White Sox have gone final, winning 5-1

SI

Lincecum= 3 IP, 9 K's...He's thrown a lot of pitches, but it could be an all-timer, folks

The Mets are going home!

White Sox will need to win their next game and the one-game playoff it looks like, but at least we've stayed alive.

CC is the real deal. Period. Wow. Congrats to the Brewers now and the Rays too. Now they'll be the only team in MLB to have banners up from the postseason of both leagues.

Sad that the Mets choked again, but...it's not like they didn't have chances.

sooo.... by my calculation CC can go on 3 days rest again and pitch in game 2 of the NLDS, which would then allow him to come back on regular rest for game 5. scary thought if you are the phillies.

a cubs-brewers NLCS would be absolutely crazy.

Oh well, guess I'll root for the Rays in the playoffs (my AL team). And, why not, the Brewers too (they haven't been there since '82 after all)

It is just me or do the playoffs just seem really awesome this year:

Rays v. Twins/White Sox
Red Sox v. Angles

Cubs v. Dodgers
Phillies v. Brewers

Lots of new blood, the champs defending their title, old-school and new-school.

Nice mix of old and new, like you said, but without it being devoid of major markets. Should be fun to check out.

Absolutely, esp. if the Twins can get in.

I'm looking forward to the playoffs for sure.

oh yeah..playoffs will be sweet

Co-Signed. The Dodgers in the postseason and the Giants sitting at home :)

Well hey, when you spend $40M more, one would expect you to do a little better. That's okay - I'm happy to have the Dodgers run by Colletti in perpetuity.

Wow. With 95 losses, it wasn't close to not tie the record.

They'll extend that streak next year.

No problem with it from me.

It's a tough balance.

But I think if you win 97 games you earn the right to set yourself up for the playoffs however the hell you want.

It's more annoying when teams who are out of it don't put out there best efforts against teams that are still contending (and it that sense it was cool to see the Royals and Indians and Marlins show up.)

Sorry, we ran out of good pitchers in the Twins series with Meche and the newly-pitching-good Davies in games 1 and 2. Greinke is gassed and needed to stop for the season so Ducky pitched and, while he hasn't been bad, he's not up to the caliber of Mecher or Greinke or even Hiram (Kyle Davies) by a long shot.

SI

Why do people think teams MUST play their good players in these situations? If I've got my playoff spot, I can do whatever the heck I want to do with my team.

I didnt mean to come off wrong, I completely agree with that. As a Met fan it just gave me a creepy feeling.

well, to have a winning record they needed to turn 15 of those wins into losses. There were certainly enough times they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory this year.

Like, honestly, if they had one more consistent pitcher they would have been close to 500.

Anyways, Andy Laroche did a helluva job when they handed him the 3b job.

nothing like a .144/.220/.235 line in 160AB following the Bay trade.

I knew they'd have a hard time after the Bay deal, but I didn't anticipate they would be this bad.

Josh Beckett pushed back to at least Game 3. Not the biggest deal because Lester had been the better pitcher the last 5 months, but Beckett's postseason resume is impeccable. Plus it does potentially line him up to go 1-4-7 in the ALCS if we get by the Angels in 4 or 5. Which will not be easy, seeing as we're 1-8 against them this year and 2 of our important hitters - Drew/Lowell - are questionable right now.

Yeah, but it could explain part of why they're out of it in the first place. They didn't care enough and are dealing with their own issues.

Why do the best teams have the opportunity to do whatever the hell they want but the teams who are out it don't? Especially in baseball where the dynamics of many of these teams has changed due to September call-ups.

In all fairness, the Royals have been a much better team this year than in past years. They won 75 games with a VERY young roster (and likely would have won yesterday had Greinke pitched). Considering they were around 60 wins only 2 years ago, that's a pretty significant improvement in what is a very competitive division. Here's to hoping the Royals continue the upward trend next year.

Sure, that's my point, they showed up and played very well at the end of the year, and actually caused this White Sox game this afternoon to matter by taking 2 of 3 from the Twins.

By the way.

I have tickets to Game 1 of the Cubs - Dodgers. Whooooooo!

Don't make any comments about the Cubs doing good while at the game.

My powers only apply to posting in threads here. We're safe.

As a Brewer fan, yesterday was absolutely unreal.

If you are in the front row STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ANY FOUL POPUPS WHILE THE CUBS ARE IN THE FIELD! Thanks. :)

So what happens if they can't get this game in today? They might be playing this thing in the early AM.

Chuck Hernandez was fired yesterday and still has to coach today. Must be awkward in the clubhouse.

Bleachers, thank you. :)

In that case if the NLCS happens to be the Cubs and the Phillies could you post here everytime it looks like the Cubs are doing well. ;)


FWIW, if the Phils lose I'll be backing the Cubs.

I'm on the edge of my seat watching the game.

Ugh. Fucking Floyd... gets out of a jam only to overthrow the ball to first resulting in a 2-1 Tigers lead thus far top the 6th.

The Cubs led the NL in strikeouts for the 8th consecutive season. Considering how much the pitching staffs have turned over in those 8 years, I think that is rather remarkable.

Anyone know what the record is?

Garcia's pulled in bottom of 6th. Tying run on 2nd.

Come on White Sox!

Galarraga (sp) replacing Garcia. So from one starter to another.

YES!!!

Back to back wild pitches!!

2-2 tie!

Dye on first 0 outs!

Another pitcher for the Tigers.

Runners on 1st and 2nd after IBB of Konkerko. 1 out.

Griffey up to bat!

Griffey walks on 4 straight pitches!

Bases loaded!

Alexei Ramirez up to bat!

Another pitching change for the Tigers.

HOLY SHIT!!!
HOLY SHIT!!!

GRAND SLAM!!!

GRAND SLAM!!!!

6-2 WHITE SOX!!!!

ALEXEI!!!!

Thornton was in for a couple batters until a throwing error by Cabrera. Dotel pitching for White Sox now.

Griffey's been replaced by Brian Anderson in CF.

Linebrink in to pitch for White Sox top 8th.

Linebrink strikes out the side!!!!

3 outs left!!!

Yes!!! Alexei Ramirez single-SB.... and then the run-scoring double!!!

7-2 lead!!!

8-2!!! Wild pitch and error leads to run!

2 outs!!!

Sox looking good!

*hopes that provides the proper kiss of death*

1 out to go!!!! D.J. strikes out first two batters!!

YES!!!!!

WE MOVE ON TO THE ONE GAME PLAYOFF!!!!

It looks like your power can't by used for evil. ;)

dola: Anyone notice that sometimes when you edit it keeps the page the same and makes your post editable while other times it brings up the "old" edit screen where it reloads the whole page and looks similar to the add a new post screen?

Big time blast by Thome.

I screamed and jumped up and down in glee.

Hell of a play by Griffey to throw out the run at home plate and hell of a play by Pierzynski to get the out.

And then for Griffey to hit the double.... so awesome!

Hope we can keep this 1-0 lead and build on it, even..

Some of these pickoff moves by Danks are not legal, but regardless, great showing for him tonight. He's been very dominant through 8 innings.

Thome's homer looks to be the difference. We'll see if the Twins can get the meat of the order up in the 9th and watch them do nothing again....

Go Twinkies!

OMG!!! OMG!!

ANDERSON WITH THE FANTASTIC BEAUTIFUL DIVING CATCH!!!!

YES YES YES!!!

WE'RE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

I'm glad the White Sox made it.

Any post season with Ozzy and Griffey Jr. in it are good to me.

I'll be a sox fan the rest of the way.

The Twins deserve credit for playing one hell of a game. I was sweating until Anderson dove for the final out.

It was a fantastic game to watch and a thrilling, nerve-wracking season overall.

Chicago is going to be a fun place to be this October.

So will L.A.! :)

fixed ;)

It's sad when the Mets fans have to try to spread their misery... :D

You New Yorkers (or New York baseball team fans) can watch us on TV :)

You can even watch me on TV tonight!

Just checking to make sure CW didn't post something around the top of the 5th...

Phils win!

Lidge makes it a dramatic finish in Philadelphia! Phillies hang on to win, though, congrats to the Phillies who haven't see post season victory since '93!

I have nerves that are usually only felt during North Carolina final four games going into this NLDS series, my expectations(and hopes) are probably unreasonably high right now. Oh well, GO CUBS.

1993? Go Jays!

Lidge is really starting to worry me lately. He's been throwing more and more pitches with every save opportunity.

I really wish Charlie had kept Hamels in there for the 9th. At least we got a win, that's a good start. :)

Lidge is starting to remind me of Mitch Wiliams with his saves lately. Where I used to feel that t game was over when he came in now I am starting to wonder when the big blow to cost them the game is going to happen.

Also, why the hell was Hamels pulled? He was practically unhittable all day. Get the pen up in case it it looks like he is tiring but keep him in.


This move makes me think of Peter Griffin taking the mystery box over the boat because "it could even be a boat".

dola: What happened? I thought the Cubs were winning when I fell asleep. Of course I have been half out of it from working all night the last 4 nights so I may be mistaken.

dempster walked 7 heh. He walked the bases loaded then gave up a grand slam.

Jeff Kent, as big of a jerk as he is, is a future hall-of-famer.

That Manny HR was ridiculous. He just reached out of the zone and popped that thing out of there.

HOOOAH!

0-2 count to both Manny and...Ethier? before walking them with two outs. Then was 0-2 to Loney before a ball, foul tip, and HR

What a fucking catch by ELLSBURY!

edit: And what a fucking bonehead move by Vlad.

"Has not had a sacrifice in the last two seasons."

I can hear the FJM guys blogging right now.

I'm not sure I care if we win this series. I just want to win...ONE...FUCKING...GAME...from the these guys in the postseason.

Not to much to ask, you would think? I would hope $120 M would be able buy a few players with a sack for once.

Have to say this, Chief.. this was set up perfectly for the Angels to win.. Lester versus Lackey, Lackey having a pretty good game.. and if it didn't happen here, I'm not sure it's going to happen, especially with a completely fresh bullpen waiting to backup Dice-K game 2.

edit: Not over yet, mind you

No, it never was. You forget. You're the Red Sox, we're the sadsack, don't show up against you bleepin' Angels.

Damn I hate these 5-game series.

You should have to do more than win 3 games to knock out a 100-game winner. It's such a crapshoot in a sport like baseball. A 7-game series makes a huge difference.

Agreed on the Mitch Williams thing. I really don't like how he's thrown a lot of pitches in each of his last few save opportunities.


Again, agreed. The only plausible reason is that when Hamels starts to show fatigue, he visibly starts to show it. Perhaps Charlie wanted to keep Hamels mentally/physically sharp for Game 4.


Smoltz (who's an excellent commentator btw) pretty much hit it on the head with questioning bringing Lidge in. Why do you want to give the Brewers an opportunity to see Lidge's current stuff? I mean, they put Lidge in against the heart of the lineup against Milwaukee's best hitters.

Add in that the Brewers probably saw a lot of Lidge over the past few seasons (since he played in their division), and it really didn't make much sense.

Agreed

SI

I know it might be a day late at this point, but...

God Savoring Vast Array Of Cubs-Cursing Options | The Onion - America's Finest News Source


CHICAGO—God, the divine creator and omnipotent deity, held a press conference Tuesday to discuss the infinite ways in which He could curse the postseason hopes of His least favorite baseball team, the Chicago Cubs.

"I might go with an inopportune rainout or the classic error on a routine play. Or maybe I'll mess with the lights during a huge play in Game 7—that could be interesting," said God, who added that when it came to the Cubs, it was nice to stop moving in mysterious ways and take the direct-intervention approach for once. "My prophet Steve Bartman will certainly be a tough act to follow, but trust Me: Anything can happen. And let's just say that for the centennial celebration, it will be huge." When asked about His plans for mankind, God said He would "probably" allow our free will to decide the issue.

SI

Was there as well. It was a big pile of suck for the Cubs. They looked lifeless after the grand slam.

I know it was AWESOME! Can't wait till Saturday and Sunday, I'm going to the Dodger games.

Yep, and Loney looked pretty fooled on that foul tip. I thought it was strike three from where I was sitting, so was pretty disappointed when he stuck around long enough to hit the slam.

Dempster definitely seemed nervous. His pitches were way more up than they usually are ... when he is good he is getting strikeouts and groundouts galore. Watching it, it felt much more like a Jason Marquis start than what I've grown accustomed to with Dempster this season. The purported upside with Dempster over Z or Harden (who I would have picked, assuming he is healthy) as the Game 1 starter is that he was less likely to give up crooked numbers than anyone else on the staff. But obviously that was not the case last night.

finaly a Mets reliever mows someone down

ESPN - Mets' Burgos drove SUV that slammed into women who later died, police say - MLB

Surprised no one is commenting on games this afternoon. Longoria has gone yard in his first two at-bats, helping offset a 3 run shot by Wise. Rays 4-3 after 3 1/2.

Anyone watching the game, rather than getting updates online? What does the Rays crowd look like - sell-out?

Miserable, wasn't it.

Even the freakin' bleachers, which is where I was, was dead after that shot.

Nobody has really been commenting on any games. I'm having to watch the game on my computer via mlb.com so there's not much sound for me to listen to ;)

SI

I've been avoiding saying anything so I don't jinx the White Sox.

There's a lot more people in the stands to be sure, though I don't know i it's sellout or not.