ALDS Game 4 Recap

Granderson doesn't make that catch in the first inning, we're talking about a loss right now. Fact. Sure he misjudged that ball, but anyone who's played baseball knows that is the hardest play to make as an outfielder, he made the adjustment and literally saved the game and probably Burnett's career as a NY Yankee. The catch Granderson made in the sixth might have been one of the best catches I've ever seen watching a game live. Like I said yesterday I thought Granderson and Gardner were the only two ready to play and there was no way Grandy was letting the Yankees lose that game. For all the talk about the Yankees lineup and their potential to score runs, the defense was what came up huge last night.

The other positive was obviously Burnett, 5 2/3 innings and only 4 hits is like getting a 2-hit shutout from CC. Season on the line, everyone talking shit about him and he bossed up and came through and his wife is still hot. Pretty much scared the shit out of everyone in the first inning, but calmed down after the big catch by Grandy and did his job. The bullpen did their part and wait what? Phil Hughes actually did a good job? By the way Boone Logan was fucking dealing. Dude was pumping, hitting spots just striking out the side to end it like a boss. Jesus Montero is a fucking stud, first ever postseason at-bats? 2 for 2 with a RBI no big deal.

Now we've got Rookie of the Year Ivan Nova going up against Brazzers star Doug Fister for all the marbles. Yanks riding high off their first elimination game win on the road since Mo' got beat in the desert - crowd will be fuckin' rowdy in the Bronx, Bleacher Creatures dominating the roll call, Nova pumping strikes, Cano going upper deck. Everyone just take care of their shit and there should be a nice calm celebration Thursday night before it's on to meet up with the Rangers in the ALCS, you know the team the Yankees went 7-2 against this year. LET'S FUCKIN' GO!

Karen Burnett.

ALDS Game 3 Recap

Well that sucked. You can't ask for much more than 4 runs and 6 hits off Verlander, that in itself is just being greedy. CC was just flat out not getting the corners, had to pitch to contact and eventually that got him in trouble. He threw a shit load of pitches by going deep into counts and couldn't get past the 6th. I honestly think Game 3 was the most important game of the series, literally changes everything - CC just didn't have it on a night he really needed it. Few calls here and there and it's an entirely different game, but can't make excuses - just needed to be better. Mr. Why Haven't We Handed Him The Cy Young Yet Verlander got into a groove, fanned something like 13 out of 10 guys and the stadium was going fucking crazy. Struck out the side on like 4 pitches at one point. I'll admit I'm not a fan of Posada but the dude put together a MONSTER at-bat down 0-2 to Verlander in the 7th, laying off absolutely filthy curveballs close to the zone and eventually worked a walk. Russel Martin immediately wore a 100mph ched ball off his ribs like an absolute champ, seriously don't know how he's not dead right now. Then Brett Fucking Gardner came through with a huge two-strike two run double to tie it up. Guy is an absolute gamer. Game tied, fuckin' awesome right? Oh wait....

Leave it up to Soriano to give up the lead the next inning on one pitch to Delmon Young. Sidenote: John Smoltz called the shit out of that, too. "Be careful here with this first pitch"....... Silence..... The pitch..... Gone. Usually I can't stand listening to broadcasters, but Smoltzy was on his fucking game last night. After that, giving Verlander another chance with a lead that late, it was pretty much over. But anytime Fat Boy comes in to close it out, there's a chance - and there was. Had The Captain up with a chance to tie the game, but Valverde K'ed his ass for the second night in a row to end the game. Honestly, he struck out the pitch before that when he got absolutely froze on that split that landed right on the corner. Whatever, I guess it's better to look like you're 37 years old by swinging at a fastball that passed you 5 minutes ago.

I think it's clear - this team is OLD as shit. A-Rod is literally an automatic out, Tex thinks it's April and it's okay to hit .100, Cano had his 6 RBI's so he's done with this series.... Outside of Granderson and Gardner it's tough to see anyone in this lineup that's ready to play right now. I think 4 games in a row with no travel day is tougher on this team than any others. The left side of the infield is a combined 243 years old and they're definitely showing it. The entire season now rests on AJ Burnett..... Let that sink in.... Ummm his only start in Detroit this year he actually looked pretty good....? Fuck....

PS- Worst thing about Soriano giving up the HR is the fact you know he couldn't possibly care any less - fucking hate that.

Guaranteed ALDS Win For Tigers - Coming From The Guy Who Sees The Field The Least

ESPN - After closing out the Detroit Tigers' win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday, closer Jose Valverde believes the Tigers are a lock to win the series. "I think the series will finish in our house," Valverde told ESPNdeportes.com's Enrique Rojas and other outlets. "They have a good team, but the series is not (coming) back to New York. We have a big advantage," said Valverde, who was 49-for-49 in regular-season save chances. "We have Verlander ready for tomorrow. In the bullpen, we are ready." Valverde entered Game 2 in the ninth with Detroit up 5-1 and quickly made things interesting. The closer allowed a solo homer to Nick Swisher to lead off the inning. Jorge Posada then followed with a triple to deep center. After a Valverde walk to Russell Martin, Andruw Jones drove in Posada with a sacrifice fly, cutting the Tigers' lead to two runs. He then appeared to get a game-winning pop-out in foul territory off the bat of Curtis Granderson, but catcher Alex Avila slipped on the surface of the on-deck circle and failed to make the catch. Granderson eventually worked a walk, putting the winning run at the plate in Robinson Cano, who had six RBIs in Game 1. But Cano grounded to second to end the game. "Thank God my team won," Valverde said. The closer also guaranteed that he'd be available for Monday's game. "I can pitch in 11 straight," he said.

Get a load of this fuckin' guy. A regular Broadway Joe Plaxico Burress over here. If you wanna make a guarantee you make that shit before the series starts, or if you're a part-time blogger you make it after your team is up 1-0. Who makes a 1-1 series guarantee? Guys who aren't Mariano Rivera, that's who. Like how bad does this guy want attention?? Lions are 4-0 no one cares about the Tigers anymore, they can't stand it. It's hilarious. Guy almost blows a 5-1 lead and starts vomiting shit right out of his mouth. I guess this is just par for the course for teams not named the New York Yankees. They don't win? Ah but there's curses, ghosts, their manager. They win? Parades for game 2 of the ALDS and guarantees out of their assholes. Yankees? Been there done that, 27 fucking times. Shit is old news. Game 2 of the ALDS is like spring training, this shit is a tune up. For Jose's sake Verlander better throw a complete game, because if he needs to come into the game, shit is going to get real. Way to give the best team in the game even more incentive to embarrass you on your own field.

PS - Love that everyone is so focused on Verlander throwing like the Tigers lineup isn't shitting themselves they have to face CC again. Cy Young match up tonight should be sick, but I'll take my chances with CC considering Verlander hasn't beaten us this year. Oh yeah and Valverde probably should've remembered he sucks against the Yankees:

Sports Illustrated - The Yankees also scored on Valverde in two of his last three appearances against them, all coming in Detroit in early May, handing him a loss on May 2. In 5 2/3 innings of work against the Yankees this year, including Game 2, Valverde has walked six men against five strikeouts while posting a 6.35 ERA.

Nice stats asshole.

PPS - If you believe in jinx's and all that other baby crap go cheer for the Red Sox or the Cubs. We don't do that in NY, sorry.

AL Central Really Belongs in the NL

How the hell are the Tigers leading a division with a -17 run differential? How bad does your division have to be in order for that to happen?

Take note of how unbelievably good the Yankees are, +178?? Must really suck to be the Rays. How bad do they want to be in the AL Central? Realignment needs to happen and it needed to happen yesterday.