the 3rd & 4th worst QBs in New York…
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  I can guarantee you that Tim Tebow would never inspire me to do better.
- Preston
  
  You would be a Tebow guy. Tebow sucks, and Rex’s job probably shouldn’t be saved.
  - Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
    
    I really am convinced Sanchez can be successful. He just needs a completely new set of weapons around him.
    
    I love Rex as a personality, but a defensive-oriented coach whose defenses are prone to lapses and who just doesn’t seem to put a whole lot of care into his offense isn’t someone I have a whole lot of confidence right now.
Kempire Strikes Back

Im surprised I didn’t suffer a minor heart attack watching that Giants game. “A game of inches” has just been given a brand new meaning.
- Bob Buttons
  
  I’m surprised Tom Coughlin didn’t get a minor heart attack from how they blew a 23-0 lead and how pissed he was at the refs.
  - Pat D
    
    I almost had a major heart attack. I could really use a game not quite as near-death-experience-ing next week.
Austin Aunelowitzky

Where’s Pat D? Ended up getting the Razr Maxx HD this morning. Sporting a chubby all day.
- Pat D
  
  Pat D was almost suffering a fatal heart attack thanks to the New York Football Giants.
  
  Hope the phone works out for you.
Bob Buttons

Close one with the Giants-Cowboys today… Had me standing (yes, standing) on the edge of my seat for the entire last minute or so.
Eddard

Look for the Giants to finish off the series tonight. The Giants ace will do what the Yankees ace has been unable to do the past 2 season, beat the Tigers in a big postseason ballgame. The NL has ruled the league for the past 3 seasons and they will continue to do so tonight. Giants will capture their 2nd WS in 3 years which nobody has done since that late 90s Yankees dynasty. Both teams had what wins in the postseason- Great starting pitching and clutch hitting.
Alkaline

Also, CANNOT WAIT FOR THE WALKING DEAD TONIGHT. That is all.
Mike HC

I’m thinking I would try to trade Nunez for a similar outfield prospect. Maybe we can match up with a team looking for a shortstop and plenty of outfielders. Don’t really know of any viable trade candidates though.
- Eddard
  
  Or you do the smart thing and keep a great young ballplayer like Nuney and give him a shot at a starting job. Move ARod to anyone that will take him. He’s a cancer in the locker room. He’s taught Cano that all that matters is himself and he’s taught Melky the world of PEDs. Last thing we want is him infecting Nuney as well.
  - Mattchu12
    
    Of all the reasons to move A-Rod, it’s pretty shameful that we’ve had to resort to idiotic statements like, “He will make others use PEDs.”
  - Mike HC
    
    If we can move ARod then I would keep Nunez because we would have a hole in the infield too. If Arod is not traded, which is more likely, then once again Nunez doesn’t really have a perfect fit with the team. If we can find an equally talented outfield prospect, it seems like a trade that makes sense.
    - WhittakerWalt
      
      Having a hole in the infield is going something Nunez will fix. He makes the hole bigger.
      - WhittakerWalt
        
        “is not something Nunez will fix.”
      - WhittakerWalt
        
        Er, “not something Nunez will fix.”
        
        WhittakerWalt
        
        NEVER MIND.
        
        Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
        
        We gotcha.
        
        MannyGeee
        
        Guarantee you that Nunez could fix a hole in the infield… provided he brings a rake and shovel.
  - MannyGeee
    
    I shouldn’t feed you… But fuck it.
    
    1. No one will take A Rod. That should be known.
    2. He’s like a model team mate.
    3. Pretty sure Melky had heard of steroids beside Alex… But I do think a Rod taught him how to build a web page…
    4. I would be more worried about Jeter ‘infecting” Nunez than Alex… Amirite? #Valtrex
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    Eduardo Nunez >> George Brett
    - Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
      
      Eduardo Nunez >> Jim Thorpe
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    Nunez is NOT a “great young ballplayer.” He’s 25, which is not young. He’s not a particularly powerful or disciplined hitter, and he’s a thoroughly atrocious fielder. He’s nobody’s idea of a stud prospect.
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  Of course. It’s almost a shame this season happened. It’s getting harder and harder to hide the defensive shortcomings. Some team will still put up with it because they think the bat would play well.
MannyGeee

I hate Max Scherzer… And those goddam eyes make him look like a Siberian Husky.

And Matt Cain is getting SQUEEEEEEEEZED…
- Scheister
  
  I wonder how much of the financial incentive is increased for MLB to have more than four games in the WS. I’d imagine quite a bit. #conspiracy
  - MannyGeee
    
    I would lock my doors and close the blinds before throwing out an accusation like that…
MannyGeee

Oh my god. I remember when the Yankees used to hit mediocre pitching like this.
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  Let go, brutha. Worry about it next season.
  - MannyGeee
    
    Yeah… Just funny is all… Funny and depressing and shitty, but funny
RC aka oldmanalex

1) the Tigers are slumping offensively, very similar to the yankees. Kind of eerie/weird/ any numbers or science/theories behind it?

2) the SanFran Giants and StLouis cubs. Two clubs that aren;t dominating or play championship baseball consistently. Yet, they are perennial WS contenders. What are they doing right?
- Mike HC
  
  For one thing, Buster Posey is what they are doing differently. Two years he played, WS champs. One year he didn’t, not WS champs.
- MannyGeee
  
  Well, first thing they are doing right is not being the Cubs, but that’s nitpicking. Also, the Yankees are a perennial WS contender also, except they were doing it 15 times in 16 seasons, or “before it was cool”… Back when the Cards and Giants were winning 70 games and golfing in October.
  
  Got to be careful what you say around these real ‘old guys’ around here… They happen to know things.
  - MannyGeee
    
    And for the record, any team that makes the playoffs (ALDS, not that sudden death overtime bullshit) is a WS contender.
- Mattchu12
  
  1) Shit happens.
  
  2) I think you mean St Louis Cardinals. The Cubs are a joke. It’s all about getting hot at the right now. “The best teams make the playoffs, the hottest team wins it all.”
- Eddard
  
  The Tigers are not slumping, the Giants starting pitching is shutting them down. What the Giants and Cardinals are doing right is combining clutch hitting and great starting pitching. We had one half of that equation but didn’t have the hitting. ARod, Granderson, Swisher and Cano didn’t get it done for us when we needed it. Pablo, Belt, Pence and Scutaro are getting it done for the Giants.
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    Cardinals?
    - DC
      
      Eddardworld.
MannyGeee

Chanel no. 5. Inevitable…

Wait, why is there a BRAT PITT commercial for a woman’s perfume on during the World Series? What, Tampax and Summers Eve not available this year?
- RC aka oldmanalex
  
  actually the CHANEL line he is endorsing is actually for men. Yea, kind of strange that Chanel makes cologne …
  - MannyGeee
    
    Oh.. I was unaware. Thanks for the heads up… Conflicted, as I might like that, but I have a hard time buying anything endorsed by Brad Pitt. Unless its a piece of ms. Jolie.
    - RC aka oldmanalex
      
      yea, I didn’t know either. Till my GF got me a CHANEL MENS cologne 2 christmases ago. It smells rather good actually. I’d compare the smell to Lacoste or swiss army. Very Lemony/Lime kind of smell.
      - RC aka oldmanalex
        
        I think its kind of weird that Brad Pitt would just decide to do a cologne commercial. I mean he IS brad pitt, why not endorse a $10,00 watch or something lol
        
        flamingo
        
        Apparently he had 7 million reasons.
        
        RC aka oldmanalex
        
        yea for that price, I’d even do huggies pull ups.
MannyGeee

What up with that guy in the Marlins jersey behind hem plate? Random.
- Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)
  
  Could be a Cabrera jersey.
Rocky Road Redemption

The Giants just had their asses handed to them in every aspect of the game except two: turnovers and points.

WOW, that final Haily Mary really pissed me off for a moment.
MannyGeee

If Crawford would have tagged on that fly out for the 1st out, he would have scored there…
MannyGeee

That Surface looks fucking dope…
Mattchu12

I was just about to rant about how I keep saying, “That was your pitch!” every time Miggy takes and “What the hell was that?” every time he swings, and then he goes and does that?

#RuinedRant
Kevin G.

This hurricane would have been very interesting if the Yankees made the World Series
forensic

I wish the no politics rule applied to TV commercials too…
- MannyGeee
  
  fwiw, I heard an Obama commercial today voiced by Morgan Freeman. I had no idea that was even a thing. I thought he was going to tell me my nearest polling station was in Zihuatanejo.
  - Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)
    
    Haha, my friend who doesn’t support Obama saw that commercial and texted me “unfair, having Morgan Freeman’s voice in a commercial is the equivalent of using the Kunami code in Contra.”
  - forensic
    
    Heh, I’ve seen that one plenty of times. Living in a swing state is painful. If there is a commercial for any political race, it’s on numerous times daily.
    
    There was just a commercial break where there were 5 consecutive political commercials. How they don’t figure out that they’re just pissing more people off than they’re gaining is beyond me.
    - Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
      
      We don’t get ANY political commercials in NYC. I have to watch them online.
Get Phelps Up

That was a sterling-esque call by Joe Buck there.
RC aka oldmanalex

Long term contracts:

I feel like they are a burden to all parties involved. To the player it’s almost like a curse, to the owners its a resentment towards that player, due to said players underachievement.

1. ryan howard breaks down..
2. teixeira can’t hit
3. Joe mauer same thing as howard
4. a gon same as above
5. Let’s not get into AROD

but most if not all of these guys ( u can add like 10 more names here) were signed in their prime and within a few years of their contract, if not the first or second year, it seemed like a bad ass idea.

Which long term contract would you guys say was worth the high price dollar. For me Jeter’s first contract was as good as it can be and currently CC’s contract looks decent.
- RC aka oldmanalex
  
  i just wish owners would tell players fuck you: I’ll give you X dollars, but I am not giving you Y years.
  - forensic
    
    That’s how you become a mostly bottom feeder team. It’s supply and demand along with the highest bidder winning. Someone is going to offer an extra year or an extra couple of million. It’s just the way the market is now and if you never try to bid for anything, you turn into teams that never really do much over the long run.
  - WhittakerWalt
    
    That’s how the Sox lost Damon to the Yankees. Not that Damon was a star player, but I don’t know if we’d have won the WS without him. To me it was worth the extra 12 million.
- forensic
  
  I’d love to be ‘cursed’ by being guaranteed $100+ million for the next 8-10 years of my life.
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  Long term contracts are nothing new in baseball, and they’re not going away anytime soon. You want those prime years from a guy? You’re going to be paying for his victory lap later.
  - RC aka oldmanalex
    
    Tilapia, I agree.
    
    but,
    
    Victory Laps >>>>> over 2 years of prime production
    and it’s not even close anymore. Owners are almost rewarding for Victory Laps vs the actual year or two of production.
    - Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
      
      Let’s use your examples:
      
      1. ryan howard breaks down..
      
      That seemed like it would end badly, but that’s my own bias against his body type talking. I think Prince’s contract is going to look awful.
      
      2. teixeira can’t hit
      
      I’m not convinced that book’s been fully written yet, and I’m a big supporter of what he offers defensively.
      
      3. Joe mauer same thing as howard
      
      Injuries. Could have been a much better contract.
      
      4. a gon same as above
      
      Yeah.
      
      5. Let’s not get into AROD
      
      You were paying for the right to say he passed all the records in pinstripes, and at least it’s not a backloaded contract. I hope we get to a more level-headed place with this contract as the season becomes a more distant memory.
      - forensic
        
        You can’t say that without injuries a contract could’ve been much better. Injuries are part of the deal with them as it’s extremely unlikely for any player to be able to stay completely healthy through his 30’s with all the wear and tear they go through. And as they age it only gets worse as their bodies are more susceptible to things hurting them that a younger body may have been able to withstand, and then once they are injured their body takes longer to recover.
        
        But even beyond that, some of those contracts were absurd from the start, even though those players haven’t even reached those 30’s age years.
        
        Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
        
        Fair enough.
        
        My reply would be pretty much your reply to RC above, though. :)
      - WhittakerWalt
        
        Ryan Howard is the go-to argument. I don’t know anybody who thought that was a good contract. Tex seemed like a good deal at the time. He looked like he was on the fast-track to the HoF. Who knew he’d fall off a cliff offensively at the age of 31?
        And everyone thought Adrian G. would be an automatic MVP outside of PetCo park.
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

Idk how many ppl are watching the WS and on here right now, but I love that Samsung commercial that just aired.
- Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)
  
  Also this God Bless America is quite terrible.
  - Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
    
    THANK YOU.
    
    I was horrified.
    - matt montero
      
      I actually cringed when she sang that. One of the worst renditions I have ever heard.
Deep Thoughts

Rags looks good, and the USAF just butchered that song.
RC aka oldmanalex

Not trying to be disrespectful:

BUT, something about that “God Bless America” was seriously off. Like there offbeat/out of tune and lost
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  That was just terrible, I have to say.
- JLC 776
  
  I’m pretty sure one of two mics wasn’t working.
  - Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)
    
    It also sounded like they started to improvise a harmony about halfway through…just an overall poor showing.
  - forensic
    
    I kind of wish I had heard it now. If it was the USAF as Deep Thoughts said above, I find it extremely hard to believe that they would’ve been that bad without some sort of technical issue such as this. The military bands/singers are extremely good in general, and terrible performances just don’t really happen.
    - RC aka oldmanalex
      
      yea, hate to say. It was really off. Hopefully it was a technical thing.
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

Any Walking Dead fans here, btw?
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  Not since they got swept in the ALCS.
  - forensic
    
    Heh, it’s funny (and sad) because it’s true…
Deep Thoughts

Sit down Delmon. Time for you to regress already you bastard!
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

Wow, what a inning by Jeremy Affelt.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  He’d be a great addition to the Yankees bullpen next year.
  - Deep Thoughts
    
    Wait ’til you see this kid Kontos they have–he’s the real trade target.
The Real Greg

When did Phil Coke become such an asshole.
- forensic
  
  July 19, 1982?
  - The Real Greg
    
    Funny. He never really showed it as a Yankee.
    - Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
      
      Lack of facial hair.
RC aka oldmanalex

when did phil coke become a shutdown powerpitcher…
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  About a week ago. He’s been terrible for two years running now.
- forensic
  
  He’s not shutdown. His WHIP’s have actually been vastly worse as a Tiger than as a Yankee. He was punished by the homerun tendencies of YS and a couple of meltdown outings with the Yankees.
  
  And even if he has changed a bit, it’s not like it’s unexpected for a guy going into his upper 20’s and past his 1st year in the majors to possibly get better stuff. Though that’s not even clear as his year with the Yanks is still easily his best H/9, tied for best BB/9, and tied for 2nd best K/9.
  - Darren
    
    He’s not shut down? He struck out all seven guys he faced in the World Series.
    - Get Phelps Up
      
      He’s been shutdown in the World series, but that doesn’t mean he’s a shutdown reliever now.
    - forensic
      
      And it’s not quite the same level but Eppley struck out Miguel Cabrera in the ALCS. Does that make him shut down too?
      
      It’s not like the Giants are an offensive juggernaut, and assuming he’s been facing lefties it’s not too surprising that he could have a group of good games put together. He’s generally been good when facing lefties.
Darren

If you read the story about Coke struggling in minors, you’d probably be slightly happy for him. Maybe.

So, when did you guys give up on the Yankees in ALCS? I still held out some pretty firm hope until maybe the final 2-3 innings of Game 4.
- forensic
  
  I knew they were done during the late parts of Game 2, and certainly after that game. If they weren’t going to hit Sanchez at home, after their already said offensive performance in the ALDS, then they just weren’t going to hit and it was only a matter of time till the pitching had a poor game or two. I thought they might be able to push it to 5 games, but that was it.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  I didn’t give up on them until the last out of game 4.
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  I’m not unhappy for him. I’d be happier for him if he was in the NL and we didn’t have to deal with his ugly mug often.
bobtaco

If the Giants blow this game, they get Verlander vs Zito again. Which I doubt they can win twice.

Then back to SF for the final two.

They really need to take care of business tonight.
RC aka oldmanalex

watching the playoffs this year, I gotta admit what ALEX did in 2009 was pretty special. To be able to come out every night for 30 days and just perform at a very high level, It can definitely get to you physically/emotionally etc. I think Miggy is just a bit tired no?
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

Pagan took an…interesting…route to that ball.
- Darren
  
  it’s crazy windy, not his fault
- forensic
  
  Was it Grandy-ish or not quite that bad?
  - Darren
    
    Not even close. if Grandy is 6 Stoli tonics on the way to the bathroom, this was 2 Sam Adams.
JLC 776

I know it’s whiny, but I really don’t want Detroit to find a way to get back to San Fran.
RC aka oldmanalex

Sergio Romo:

is Brian Wilson getting his job back next year over Sergio? Wilso or romo as CP?
- forensic
  
  Depends whose beard is longer (ie worse) when they get to Spring Training.
Eddard

MARCO SCUTARO HAS JUST WON THE WS FOR THE GIANTS! Didn’t the Giants get the memo that you can’t manufacture runs in the postseason? You can’t move em over and get a clutch hit to get em in, you have to go up and either hit a HR or strikeout.
- bobtaco
  
  Theriot too. Pure contact guy.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  Most predictable comment ever.
  - Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)
    
    See my comment below.
- The Real Greg
  
  Seems like all the AL teams did that in this postseason. HR or K, I mean.
- WhittakerWalt
  
  It really sucked when Posey gave them the lead with a 2-run homer, or when Young tied the score with a homer of his own. Those must not have counted for anything.
  I’m finally understanding what these guys mean when they talk about Eddard World.
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

I wanted the Giants to win…but why did it have to be Scutaro? and Why in extra innings?! God the ‘we need Marco Scutaro type hitters’ is only going to get 1000x worse from here.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  I actually agree…of course everyone is going to ignore the fact that all the other runs in this game have come on 3 home runs and a ball that hit off the base of the wall.
- The Real Greg
  
  They needed that type of contact hitter this postseason.
  - Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)
    
    you mean a Derek Jeter type hitter? or an Ichiro type hitter? or a Cano type hitter (he might have had a career power year but everybody knows he’s a contact hitter)? We had contact hitters. Our problem is unlike the Giants (Sandoval) the guys behind our contact guys couldn’t hit water if they fell out of a boat.
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  It will also just add to my mother-in-law being convinced he’s some sort of mega-star.
  
  I actually would love to bring Scutaro on in place of every UTL guy we’ve got.
- JLC 776
  
  So freaking agree… I was loving how ‘anti-narrative’ a lot of this post-season has been. This is all anyone is going to remember now.
- forensic
  
  Though the ‘team of Scutaro’s’ stuff is absurd, it’s also nearly as absurd how undervalued putting the ball in play is at this point.
Hall and Nokes

Yankees winning the trade this inning.
Deep Thoughts

A-Jack lookin pretty Grandersonesque right there on the breaking ball low and away.
David N

Sergio Romo > Tony Romo

Seriously, the movement on this guy’s pitches is nuts.
MB923

NY sports papers tomorrow will be saying “Romo Leads Giants to Victory”. I’d be a little confused on who they would be referring to.
JimAbbotFan

Romo…Helping Giants across two sports.
Deep Thoughts

“Hey John 3:16 Guy, sit down or I’ll throw you out before the final pitch.”
- bobtaco
  
  1987 wants its sign back…
- Deep Thoughts
  
  In college I was always partial to the
  
  “DRUNK 24:7″
  
  sign.
forensic

I’m just sad that the game didn’t go long enough for Valverde to be the one on the mound to give up the series.
Get Phelps Up

A big fucking congrats to the Giants.
Hall and Nokes

Alex would have at least swung and missed.
- Deep Thoughts
  
  Awesome. Dude you’re OPSing like 1.100 for the playoffs.
bobtaco

Suck it Verlander.
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

Congrats to the Giants (the less important ones) now it’s time for Hot Stove.
- Austin Aunelowitzky
  
  Yeah, bring the hot stove now.
Karl Krawfid

Bochy went from horrible to Joe Torre…Just like Joe Torre.
forensic

Who says A-Rod isn’t on Miggy’s level anymore? He’s struck out to end several posteasons too…
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  Well played.
MB923

These Giant teams would not have won without the performances of Romo
Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)

If it can’t be my team, then I am happy for it to be a team I respect, of which I know a ton of fans of, and who play in a city I adore. Congrats, Giants!!

Two WS rings for Dave Righetti as well, and that’s always a good thing for a great Yankee.

How many days until pitchers and catchers now?
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

Damn…those are really nice caps. The Yankees caps in 09 aren’t anywhere near as cool.
- JLC 776
  
  I kind of think the giant ‘CHAMPIONS’ is a bit ostentatious.
  - Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
    
    I still love my 2000 cap.
tigers stuart a

what a bunch of chokers… 6 runs the whole series..give them a raise

fielder $250 m and 0 rbis in 15 abs or so…

cabrera triple crown winner…jack sh-t in the playoffs…

peralta…jackson, berry,young 3 or so rbis. pathetic..

verlander coming up small in the playoffs where have I heard that before??

blow it up…overpaid bums…
- Robinson Tilapia (never missed an opportunity to namedrop Chuck Cary)
  
  Perhaps that’s the REAL stuart b?
bobtaco

Posey on Jeter’s pace, 2 WS in first three years.

Think he’ll get two more in the next two years?
- Karl Krawfid
  
  No.
Tom

No more baseball – not so good.

No more McCarver? No more ridiculous Verlander and Fister interviews during the game? Silver lining.

Hot Stove? Bring it on!
- mt
  
  Agreed – those Verlander and Fister interviews were so self-indulgent and cringe-worthy.
  
  Also I wonder if a NY Yankee had an incident in April brawling and using anti Semitic comments (or any racial comments) like Delmon Young did, it would be mentioned often. Could you imagine if Arod had done that, for example?
Rek4gehrig

Romo is sexy
mt

Detroit scored as many runs in four games in WS as Yanks did in ALCS – 6 runs.

Love that Scutaro (cast-off Red Sox) and Pagan (cast off ex-Met) won. I normally support AL teams (except Red Sox) but after first game I wanted SF Giants to win – largely because I am not yet ready to see Austin Jackson and especially Phil Coke (with his finger pointing to sky on pop-ups) win a world championship. Phil can take off-season to contemplate his WS record of striking out seven straight batters while he thinks about his loss in Game 4.

Also my hometown is the home of the AA affiliate of Giants – Richmond Flying Squirrels.

Congrats SF Giants.

(Also I do not watch much NL ball during regular season but Gregor Blanco can pick it.)
Get Phelps Up

Melky now has more rings than Cano :/
- bobtaco
  
  Posey has more than Arod
  - mt
    
    Posey has more than almost everyone in baseball.
    
    Doesnt’t Ryan Theriot have 2 now – didn’t he play for St. Louis last year?
    
    This does conform to my theory that teams can do magical things without one of their best players if they put their mind to it – Melky was operating at an MVP level. Now Posey is their all around best player and he stepped up in 2nd half especially but Melky was balling before he got shut down.
  - Duh Innings
    
    Joaquin Arias who the Yanks included in the trade for A-Rod has as many World Series rings as A-Rod.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  Nady gets a ring too. And Kontos…
  - mt
    
    I would rather Kontos get a ring than AJax and Coke.
mt

It is hilarious that Yanks put in a pathetic performance in ALCS and then team that beat them (who also did not hit that much in ALCS except game 4 against CC) turns right around and does almost the a carbon copy performance in World Series – no hitting, pretty good starting pitching except for ace bombing in ace’s one start.

YCPB, Suzyn.
MB923

ALCS – Yankees, 6 runs/22 hits
WS – Tigers, 6 runs/20 hits

Although the Yankees do have 2 extra innings on the Tigers. Nontheless, is one more embarrassing than the other or do we call them equally bad?
- forensic
  
  Is this even in question? The Yankees performance was far more embarrassing than the Tigers. They were supposedly one of the best offenses in baseball this season while the Tigers were a bit above average. Shutting down the majority of the Tigers lineup is somewhat predictable, they were always going to go as far as their big 2-3 hitters took them, and this is what happened when they somewhat struggled.
  
  The Yankees were theoretically more well-rounded and still disappearred even worse than the Tigers did.
- mt
  
  Close but Yanks slightly worse because key stars did nothing, especially shocking Cano misfire (Miguel Cabrera did at least hit a homer). Also Yanks never led even one inning.
  
  Tigers did suffer two shutouts in a row thing so it keeps it close.
mt

One thing that I have to say – I cannot imagine how someone like ace Tim Lincecum could have survived to put up the performance he did in a city like New York – former 2 time MVP was horrible for most of year as a starter – can you imagine the ridicule and derision he would have gotten in NYC (see how much CC gets sometimes with the “non-ace” stuff and he still has ERA way under 4.)

Then Tim L. volunteers to be in bullpen and was lights out during playoffs. He apparently is still wildly popular with Giants fans even though he struggled with an ERA over 5 this year.
- mt
  
  2 time Cy Young, of course.
Duh Innings

My 2013 Yankees by part of the team:

Rotation – Sabathia/Jake Peavy/Kuroda/Hughes/Pettitte

Peavy signed for one year and $16M so he makes $20M total with his $4M buyout.

Bullpen – Rivera/Robertson/Rapada/Logan/Aardsma/Chamberlain/Eppley

Bench – Stewart/Chavez/Nix/Gardner (Sorry, he can’t hit for average or power, who knows what kind of OBP he’ll post, and the Yanks can’t hand him LF after he barely played in 2012. Why is it it a foregone conclusion he is to be the starting LF for the 2013 Yanks?)

Starting Nine/Batting Order:

Ichiro RF re-signed for a year and $6M with $5M deferred like he deferred $5M this season so the Yanks pay only $1M for him in 2013.

Jeter SS back in the batting order slot he’s done his best work in and protected by…

Cano 2B (If the Yanks make him a contract offer before the season and he rejects it, the Yanks should consider him tradebait.)

Teixiera 1B (The Yanks should listen in on offers for him, too.)

Melky Cabrera LF re-signed for a year and $7M

A.J. Pierzynski C signed for a year and $7.5M ($1.5M raise and what Martin made in 2012) or two years at $6M a year (his 2012 salary, $1.5M savings from Martin for 2013)

Torii Hunter DH signed for a year and $10.25M (Swisher’s 2012 salary)

Granderson CF (I can live with him in the #8 slot. The Yanks should shop him around.)

A-Rod 3B (Too bad if he doesn’t like it. Pierzynski is too slow to bat ninth, Ichiro too good.)

I would trade everyone in this starting nine save Jeter and Pierzynski as I’d expect Pierzynski to take on the role of the vocal leader and think he could be that as he’s tough as nails (as well as a winner with the 2005 Chicago White Sox.)

I would trade everyone on this team save Jeter, Pierzynski, Sabathia, Pettitte, and Robertson.

If the Yanks traded A-Rod, Teixiera would be the only player in the starting nine and the only other Yankee besides Sabathia and maybe Pierzynski if he’s given two years under guaranteed contract beyond 2013.

Kuroda, Pettitte, Rivera, Suzuki, Jeter, Pierzynski, Hunter, Chavez, and A-Rod would be the old guys, but you could seriously argue A-Rod is the only bum among them. The first six listed certainly aren’t bums. Hunter might be one. Chavez is a backup 1B/3B with some pop, so I can’t really bag on him. A-Rod will most likely be the worst of them.
- Duh Innings
  
  Add Rivera to the untradeables. Damn no edit button LOL.
- forensic
  
  Among other issues with this, I don’t want either Peavy or Pierzynski.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  Vintage.