ghost of miles

Weinstein's behavior is despicable and sounds quite possibly criminal. We're hearing about it because the New York Times is an excellent investigative newspaper. (Curious as to why this particular story is getting posted here... what about Roger Ailes, Bill O'Reilly, or for that matter, Donald Trump? Equal time for all sexual predators, say I!) I don't care what party you give money to or what causes you support, treating women in the manner of ALL of the above-named is disgraceful and morally abhorrent.

Gary Sanchez, who was as close to the play as anybody, was practically begging Joe to challenge the call. Yanks still would have had a challenge to burn, too, not to mention potential umpire-initiated challenges from the 8th inning on. I don't think he should be fired for it or anything like that (extreme overreaction from some frustrated fans), but it was a bad decision compounded by his taking CC out too early as well (IMO). The funny thing is that Joe wins more of his challenges (73%) than almost any other manager in baseball (if the stat I saw the other day was accurate). I really do believe he's as good a manager in most respects as the Yankees could ask for; I doubt they'll can him, even if (with all likelihood) NY loses tomorrow night.

Think Of Monk

Up today for the Monk centennial: Thelonious Monk: From Myth To Man Part 2

Almost to the end of The Sopranos season 5... Steve Buscemi clearly not long for the show.

Cleveland's a bit banged-up right now--haven't seen any update on the likelihood of Encancion being available for Wednesday night's game. But Kluber says he's figured out why his command was off in Game 2, and he'll be pitching at home on regular rest. Plus the Indians have to be mad as hell right now after losing such a close one in Game 3 and then giving NY so many error assists last night--and now their season's on the line as well. OTOH I'm sure the Yankees are pumped by their return from death's door... who knows, maybe they've got a 1996-style run in them.

Hey Berigan, yes to Houston's offense--it's ridiculous. Still think it's coming down to a Dodgers-Astros World Series. Whatevet happens Wednesday night, I hope that Joe Girardi's back next year as the Yankees' manager. Yeah, he screwed up not asking for a review, but damn, people make mistakes... He just should have owned up to it sooner. His strengths far outweigh his flaws IMO and he's got a lot of Yankee soul in him: Girardi emotional after Game 4 win Plus it's NYC--not only do you have to manage on the field, you gotta deal with the A-Rod factor or whatever else the soap opera story of the moment is. (I know this happens on other teams as well, but NYC's the mega-media stage for it.) Joe's remarkably good at navigating that. There's an outstanding new generation of talent at hand, and I hope he sticks around to manage it.

Moral victory achieved! I still give Cleveland great odds to take the final game at home, but at least NY's bullpen will be rested (and what a performance by Kahnle tonight after Betances quickly showed that he didn't have it in the 8th... whew! Also an excellent outing from Severino after his wild-card disaster). All down to Wednesday night now.

Anybody who's talked to Scott in the past few weeks heard an update on whether or not the Teddy Wilson is still on tap for a circa-January release?

When I looked at the NYC forecast about an hour ago, it showed a high likelihood of rain throughout the day, but tapering off in mid-evening. I'm guessing that it might be delayed but not canceled. I like that slider/animation effect as well!

We re-aired this program last week in advance of Monk's centennial tomorrow... part two is on this week: Thelonious Monk, Part 1:  From Man To Myth

Aaron Judge is way overdue to make some contact in this series, as is Starlin Castro. A rainout today would definitely benefit the Yanks' bullpen (Chapman in particular--I'd be really nervous about any usage of him tonight after pitching two innings Friday and last night's 35-pitch, 1 2/3 IP outing), but it would also put Bauer on regular rest for a start tomorrow (and perhaps be too much rest for Severino, who threw only 29 pitches in last Tuesday's game?). Barring rainouts, though, playoff baseball for 12 hours straight today! 1:00 p.m.: Houston at Boston 4:00 p.m.: Washington at Chicago 7:00 p.m.: Cleveland at New York 10:00 p.m.: Los Angeles at Arizona

Ha ha ha... Aaron Judge also stole that home run from Zach Hample

The rookie and the vet: Judge and CC cheering Greg Bird's home run tonight.

Well, I can finally breathe again. Jesus, that was a nail-biter of a game! At least both AL East teams have now avoided the ignominy of a sweep. Good thing Aaron Judge is 6:7, or Lindor would have had a two-run homer. Also, I don't think Chapman will be available tomorrow night, after throwing 34 pitches tonight and having gone two innings in Game 2. Hopefully Severino will bounce back from that disastrous outing against the Twins.

Oldie-but-oh-so-goodie:

Well hey, Jesus turned water into wine, right?

Yeah, totally agree. So does this writer: Girardi should have challenged I was able to follow the game off and on through the 10th inning, but after that grand-slam I had a feeling it was pretty much over, given that it was Cleveland and they were at home. At least it was a hell of a battle, and I'd call it a moral victory if NY could somehow take both games at home. Even if that were to happen, very little chance that Kluber would be so off again in a potential game 5 at Cleveland.

Gawd almighty, the Yanks actually jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning (Kluber definitely without his A game so far, gave up that homer to Sanchez and needed 38 pitches to get three outs) and now NY and CC (w/error assist by Todd Frazier) have given it right back. That didn't last long.

Kluber completely dominated NY in his two starts against them this year (2-0, 18 K's, 2 walks, 6 hits, 1.59 ERA in 17 IP). So the Yanks could well be in for another ugly night at the plate.

Well, that was a spanking. I went to a 7 p.m. showing of Blade Runner 2049, and NY was down 4-0 in the 7th by the time I got out. Looking over the box score, I'm inclined to think even more that this ALDS will setve as intense growing pains for the Yanks. Cleveland's clearly on another level (no surprise that they took 5 of 7 from NY during the regular season).

1997 ALDS: Cleveland defeats New York in five games 2007 ALDS: Cleveland defeats New York in four games 2017 ALDS: ??? By the above vecter, Cleveland defeats New York in three games? NOOOOO..... (Leaving out the 1998 matchup, which the Yankees won, because it was an ALCS, not an ALDS)

Nice brief write up by Roger Angell for the New Yorker about the AL wild-card game, with well-deserved praise for Didi Gregorius' presence on the team in general: Young Yankees rebound So Cleveland has the league's best rotation ERA and the best bullpen ERA. That may be true, sir, but the Yankees had the MLB's second-best run differential, second only to... Uh, Cleveland. Also looks like tomorrow night's game could get rained out.

A gif for any social-media occasion that has grown tiresome!

Man, this Rockies-Diamondbacks game is even crazier than last night's wild-card match.