mstar1

DiceK is the hardest pitcher to figure out, he can be lights out once in a while, more often than not he is the 6-8 walks guy who goes 6 --Somehow he does win by nibblin however. 18-3 works for me. I havent been much all season, but Im getting just a touch of the pregame nerves right now...a few minutes til gametime...another long night in chilly New England

Ive been here a few times in the last few years---one pitch at a time is all we can do...one pitch....and make every single one count The Cubs have to wake up and wake up soon---that was way way too sloppy for a playoff game--and these 5 game series dont make any room for even a single mistake. Its not over for the Cubs but they'll have to tighten the ship and reach back and start playing like their lives depended on it..... ....Im detecting a little excitement out of Hiway-- --- I told you Manny was fun.... We've got DiceK twirling tonight,

Hang in there Simon! Breathe deep! Keep the Faith! Im running out of cliches! (o yea) Anything can happen! Its not over til its over! The cubs gotta play loose and be Ok with a split, if they split in LA , then who knows about Game 5? (Well aside from the coronaries happening all over Chicago) Ok end of cliches although I think it is essentially all true ...and.... The Rays just won their first post season game ever---

I can feel---especially for the Cubs fans--After having 2 in the last few years Im not nearly as nervous as I once was going into the playoffs--and I know Hiway has told us that he has experienced a championship (was it eight times in your life?). Its a much different scenario if you never have experienced it than if you have-- if only for the hunger to taste what it feels like just once. I think everyone should get to experince at least one--it is exhilirating to hang with a team for years and years and watch them fight and finally put all the pieces together.. I do think that people can be very passionate and emotionally connected to a team without being morons about it. In some sense it can be like a love relationship, where you get a sense of fulfillment out of seeing your 'loved ones' succeed. Good game in St. Pete right now....I have to call this series for the Rays, who seem to be the team of destiny so far this year, but Im hoping its the White Sox if only so if the Red Sox advance they wont have to face them 4-3 Tampa in the 5th

I still have to feel for the Cubs fans about now--They still are in a good position and I actually think their chances are pretty good--but there is no way Id want to relive being a pre 2004 red sox fan, where the team fills you with hopes all season and then pulls them away at the last minute--but worse yet its the mental replaying of every past failure and the expection of loss again that makes it a nailbiting and high anxiety time ---It is a very empty and frustrating feeling. Emotions are heightened for fans during October baseball, the highs are higher and the lows are lower--Its difficult, and not for everybody, but its part of what makes it very exciting....and very disappointing... There's a long long way to go yet....one down but no one knows what tomorrow brings--Ive been on both sides--the hopeful side is much better and that still can be nervewracking If they would do away with anything I wish it would be those ^%$# FrankTV ads and the Viagra commercials that are on every half inning! Im already sick of Frank Caliendo and Ive only been through one day. EDIT: Im watching Mike and Mike on ESPN they have Obama on-- If the White Sox and Cubs get to the series I'll have to suspend the last week of the campaign, to let the american people know that I have my priorities in order --Barack Obama

Yea Jon Lester doesnt have his good command tonight either. Hes tough ---but if he's not throwing first pitch strikes he may not go deep into the game. Lowrie at short looks like he has some rookie jitters to me tonight--he normally looks as surehanded as anyone in the league, he didnt look like himself on that error that lead to a run

Dang! My man Manny still has it--a one handed golfshot goes about 420 feet ! Yikes...he is unbelievable Im torn I want to see the Cubs win, and i want to see Manny hit......

Watch Dempsters glove when he pitches from the windup--Where most guys will keep the hand in the glove and the glove will raise straight up (or whatever) during the windup he puts the hand in the glove as he goes into the windup then twists the glove left right left right left as he lifts it about chest high before he stops the glove gyrations then delivers the pitch. maybe its nothing rules wise--but its a very strange quirk-- I have never seen anything like it before. Yea all these weird playoff start times PLUS the fact that Im way more up in the pins and needles category for these games makes for an exhausting October---but--Im not complainin' the late games are a pain but its worth it.. EDIT: Slam Loney 4-2 Dodgers 7 walks from Dempster in 4 2/3rds?? He might want to work on his command just a little....

You can follow the game HERE if you're away from a radio and TV. I couldnt sleep last night knowing today was playoff day--Sox-Angels doesnt even start until 10PM our time---Im not a huge fan of West Coast games---

I have to ask you as an ump and Simon who probably sees him alot--That weird glove twirly thing that Dempsters doing--does he always do that Simon? Is it a legal move Mr Ump? Ive never seen anything like that before...

O boy --and thus it starts--what we have been waiting for all year--the first of (hopefully) many long nights in a month of almost no sleep. 3 games on tap today--and mine doesnt even start until 10 PM. Every pitch counts just a little more, every at bat and every play gets magnified. I hate the commercial but I have to agree that there really is Only One October--and like christmas it has finally arrived. Good luck everyone--enjoy it all.

I hope some of you watched the tiebreaker game---It doesnt get much better than the 163rd game of the year being a late inning 1-0 win Congrats to the White Sox---

Thanks Belle! Im about 1/2 way through the first disc and Im lovin it

I may have posted this some pages back--at my age I cant remember everything! --Regardless its still good. some Dylan for a Tuesday Morning

I wouldve loved to have been there but had to be on the rainy shores of Rhode Island lecturin' while yous all was a feastin do we get photos?--reviews? , stories?----um... the mugshots? How'd it go?

No Post Season is without all sorts of drama--on this end we all found out yesterday that Josh Beckett, our #1, and the guy who always kicks it up a huge notch for the playoffs has a strained oblique. Everyone Im sure is fighting something-we'll have to see how it flies from here--Hopefully a few extra days rest (hes been slotted into Game Three against the Angels--will give him enough time to heal and be effective---if not the chances of a repeat have been dealt a big blow---- but its October---anything can happen.....

Im not an economist, and realize this is a very complex situation but at least parts of this government intervention are 100% COMPLETE MADNESS Thats not a "golden parachute' thats a diamond encrusted fully loaded next generation orbital reentry vehicle This is appalling

O there is lots left yet Rock-- :) The first round with three games a day, there will be late nights and the meaning of ever pitch intensified, a lot of high anxiety, tears of joy , broken hearts..emotional ups and downs, ---times of exhiliration ---times of exhaustion...There is nothing like October baseball..Its worth getting attached to--as best you can --the First one to 11 wins For the rest of you start shootin for February usually around Valentines Day

This from RG's NYTimes Link stood out like sore thumb and screams big problems to me. after telling us of all the authority that "The Secretary" has and giving him 700 Billion dollars to utilize at his own discretion we further learn One man--$700 Billion Dollars ---no oversight--no review ---no legal recourse- Something is terribly wrong with this picture

Im hoping for tickets too They have a lottery system out here where a jillion people put their names in the pile and if you get picked you are in. Last night was strange here as well, there is still avery long shot at first but the plan appears to be to combine going for it with resting up. It was very odd when Jon Lester who was only going to go 5 - had a no hitter (again)into the sixth...I was really torn ---of course I'd love to see a guy toss his second of the year--but I really dont want to see him throw 130 pitches in his last start before the playoffs either. As it turned out the Indians got a few hits in the 6th and the pint became moot as the Sox went on to win anyway. Johnny Pesky's number 6 is going to be retired tonight after being with the Sox for 63 years. In another real oddity it looks like it could rain all weekend here--Im hoping that if that is the case and they get rained out that they dont force them to play meaningless games right up until the playoffs but give them the rest time that everyone else gets to prepare Good Luck in the Playoffs!

I was looking for something else and happened across THIS FILM on New England Fiddles that is too good not to post here. I dont know how to post it direct but there are streaming video links at the site. If you are a fiddlin fan (I know we have a few) It's a great look at the longtime fiddlin tradition of the Northeast. enjoy!

Congrats to the Dodgers, Condolences to the DBacks..I'll be looking forward to seeing Manny again! Interesting and amazing stat I just heard (and probably useless to most of you --but I think its cool) Dustin Pedroia has swung at 1195 pitches this season and missed but 95 Amazin

:) This makes me wanna be kickin back on a beach in Jamaica. Next time I misspend my youth-- Im going to be a Rastafarian instead of a Wafer. :)

I dont watch sportscenter regularly--but there is usually a brief mention only of anything Angels---or 3/4 of the teams really --which I am starting to realize more and more I know Im biased toward the Red Sox, i enjoy them, and have the 24 hour Red Sox station, but it was a curious thing when Yankee Stadium closed this past weekend. I enjoyed the coverage but a friend made an interesting point when he said that he didnt remember any coverage at all when Tiger Stadium closed or other places-- Im sure that it was just as monumental an event to the people of Detroit. I Liked ESPN when i first got it years ago--but Im starting to see more and more that as youve said for years -they play their favorites... Ive seen some umps get hammered this year---sometimes 3-4-5 times a game- My brother in law is a college ump and Ive seen him get battered and bruised pretty good at times..I have no idea what a major league fastball to the mask would feel like--and I dont really want to find out at this stage of my life

that seems appropriate -congratulations-- Just when George was slowing down -Hank comes along and is great fodder for quotes--maybe even better than his Dad. The Rays rightfully earned a spot in the playoffs as did the Red Sox. I really dont know what there is to complain about there will be 21 other teams besides the Yanks who dont make the playoffs either. You play the games, fight through the same problems as everyone else and you either make it or you dont... Personally I hope he overreacts signs more big free agents (Texeira, Sabathia, Burnett) and decimates their entire farm system again. I'll let Hank worry about Hank, I have October on my mind although I have to say i was a little annoyed when Sportscenter spent 5 times the coverage on the Yankees being eliminated than they did on the Red Sox actually procuring a spot.... Anyway---the hangover game is tonight-after last nights mini celebration---I'll be looking for a lot of guys to rest and a lot of Triple A'ers to be filling in... We have a week or so to get everyone healthy and lined up for (it looks like) the Angels Its going to be very strange this weekend to have a yankee series that isnt meaningful -I cant remember the last time that happened...