Chien-Ming Wang was atrocious in game 1. Flat-out awful. Tonight, he's in the Bronx. His home field. His favorite mound. In front of the best fans in the world. Tonight will be an entirely different story. It's another one-game season, throw out the records, strap on the cleats, and go out there and win. One hour 'til first pitch.
As usual, the score will be updated below, and the live blogging will take place after the jump (you'll find the lineups there as well). Leave your thoughts in the comments and enjoy, Yankee fans. Win and we play Wednesday. Losing is not option.
Eric Wedge is playing Russian Roulette tonight, gambling his season on a strong outing from Paul Byrd. The only logic I can see is he's confident in Byrd or Sabathia winning one of these games, and then he'll have Carmona going in game 1 of the ALCS. Risky, and I hope it bites him in the ass.
The Tribe should have their entire pen ready to go tonight, so it's imperative for the Bombers to jump all over Paul Byrd early, before the Rafaels can get into the game.
Paul Byrd has a personal catcher, Kelly Shoppach. That takes Garko's bat out of the lineup. I've said before I hate the personal catcher, especially when it means you lose your #5 hitter. Let's hope the weakened lineup gives Wang a couple of easy innings. The bottom three for the Tribe looks very reminiscent of a National League lineup.
Chip Caray, "Hey, Paul Byrd isn't exactly chopped liver." As TBS shows a stat on the screen saying Paul Byrd is 0-2 with a 17.59 ERA against the Yanks this year.
Here we go!
Top First: Not a good start. Lead-off bomb for Sizemore. 1-0, Indians. Cabrera grounds out to first. The sinker doesn't appear to be sinking, early on. Hafner slaps a single down the third base line. He finally took a little bit off his sinker on a 1-1 pitch to Martinez, and got a swing and a miss. (from 96 MPH to 91 MPH). He backed it up with another pitch at that speed and got Martinez to bounce back to the box. Hafner moves to second on the play, two outs for Peralta. The sinker is moving now, and the velocity is up. It looks like he got the feel for it when he started working out of the stretch and took a little off. Son of b!tch. Another broken bat piece of sh!t two out hit by Peralta. Hafner scores. 2-0, Indians. Lofton grounds back to Wang to end the inning.
Let's get the momentum back right away. It looked to me like Wang settled after the Hafner at bat. I have a feeling he's going to put some zeros on the board, we need the O to pick him up early.
Bottom First: Damon grounds out to short. Jeter smokes a single to right on the first pitch. Abreu singles to right, he got jammed, but it fell in. Good to see the Yanks get a break, for once. Here's the MVP, and the MVP chant. Let's go A-Rod! A-Rod Ks on an 86 MPH fastball. Two on, two out for Jorge. Lofton robs Jorge with a sliding catch to end the inning. Gotta cash those opportunities in, damnit.
Top Second: Gutierrez lines a single to center to lead off the inning. Probably a bunt here. Single grounded between short and third by Blake. Nothing you can do about that if you're a ground-ball pitcher. First and second, no one out. This time, they will bunt. Shoppach fouled the ball off, and they gave him first base. Moose is up in the bullpen. B.S. call goes the Indians' way. Shocking. The ball hit right off the barrel of the bat, apparently Bob Brenly is blind as a bat, because he's looking at the same thing as we are and coming to a different conclusion. Bases juiced, no one out with Sizemore up. Oh Jesus, here comes Mussina. Chip Caray is a f*cking moron. I will never mock Mussina again if he gets out of this jam. Sizemore grounds into a double play, Gutierrez scores. 3-0, Indians. Blake is on third with 2 outs, Cabrera at the plate. I have no idea why Cabrera is trying to bunt here. Makes no sense. Another piece of sh!t two out dunker. 4-0, Indians. Hafner swings 3-0. Expect a change from Moose here on 3-1. Hafner walks. First and second, two out for Martinez. Martinez grounds out to second. Great job by Moose there. Two runs scored, but it could've easily been one, and probably should've been more.
Lot of game left here.
Bottom Second: Catcher's interference, obviously not called. Why does every single call go against the Yanks? Shoppach's glove looks swollen to me. Lead off walk for Matsui. Single up the middle for Cano, got something brewing here. Usually, I would call for bunt, not right now, though. Melky pops out to third. Big at bat here for Doug. First and second, one out. The Yanks got one call back on a check swing that wasn't by Doug. He walks, bases loaded, 1 out. Damon pops out to short. Jeter up, bases loaded, 2 out. Jeter reaches on an infield single, Matsui scores. 4-1, Indians. Bases still loaded, still 2 outs for Abreu. Action in the Tribe pen, they have a rookie lefty up. Abreu flies out to center to end the inning. The first run is always the hardest, we need Moose to hold 'em right here. We aren't done scoring, not by a long shot.
Top Third: Peralta walks to lead off, after a questionable ball 2 call. Lofton flies out to center. Gutierrez Ks looking, pretty pitch. Blake Ks swinging. Huge inning for Moose there, plus the Indians didn't clear the pitcher...I mean Shoppach.
Bottom Third: A-Rod Ks looking to lead off the third. Posada doubles off 385 sign in right center. Matsui grounds out hard to first. Posada at third, 2 out for Cano. Cano flies out to deep center, he just missed it.
Top Fourth: This is unbelievable. Shoppach doubles to left center. Sizemore up with a man on second. He bunted foul on the first pitch, didn't show bunt on the second. Sizemore walks on a 3-2 pitch. First and second, no one out for Cabrera. This will absolutely be a bunt. Cabrera bunts the runners over to second and third. This could be the ball game here. Hafner is getting an intentional walk, it'll be Victor Martinez with the bases loaded and 1 out. Single to left scores 2 more. 6-1, Indians. Peralta grounds into a double play to end the inning.
Still a long way to go, but it's tough to stay optimistic right now. The big outs are just not being made by the Yanks, nor are they getting the hits when they need them. They've had a small village on the bases, we're going to see right here if those two runs broke their back.
Bottom Fourth: Melky leads it off with a hard single to center. Let's string about 5 hits together here. Peralta chases down a blooper hit into shallow left by Doug. Damon flies out to right. Jeter lines out to third to end the inning.
Top Fifth: Lofton flies out to shallow center for the first out of the fifth. Gutierrez flies out to deep right center. Two quick outs. Blake Ks looking. Strong inning for Mussina.
Abreu, A-Rod, Posada coming up. It starts now.
Bottom Fifth: Abreu grounds out to first. A-Rod singles to left. Posada lines out to second, broken bat. Matsui pops out to short to end the inning. I think Byrd threw about 6 pitches that inning. The lefty Rafael is warming.
Top Sixth: Jose Veras is warming. You'd think Joe would skip the garbage and go right to the Viz and Farnsworth at this point. I guess you'd think wrong. Shoppach flies out to right for the first out. Doug makes an amazing play on a grounder in the hole, throws high to Mussina. Sizemore called safe, but he was out. How many calls can go against the Yanks? Cabrera flies out to Cabrera in deep-ish left center. That's all for the Moose, he deserved better. Villone is in to face Hafner with Sizemore on first and two out. This inning should be over right now. According to Caray, the Sox would rather face the Yankees. OK. Hafner flies out to left to end the inning.
Bottom Sixth: The crowd is into it, if this were Fenway and the Sox were down 6-1 they'd all be sitting on their hands. Atta boy Robbie! Solo bomb for Cano. 6-2, Indians. Here come the Rafaels. OK, let's keep it going Melky. Shelley is in the on deck circle. Let's go Melky. Ground out to third, one down. Here's Frankenstein. Single up the middle for Shelley. Single for Damon. First and third, one out for Jeter. COME ON CAPTAIN!!!!!!!!!! No. No way did that just happen. 4-6-3 double play for Jeter.
Top Seventh: Farnsworth is in for the top of the seventh. Martinez Ks on a nice breaking ball. Peralta singles to left with one out. Lofton hits the ball pretty much as far as he can, flies out to right center in front of the warning track. Two down, man on first, Gutierrez at the dish. Nasty slider get Gutierrez swinging. Solid inning for Farnsworth.
That's 3 zeros in a row put up by the Yankee pen. Chip away, fellas.
Bottom Seventh: Abreu strikes out to lead off the seventh. ATTA BOY A-ROD!!!!!! Solo shot to left center. 6-3, Indians. I think he might've broken his bat on that, too. Chip away. Chip away. Chip away. Jorge grounds out to third for the second out. Matsui vs. Perez now. Matsui walks. This Rafael is cooked, but Wedge doesn't want to bring a righty in to face Cano. Sh!t. Cano hits a one-hopper to first to end the inning.
OK, got one back. Hold them right here. We are not done scoring.
Top Eighth: Wow, Veras is in. Joe really has confidence in this kid, I guess. Come on, get through this inning clean. Blake Ks looking on a high slider. Shoppach hits another double to deep center. Unreal. Joe better get someone up. We cannot give up another run here. Mo is warming. Joe is at the mound, but he didn't pull him. Let's see if he changes his mind. Veras intentionally walks Sizemore. Mo will be coming in to face Cabrera. I'll be shocked if we see another Yankee pitcher, no matter how long this game goes. Cabrera breaks his bat and grounds out to second for the second out. Jeter had no chance to turn it. Hafner is up with men on first and third. Holy crap. Jeter just gets Hafner at first on a high bounder. Hafner's arguing something. Jesus, don't turn this call over.
Bottom Eighth: Betancourt is in. Melky crushed one to short, Peralta barely hung on and threw him out at first for the first out. Giambi pinch-hitting for Shelley. Giami Ks swinging on a slider in the dirt. Damon is up with no one on, and two out. Damon Ks.
One more zero, Mo. We have the heart of the order coming up. One more zero.
Top Ninth: Martinez leads off with a single up the middle. Peralta singles softly to right. This is probably going to be a bunt for Lofton, Martinez is as slow as dirt on second, try to get him at third. Wow, he's not bunting. Lofton grounds to Jeter, but hit too softly to turn it. First and third, one out. Keep an eye out for the squeeze here with Gutierrez at the plate. Lofton ran on the first pitch. The pitch was fouled off. Gutierrez Ks on a nasty two-seamer. First and third, two down with Casey Blake at the dish. Johnny Damon just made an amazing running catch to save two runs and end the inning. That's going to set the tone for the bottom of the ninth, it has to.
The pen has put 5 zeros on the board, Jeter, Abreu and A-Rod are coming up against Borowski. Let's get this done. You can rest in December. Win. This. Game.
Bottom Ninth: Jeter pops out to second to start the ninth. There we go! 2 more! Upper deck bomb for Abreu, what a blast! 6-4, Indians. A-Rod flies out to right. Two outs, Jorge at the plate. We need to get someone on. Posada just missed a bomb down the right field line. Come on. Posada Ks. That's all she wrote.
I'll be back sometime later in the week to wrap up this season. Thanks for all the comments guys, I'm sorry it couldn't have ended better.
I'm at work and my Slingbox player is acting up, so will have to catch a few innings on the radio.
TBS has got to be the worst. I don't remember it being that horrible last year on ESPN. Then again, I tried to push the last year out of my head so I actually don't remember if ESPN coverage was any better.
His right knuckle was definitely swollen. Maybe that happened before (or after the ball hit the bat), but it was bigger than his left knuckle for sure.
Then he has a naturally swollen right knuckle. That's all I'm commenting on. I didn't say it didn't hit his bat, just that his knuckle is swollen. Something worth pointing out, I thought.
Shit... I walk away for an inning to come back to find Moose in the game. Not a good omen, but he got out of the third.
It's hard to think of Byrd as Public Enemy #1. He was undrafted, got cut by the Mets, released by Atlanta, pitched in Philly (twice), was exiled to KC. He's soft spoken and every other word he seems to mention God in an interview (at least he did when he was a Phillie).
It's also hard to believe he's a 15 game winner when the Phils gave up on him...
Byrd should be out by the 6th, though. I don't recall him finishing many games when he was a Phillie.
Every inning starts out so good, with walks or hits and they just can't drive anyone in. Maybe they're due for one big inning tonite. Against one of the Rafaels.
He hit that right on the nose, just right at Cabrera. Just one break, that's all it's going to take. They've been soooooooo close all night, just one break.
I'm envisioning a couple of key hits for A-ROD in the 7th and 9th. Meanwhile, Farns being Farns. Great strike out there neutralized by a hit here. What else is new.
Thanks for the comments guys. I'm probably going to be away for a day or two, my wife is going to be induced tomorrow afternoon. This one's going to sting for a while, and I think tonight truly was the end of a Yankee era.
They should have gotten rid of Torre five years. The guy is brutal. He needs to go.
Bring on Bobby Valentine!!!!!!
Let Arod go. Let Mo go. Let Jorge go. Forget about Clemens. Give Mussina away. Give Giambi away. Bring up some more youth, and try to build a stronger bullpen.
Don't forget what an amazing turnaround this team had in the second half of the season. Everyone counted them out, and yet they finished with the wild card and with a .290 batting average, one of the highest team batting averages in the modern era. They were a run scoring machine!
Yankee fans are so used to being in the playoffs, they sometimes forget how hard it is to get there in the first place. They did a great job. They have young arms and young talent. Clemens and Mussina won't be back, (my assumption), so they will get even younger.
The #1 sign of a loser is taking joy in other people's misfortunes.
I wish all 4 of the remaining teams in the playoffs good luck. And yes, that includes the Red Sox. The Yankees were beat by a better team, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
And most of all, I'm glad that I stopped having the mentality of a 10-year old, like most sports fans have. Watching people's reactions to the Yankees lose, even people who aren't Indians, Red Sox, or Mets fans, really proved to me how stupid and immature the VAST majority of sports fans are.
Some (and I emphasize the word "some"...not "all") Boston fans were saying stuff like "I dont even care if the Red Sox win the ALCS, I'm just happy the Yankees lost". Is that not the most pathetic thing you've ever heard? Some Red Sox fans would prefer to see the Yankees lose than to see their own team win?
Also, wouldn't the Red Sox have rather played the Yankees? Considering, you know, that the Indians are the better team and it will be tougher for them to advance to the World Series...
Not to sound like I'm too negative on the Yankees or whatever, but they proved what the regular season showed. They were the third-best team in baseball (according to win-loss record), and they got beat by the second-best team. Making the playoffs in MLB is hard, and any team that makes the playoffs should be proud. Sure, losing in the Division Series sucks, but it's a good way of identifying where your problems lie, and what you can do to correct them
Maybe I'm rambling, but I guess I'm just not ready to push baseball aside just yet...
By the way, congrats on the new baby Brian, and thanks for all the work you've done on the blog. I stumbled upon it late in the season, and it was always a great read, written by a passionate, yet reasonable, baseball fan.
Let's go, people, break the comments record. Maybe that's what's been giving our Yanks the boost.
Go Yanks!
Fifteen minutes!!! Anyone watching this horrible pregame on TBS?
I'm at work and my Slingbox player is acting up, so will have to catch a few innings on the radio.
TBS has got to be the worst. I don't remember it being that horrible last year on ESPN. Then again, I tried to push the last year out of my head so I actually don't remember if ESPN coverage was any better.
Does the slingbox work on an iPhone?
I think there's been some movement/announcements there. Not sure if it currently supports it.
The crowd is nuts, let's give them something to cheer about.
I see 1-0...what happened...?
What's The Comments record....?
Can't see the game, but appears Wang is shaky tonite? First inning jitters, I hope.
83 is the record. Sizemore led off with a bomb for the run.
how did he hit that shit...
Unreal.
That national league lineup is looking pretty good against wang
Damn that Grady Sizemore!
yes he got hit because you can take a 95 mph fastball to the finger and then come back and catch next inning. s uch bullshit
His right knuckle was definitely swollen. Maybe that happened before (or after the ball hit the bat), but it was bigger than his left knuckle for sure.
Please. The ball hit his bat, clear as day.
Raining hard up here in North Jersey...our weather hits The Bronx about 5 minutes later...
1. another little dinker into the OF for an rbi, they must practice these.
2. theres no way even with HD you can honestly say his knuckle was swollen f rom watchin on tv.
Then he has a naturally swollen right knuckle. That's all I'm commenting on. I didn't say it didn't hit his bat, just that his knuckle is swollen. Something worth pointing out, I thought.
Matsui, Cano and Melky....let's chip away...get one or two runs back right now.
As I was driving home and listening on ESPN, Miller and Dusty said they clearly saw the ball hit the bat, not the hand.
All right, here we go, the comeback begins.
It was obvious, Mike. No question about it.
Here comes the rain.
It was a short little storm...should stop soon...Doug has been hitting well of late...
Not sure whose favor the rain be in for.
We want Byrd in there.
YEA good thing mike lowell isnt playing third...
Ok, we'll take that. No some Bobby magic here please.
Moose is doing great, but the pitch count a bit high. Need him to go deep today.
This is the inning A-Rod goes yard...
We just need something to change the momentum. Moose putting up a zero or two would be a good start.
All right, I'll take an A-Rod bomb in a crucial moment later in the game.
ok seriously, byrd fucked up at least 5 pitches in that inning, and we got zero runs.
They're just waiting to explode. Can't wait too long, though.
Moose is definitely getting squeezed. Byrd is getting the corners, he isn't.
moose is doing well, they need to f*ckin score before the rafaels come in...
Shit... I walk away for an inning to come back to find Moose in the game. Not a good omen, but he got out of the third.
It's hard to think of Byrd as Public Enemy #1. He was undrafted, got cut by the Mets, released by Atlanta, pitched in Philly (twice), was exiled to KC. He's soft spoken and every other word he seems to mention God in an interview (at least he did when he was a Phillie).
It's also hard to believe he's a 15 game winner when the Phils gave up on him...
Byrd should be out by the 6th, though. I don't recall him finishing many games when he was a Phillie.
Anyone pitching against the Yanks in the post season is an enemy, nothing personal against Byrd.
Wtf, Moose. Trying to be too perfect with his pitches, it seems.
Put Hafner on, right now.
That Sizemore is a really tough at bat...that was a beautiful bunt. Nothing Mussina could do but get Sizemore.
That wasn't Sizemore bunting.
Shoot... that was another senior moment...sorry.
We need one little break here....the crowd will carry them.
Come on Moose.
Torre better be reaching for the 'pen now...pull out all of the stops....
There aren't too many stops left to pull. He's gonna have to go to Pettitte for any kind of length.
Every inning starts out so good, with walks or hits and they just can't drive anyone in. Maybe they're due for one big inning tonite. Against one of the Rafaels.
Good inning, may it'll energize.
Abreu, A-Rod, Posada. Need to get to work here.
Moose didn't look bad there.
C'mon A-Rod!
I´m gonna call it now... Jim Leyritz ties it up with a 3-run homer in the 7th, Yanks win in extra innings....
I think Shelley is this team's Leyritz, so I'm with ya SML.
This is friggin ridiculous and the time is running out.
WTF is wrong with these effing umpires??
Here comes Veras. Questionable move I think. You can't get on Moose for this outing.
Why you think he's taking him out, stats of the next batter?
Check that, Villone is in. This move worries me.
Good news, Byrd might be done soon.
Bad news, it sounds like Rafael Perez is
warming up in the bullpen...
What do y'all think of Villone? Can he get it done?
Oh, yeah, the Pronk is 0-5 against Villone. What are the odds Villone gives it up.
Good work by Villone. I wonder if Joe sends him out to face Martinez in the 7th.
Martinez is a switch hitter. I think Villone is a one-trick pony in Joe's eyes, so I'm guessing we'll see Veras or Farns.
Holy crap, how did he get that pitch?
Let's rally against the Rafaels, come on now!!!
He kept his hands back, somehow. That's what we needed, something to get us started.
Let's go, now!!!!
LET'S GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have to get a couple here, we absolutely have to.
Perez is shaky, finish him!!!!!!
How anticlimactic, darn it.
Sick to my stomach.
unfuckingbeleivable. EVERYONE IS KILLING THE RALLIES! even jeter...
Shite, we had him on the ropes.
He hit that right on the nose, just right at Cabrera. Just one break, that's all it's going to take. They've been soooooooo close all night, just one break.
I'm envisioning a couple of key hits for A-ROD in the 7th and 9th. Meanwhile, Farns being Farns. Great strike out there neutralized by a hit here. What else is new.
6-2 was the score back in April in that crazy 9th inning comeback. So, it's not over.
ok, 9 outs and positive thoughts, lets do this yanks!
Good job by Farnsworth..... It ain't over....
Off topic, but Buffalo is beating Dallas, 24 - 13.
This here is the call they have to answer. Now, a couple of runs, 2-3 runs and we're right back in it. Just do it!!!!
I completely forgot there was a football game tonight. I'm always happy to see Romo fail.
All right Bobby, get it started.
I hate that damn Perez. He just nasty.
Key hit #1 for A-ROD. Will need another one in the 9th, A-ROD, don't relax yet.
NICE!
Who will they bring in to pitch the 8th?
It might still be Farnsworth. You may have been right earlier today.
Uh, I kinda hope not. I think you're right... Joe has trusted him only for one inning at a time, now's not the time to push your luck.
Barring a caught stealing, A-Rod will come up in the 9th.
If not earlier.
When is FRANKENBOMB due up?!!!
quality inning but were still not stringing any hits together damnit.
I doubt we'll see Shelley in the 8th. If Betancourt comes in, we'll see Giambi.
3 runs is doable, just need to hold the fort here.
Football Update:
End of the third quarter, Buffalo 24, Dallas 13.
Time for the Nills to collapse ala the Jets this Sunday.
Correction,
Dallas has already scored seconds into the 4th...
Dallas 16, Buffalo 24.
Mo to the rescue. Come on, Mo, shut them down.
All right Mo, let's do it buddy.
Mow them down, Mo!
god he's good.
That was a huge play by Jeter. I didn't see catcher's interference. It was obvious on Matsui earlier in the game.
No interference there. I want Borowski now!!!
Betancourt's fastball is straight as an arrow. Jump on one, Johnny.
It will be only fitting that A-ROD will be due last in the 9th, probably representing the tying run.
Let's hope he's representing the tying run.
Guys - I'm out...not our year (again)...ABTRS (anybody but the red sox)...
Hold out hope, Gerry. You may be pleasantly surprised when you wake up in the morning.
WOW!!! My heart almost stopped.
Come on people, nothing is over until the last out is made.
This now officially sucks. Oh, well. It's just a game, right?
Thanks for the comments guys. I'm probably going to be away for a day or two, my wife is going to be induced tomorrow afternoon. This one's going to sting for a while, and I think tonight truly was the end of a Yankee era.
Good luck Brian.
yea thanks for the heavy duty blogging and good luck man
Thanks Mike. We'll pick up the pieces and start talking about next year in a couple days. The 2007 baseball season is officially over.
Thanks for being part of it Prez, it was my pleasure.
Shit. The Cowboys pull out a last second victory, 24-22.
Every game goes the opposite of the way I want it to. Every single game, with the exception of last night's.
was there a baseball game today? i was watching the knicks clobber the sixers woo hooo go knicks what a day to be a new york fan !!!!
Brian, great blog. Too bad it had to end this way. See you next season.
This is one of the best days of my life...Yanks fans have more wine today than france
They should have gotten rid of Torre five years. The guy is brutal. He needs to go.
Bring on Bobby Valentine!!!!!!
Let Arod go. Let Mo go. Let Jorge go. Forget about Clemens. Give Mussina away. Give Giambi away. Bring up some more youth, and try to build a stronger bullpen.
Don't forget what an amazing turnaround this team had in the second half of the season. Everyone counted them out, and yet they finished with the wild card and with a .290 batting average, one of the highest team batting averages in the modern era. They were a run scoring machine!
Yankee fans are so used to being in the playoffs, they sometimes forget how hard it is to get there in the first place. They did a great job. They have young arms and young talent. Clemens and Mussina won't be back, (my assumption), so they will get even younger.
The future looks good for the Yankees.
"This is one of the best days of my life..."
Pretty sad life, then...
The #1 sign of a loser is taking joy in other people's misfortunes.
I wish all 4 of the remaining teams in the playoffs good luck. And yes, that includes the Red Sox. The Yankees were beat by a better team, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
And most of all, I'm glad that I stopped having the mentality of a 10-year old, like most sports fans have. Watching people's reactions to the Yankees lose, even people who aren't Indians, Red Sox, or Mets fans, really proved to me how stupid and immature the VAST majority of sports fans are.
Some (and I emphasize the word "some"...not "all") Boston fans were saying stuff like "I dont even care if the Red Sox win the ALCS, I'm just happy the Yankees lost". Is that not the most pathetic thing you've ever heard? Some Red Sox fans would prefer to see the Yankees lose than to see their own team win?
Also, wouldn't the Red Sox have rather played the Yankees? Considering, you know, that the Indians are the better team and it will be tougher for them to advance to the World Series...
Not to sound like I'm too negative on the Yankees or whatever, but they proved what the regular season showed. They were the third-best team in baseball (according to win-loss record), and they got beat by the second-best team. Making the playoffs in MLB is hard, and any team that makes the playoffs should be proud. Sure, losing in the Division Series sucks, but it's a good way of identifying where your problems lie, and what you can do to correct them
Maybe I'm rambling, but I guess I'm just not ready to push baseball aside just yet...
By the way, congrats on the new baby Brian, and thanks for all the work you've done on the blog. I stumbled upon it late in the season, and it was always a great read, written by a passionate, yet reasonable, baseball fan.