YFSF

Last Page of the Chapter: Twins-Sox Gamer VII

No one cares much about the AL East today. All the action's in the NL. Julian Tavarez gave up three in the first, and the Sox may have a pretty good lineup on paper, but so far appear to be going through the motions. 3-0 Twins in the third. Comment if you care.

The 2015 Coaching Staff?: Yanks-O's Final Regular Season Gamer

Jorge Posada is managing this game. Pete Abe reports that Mike Mussina is his pitching coach (predicted exhange between Mussina and Sean Henn at the mound: "Sean, who do you think you are?! Pavano?! Get this guy out!") and that Jeter will be his bench coach as soon as he leaves the game. I can see Posada as a major league manager one day, and the crafty Mussina as a pitching coach. But I don't see Jeter as a future bench coach. Actually, I can't envision Jeter as an old man.

Anyway, this is the last game of the season. Certain pitchers could be pitching for a spot on the post-season roster, so I guess that's the game's draw. Otherwise, I'll be checking out the NL, rooting for Willie, my favorite player growing up (check out the new Authors page at the top left), and the Mets to survive.

Comment away!

No. 1

It's hard to believe that it's been eight months since pitchers and catchers began reporting to training camps, finally providing those elusive bits of baseball news we''d all craved since both our teams ended their seasons so disappointingly.

Today is now the final day of the regular season. The Sox and Yanks are going to the playoffs, and the Sox are guaranteed home-field advantage through the World Series, assuming they get that far. This is the first time since 1946 the Sox will end the season with the best record in baseball and only the fifth time in 107 seasons (1903, 1912, 1915). As such, the Sox chose which playoff schedule to play. Unsurprisingly, they took the extra off-day, allowing Tim Wakefield to pitch out of the bullpen and giving Josh Beckett and (probably) Curt Schilling two starts if the ALDS foes five games.

The Yankees and Indians will play the shorter series, potentially forcing the use of a fourth starter, but if you think in a 2-1 series the Indians won't turn to C.C. Sabathia on short rest (ditto the Yanks and Chien-Ming Wang), you're quite mistaken.

The Angels appear to be the better team to face. Along with having struggled in September, John Lackey/Kelvim Escobar is not nearly as intimidating a tandem as Sabathia/Fausto Carmona -- though both should be getting Cy Young votes this season and could easily put the Sox in a hole. Hopefully, the Sox can avoid the strange run of 11 straight playoff losses after winning the division (kind of a silly stat, considering that in 1988, 1990 and 1995 the Sox didn't even win 90 games while their first-round opponents won 100).

One game left, and it matters not. All eyes not focused on the National League theatrics are already turned to next week.

Onward and Upward: Twins-Sox Gamer VI

Well, that's over.

Jonathan Papelbon has presumably taken the Bud Light box off his head and retrieved his pants (we can't say the same here at YFSF). The Sox have two games left, and one small bit of unfinished business to take care of -- baseball's best record.

All Boston has to do is win tonight and tomorrow, as they hold the tiebreaker over Cleveland. They'll start with  Tim Wakefield, still seeking that elusive 17th win, which would tie a career high. He's looked better the last two starts, and the optimist in us says Wakefield's setting himself up for another four-start hot streak, beginning tonight. That sure would be nice. He faces Carlos Silva and the Twinkies.

Comment away!

Coasting: Yanks-O's Gamer XVII

Here's hoping that no one gets hurt, because not much matters what happens today or tomorrow except that Andy Pettitte gets his final start of the regular season, facing Daniel Cabrera. Lineups follow

Third To First

Well, it's not quite 1966-67, when the Red Sox picked up 20 games and went from last (ninth at the time) to first. But the 2007 Red Sox are a win away from improving on their 2006 performance by 10 games, and have vaulted from third place to being assured of being in first place for all but eight of the first 12 games of 2007.

That's not an insignificant accomplishment. In the American League, only the Cleveland Indians improved by a greater margin. Some might even call such a turnaround redemptive ;-).

We all know why the Sox have been so much better this season -- better and healthier starters, a stronger bullpen and a healthier lineup. But here are the top five specific factors I see as contributing the most to the Sox' turnaround.

No. 1: Sox acquire Eric Gagne at the deadline

A Long Time Coming

Congratulations to the Boston Red Sox, who tonight (aided by the Baltimore Orioles) captured their first division crown in over a decade. Though there is much hard work to be done in the coming weeks, for a night the boys should celebrate their accomplishment. Anyone who thinks that the players cared not a whit about winning the division should have seen the Olde Towne Team romping over the infield, champagne bottles spraying players and fans alike, a momentary release of pressure before the high-stakes games start next week.

Way to go, guys.

Every Day You See One More (Wild)Card: Yanks-O's Gamer XVI

You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part

The Yankees are back in Baltimore for a set to finish out the season, facing Jon Leicester tonight to introduce the last of the reggalar action. Mike Mussina gets the rock for the Bombers. If he continues to hurl the way he has in his last three starts, he will have made a strong case to be one of the starters in the Post, especially considering Rocket's game leg. Pettitte and Igawa will also see a turn on the bump this weekend.

The Red Sox magic number is 2 as they send Daisuke against Kevin Slowey and the TCTs at Fenway. Johnny Damon reminded reporters that the Yankees still have a "mathematical chance" at the division. It is a funny image that is conjured when one imagines Damon doing math. We kid because we love. Maybe the wc/division in the Beast will be settled tonight, maybe not. It seems a rather tranquil time for the AL, especially considering that the Phillies, the Mets, the Cubbies, the Beermakers, the Snakes, the Pods, and the Rox all yet do not know their post-season fate.

Oh baby dont it feel like heaven right now? Lineups, comments follow.

Enough Already: Twins-Sox Gamer V

Apparently, the Red Sox thought they were playing in the Metrodome last night; how else to explain the futility they exhibited, particularly in the ninth? Likewise, Josh Beckett could have all but sealed the Cy Young with a 21st victory that clinched the division, to boot. Instead, he made us wonder if the Sox might not be better starting their series on the road.

Never mind that. Today's a new day. Two games up, three to play. Still a comfortable margin, as the Sox' destiny is entirely within their hands. Win two, and they're in. So let's start tonight.

Tonight, it's Daisuke Matsuzaka, who has not been good in about a month, against Kevin Slowey, who's given up just one run in each of his last three starts.

The Sox, meanwhile are putting perhaps the best starting lineup they've had all season out there -- Manny and Youks back, with Ellsbury in center. A 2008 Opening Day preview, perhaps?

Oh, and Clay Buchholz is down for the season. Fatigue. Based on the Papelbon experience, this is obviously a smart move -- and it makes one wonder whether the situation might be worse had the Sox begun relying on Buchholz heavily in an eighth inning role down the stretch.

Comment away!