The baseball thread.

[steve]

I just got an email. I've been selected by lottery to be allowed to purchase NLCS tickets at Shea.


... as if the mets would be there.


fucking mets.


-steve

[pappag]

So I take it that you wouldn't want my tickets to Saturday's game? lol

\

I just got an email. I've been selected by lottery to be allowed to purchase NLCS tickets at Shea.


... as if the mets would be there.


fucking mets.


-steve

[sftc]

The Phillies are tied for first and the Rockies are beating LA 3-2 in the 4th, unreal.
This gonna be a stupid crazy weekend in the NL and then it could get really nuts next week:

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Races could reach dizzying heights
09/27/2007 7:44 PM ET
By Mychael Urban / MLB.com

Brace yourself.
That is the message Major League Baseball essentially sent everyone on the final Thursday of this unforgettable regular season, holding further coin tosses due to four- or even five-way playoff tiebreaker scenarios that have emerged. There never has been anything like this Magical Milestone Mystery Tour in the sport's history, a regular season that almost seems destined to last beyond the scheduled Sunday finales.

Turner Broadcasting, already geared up for its first autumn of broadcasting an MLB postseason (all Division Series and the National League Championship Series), would televise any playoff tiebreakers on Monday, or Tuesday, or Wednesday or even Thursday, if necessary. Turner would utilize TBS and TNT, as necessary, if multiple tiebreakers are played.

In the meantime, the extra coin tosses were necessitated by the unrelenting drama in the National League.

The four American League participants are decided, and only deciding their actual ALDS matchups remains. But in the NL, more sites needed to be determined for possible tiebreakers because of the increasing logjam.

Arizona won the only early game Thursday, but that didn't really clear up the picture much. So instead of trying to figure out what might happen in the event of two- and three-way ties, as you probably were before we offered our help, you're now likely trying to wrap your head around four- and five-way scenarios.

Hint: You might have to wait until next Thursday (!) to find out who's in the NL tournament once and for all.

In addition to the many straight-up, two-team possibilities, here's what will happen if the now stays nuts and takes us where baseball has never gone:

• If there's a five-way tie between the D-backs, Padres, Rockies, Mets and Phillies: There will be a lot more baseball to be played. The more the merrier, right?

The Phillies would host the Mets on Monday to decide the NL East.

The Rockies, Diamondbacks and Padres would play a three-team mini-tournament Monday and Tuesday to decide the NL West champ. The Rockies, who have the best three-way head-to-head record, would have the option of playing two games at Coors Field or one game on the road.

However that mini-tourney played out, there'd still be three teams tied for the Wild Card. So strap yourself in for another mini-tourney, to be held Wednesday and Thursday. If the Rockies are one of the three, they'll probably still have the best head-to-head record, so they'd still have that two-at-home-or-one-away option.

The team that makes it through those dramatic, dizzying four days would win the Wild Card. If it's an NL West club, they'd open the playoffs at New York or Philly. If it's an NL East team, the NL West division champs get to host the opener.

• If a four-way tie features the D-backs, Padres, Rockies and Phillies: Another four-day affair.

The Padres, Rockies and Diamondbacks do the Monday-Tuesday tournament. Remember, the Rox make the call: two at home or one on the road.

The two NL West runners-up would get thrown into another mini-tourney, with the Phils, on Wednesday and Thursday to determine the Wild Card. In an Arizona-Colorado-Philadelphia three-way, or Arizona-San Diego-Philadelphia, the Diamondbacks get to make that two-or-one pick. If it's Colorado-San Diego-Philadelphia, the Rockies make the call

If an NL West team survives, it would then play at the Mets on Friday to kick off the NL Division Series. If it's the Phillies, it would start the NLDS on Friday in the home of the NL West champ.

• If there's a four-way tie among the top two finishers in the East and West: Not as hectic, but just as juicy. Right now, those four teams would be the Mets, Phillies, D-backs and Pads. In that case ...

The Mets and Phillies, as in the five-way scenario, would play in Philly on Monday to crown the East champ.

The Friars and Snakes would go at it Monday in Arizona for the NL West crown.

Monday's losing teams would play Tuesday to decide the Wild Card. The Diamondbacks would have to go to Philly or New York. The Padres would either host the Phils or travel to New York. If the Rockies were in the mix here, they'd host either way.

• If the Padres, Rockies and Phillies finish in a three-way tie for the Wild Card: The head-to-head records among the three teams would be used to designate each club as A, B or C. The club with the best record would have the first choice, the club with the second best record would have the second choice, and the club with the worst record among the three would get the remaining option.

• The Phillies went 4-3 vs. the Padres and 3-4 vs. the Rockies (7-7 overall).

• The Rockies went 10-8 vs. the Padres and 4-3 vs. the Phillies (14-11 overall).

• The Padres went 8-10 vs. the Rockies and 3-4 vs. the Phillies (11-14 overall).

Thus, the Rockies would have the first choice to be designated as club A, B or C. The Phillies would have the second choice. The Padres would get the remaining option, and the games would then be played as follows: A hosts B on Monday, with the winner hosting C on Tuesday.

Now go enjoy the games.


HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

NL EAST

Mets @ Phillies

NL CENTRAL

Brewers @ Cubs

NL WEST

Padres @ D-backs

Rockies @ D-backs

Rockies @ Padres

NL WILD CARD

Phillies @ Padres

Padres @ Rockies

Phillies @ Rockies

Mets @ Rockies

Padres @ Mets

D-backs @ Mets

D-backs @ Phillies

D-backs @ Rockies

D-backs @ Padres

Since I grew up with the Phillies and I live in CO I'm hoping for a miracle, but I have confidence that at least one, or both teams will figure out a way to blow it.

[steve]

So I take it that you wouldn't want my tickets to Saturday's game? lol

\

i'd take them, except that i'll be out of town.

-steve

[smmokan]

ELEVEN IN A ROW.

Please let the Mets or Phillies (and Padres) lose 2 of their next three.

[kokomas]

i'm dying here

[steve]

fucking mets.

[StormRider]

This weekend is going to be entertaining to say the least.

[pappag]

http://toastedjoe.blogspot.com/2007/...shitheads.html




Minaya: Let me have your attention for a moment!

So you're talking about what? You're talking about...(puts out his cigarette) ... bitching about that save you blew, some son of a bitch struck you out, somebody got a cheap hit off you, some guy caught your line drive and so forth. Let's talk about something important. (to Randolph) Are they all here?

Randolph: All but Wright.

Minaya: Well, I'm going anyway. Let's talk about something important!

(to Wagner) Put that coffee down!! Coffee's for closers only.

Do you think I'm fucking with you? I am not fucking with you.

I'm here from the front office. I'm here from Fred and Jeff Wilpon. And I'm here on a mission of mercy.

Your name's Wagner?

Wagner: Yeah.

Minaya: You call yourself a closer, you son of a bitch?

Lo Duca: I don't have to listen to this shit.

Minaya: You certainly don't pal. 'Cause the good news is -- you're fired. The bad news is you've got, all you got, just three games to regain your jobs, starting tonight. Starting with tonight's game.

Oh, have I got your attention now?

Good. 'Cause we're adding a little something to the rest of the season. As you all know, first prize is an NL East title. Anyone want to see second prize? Second prize's a wild card spot. Third prize is you're fired.

You get the picture? You're laughing now?

You all got contracts. Fred and Jeff paid good money. Get ball and hit it! You can't hit the ball, you can't catch shit, you can't close shit, you ARE shit, hit the bricks pal and beat it 'cause you are going out!

Wagner: My arm is weak.

Minaya: "My arm is weak." My fucking arm is weak? You're weak. I've been in this business fifteen years.

Lo Duca: What's your name?

Minaya: FUCK YOU, that's my name! You know why, Mister? 'Cause you drove a bullpen car to get here tonight, I drove an eighty thousand dollar BMW. That's my name!

(to Wagner) And your name is "you're wanting." And you can't play in a man's game. You can't close them. (at a near whisper) And you go home and tell your wife your troubles. (to everyone again)

Because only one thing counts in this life! Hit and pitch the ball that is stitched!

You hear me, you fucking faggots?

(Minaya flips over a blackboard which has two sets of letters on it: ABC, and RHCP.)

Minaya: A-B-C. A-always, B-be, C-closing. Always be closing! (looks at Wagner) Always be closing!!

R-H-C-P. Run, hit, catch, pitch. Run -- (to Delgado) will you please run to first base? Hit -- (to Reyes) can you hit the ball? I know you can because it's fuck or walk. You hit the ball or you hit the bricks! Catch -- (to Alou) can you catch the ball for Christ?!! And pitch. (to Heilman) Pitch, you fuckin' cocksucker! R-H-C-P. Get out there!! You got shitty teams comin' in; you think they came in to get out of the rain? Last place team don't walk on the field in September lest it wants to lose!

They're sitting out there waiting to give you a win!

Are you gonna take it?

Are you man enough to take it?

(to Lo Duca) What's the problem pal? You. Lo Duca.

Lo Duca: You're such a hero, you're so smart. Why you coming down here and waste your time on a bunch of bums?

(Minaya walks over to Randolph and takes off his 1977 World Series ring)

Minaya: You see this ring? You see this ring?

Lo Duca: Yeah.

Minaya: This ring cost more than your car. Your manager's won a dozen championships. How many have you won?

You see, pal, that's who he is. And you're nothing.

Nice guy? I don't give a shit.

Good father? Fuck you -- go home and play with your kids!!

(to everyone) You wanna work here?

Win!!

(to Heilman) You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you cocksucker? You can't take this -- how can you take the abuse you get during a game?! You don't like it -- leave. I can go out there tonight with the materials you got, and win 15 to nothing! Tonight! In two hours! Can you?

Can you?

Go and do likewise! R-H-C-P!! Get mad! You sons of bitches! Get mad!! You know what it takes to win ball games?

It takes brass balls to win ball games.

Go and do likewise, gents. The win's are out there, you pick 'em up, they're yours. You don't--I have no sympathy for you. You wanna go out on those games this weekend and win, win, they're yours. If not you're going to be shining my shoes. Bunch of losers sitting around in a bar. (in a mocking weak voice) "Oh yeah, I used to be a ballplayer, it's a tough racket."

(he takes out large stack of red index cards tied together with string from his briefcase) These are the playoffs. And to you, they're gold. And you don't get them. Because to give them to you is just throwing them away.

(he hands the stack to Randolph)

They're for winners.

I'd wish you good luck but you wouldn't know what to do with it if you got it.

(to Lo Duca) And to answer your question, pal: why am I here?

I came here because Fred and Jeff asked me to, they asked me for a favor.

I said, the real favor, follow my advice and fire your fucking ass, because a loser is a loser.

[Brock Landers]

Thats so lonnnggg...but its pretty good

[funkendrenchman]

ELEVEN IN A ROW.

Please let the Mets or Phillies (and Padres) lose 2 of their next three.

Phils vs Rockies .... OH YEA!

[lionelhutz]

LETS GO PHILLIES!!!!
F-U METS.

[MassLiberal]

Bucholz will be shut down for the rest of the season, no playoffs for him. Doh!

[iceman]

Bucholz will be shut down for the rest of the season, no playoffs for him. Doh!

where'd you see that? I checked the usual sources and didn't see anything.

edit: even if it's true it's okay, he's for the future. we can win with the team we have. Or lose, of course.

[smmokan]

Just showed it on ESPN, Ice man.

[iceman]

Just showed it on ESPN, Ice man.

Are you calling me ice space man?

[MassLiberal]

AL east champs.

best record in baseball magic number 1

[SLSki]

Cubs win NL Central!!!! They got it handed to them...but they still are the best of the worst! Good luck in the playoffs Cubs!

[skikola]

i almost shat myself when i saw what was going on at the end of the yankee game. mariano better get his shit together or he's going to be demoted! let joba close things out! but seriously, i'm not concerned about him at all.....
the nl situation is making my stomach turn.......
sox clinched it tonight, the al is more or less set.

[stump832]

Sweet.

Nice pair of second place teams New York has.

[concretejungle]

i almost shat myself when i saw what was going on at the end of the yankee game. mariano better get his shit together or he's going to be demoted! let joba close things out! but seriously, i'm not concerned about him at all.....
the nl situation is making my stomach turn.......
sox clinched it tonight, the al is more or less set.

It would be easier for you if you just rooted for everyone or no one.

[skikola]

Sweet.

Nice pair of second place teams New York has.

I guess New York decided to let the massholes have the chance
to remember what it's like to say shit like this at the end of a
regular season. I can't really blame you for enjoying it,
but it's a new season now.

[Adolf Allerbush]

Peace out Milwaukass Sewers

GO CUBS

[stump832]

I can't really blame you for enjoying it,
but it's a new season now.

Solid use of your espn-cliche generator.

[iceman]

I guess New York decided to let the massholes have the chance
to remember what it's like to say shit like this at the end of a
regular season. I can't really blame you for enjoying it,
but it's a new season now.

Dude, I love all (okay, most) of the maggots, but I'ma punch you in the neck meat when we meet. Right away.