Gom

The Mets have utterly and completely collapsed. This is a worse collapse, if it goes through, then the 78 Red Sox. Seven games ahead with 19 to play...and they lose the lead in 16 games? Are you kidding me?

I think you'd want Beckett and Schilling available for two games. Also, the extra day helps with travel, it is a cross-country series, and the Red Sox are the older team and could probably use it. Anyways, you know your team better than me.

I'd rather the Red Sox win the tiebreaker and decide the series that goes longer with the Angels, so we get the shorter series with the Guardians.

The AL East race is over, and I must admit, I'm kinda glad. The worst case scenario would have been going down to the final day and losing, and maybe burning out some players. Expect to see kids as soon as it is officially clinched.

Looks like the Yankees get the wildcard. It's up to the other three to decide the seeding at this point.

Why is Manny batting second if he is back?

Igawa in Tampa Bay....this will be a 33-27 game. Actually, it is a decent team for Igawa. He can be effectively wild, and at this point, it doesn't really matter anymore. All teams seem to be setting up for the stretch run in the post-season.

The Yankees drop to two behind the Red Sox with yesterday's loss. I was at the game, but it seemed like the Yankees weren't.That being said, I felt like I was watching Yankee baseball in the early 90's. Only 12,000 or so at first pitch, and only 23,000 the whole game. I haven't seen Yankee stadium that empty in 15 years. Even though they lost, what an absolutely gorgeous day to see a game. The weather was absolutely perfect.

I actually do it to get a rise out of you, and it works perfectly. You can't resist when I jab at you. I enjoy the threads so much more when we are insulting each other. Seriously, there are only so many Andy Phillips, Matt Desalvo, and Chase Wright for Johan Santana deals you can talk about before throwing up on your keyboard. Most Yankee boards have people that believe that the rest of the MLB is nothing but a farm team for the Yankees. It's boring. It's never been boring here, at least for me. I have said, and will say again, that the level of baseball intelligence here is the highest I've ever seen. You guys just root for the wrong team, that's all.

The half game stuff doesn't matter either way.

Natural progression of things, rician....lol

No, Selig can tell them to pipe down if they want the team.

I could care less about elimination games. I care about the zero sum of one per series. So just in that sense, in my actively watching lifetime, 3 times, 78, 99, and 2003. You got us once in 2004. We knocked you out three times, you knocked us out once. Say what you want about the comeback, blah blah blah. You would have loved it if you swept us out of the ALCS on the way to your championship. I'm not taking anything away from you guys in 2004. But it was just one series. Even though it wasn't us, most Red Sox fans who were there in 1986 says that was by far the worst. So does that mean if we are up, for example, 3-0 again in the ALCS and you win 3 games, and then we win the seventh, you would count that as 3-1 in your favor, even though we won the series? Is this the math they teach in New England???

Your point is.....?

He wants a salary that covers him until then. He has three more years on what he has now. He wants to sign a contract that takes him through his declining years.

I don't think Arod will opt out *IF* he signs with the Yankees. I can easily see the Yankees giving him 5 more years at 150 million on top of his current contract. With Giambi coming off, Mussina coming off, Pettite coming off, Pavano coming off, and the influx of young talent in Hughes, Kennedy, Chamberlain, Cano, and Wang, the Yankees can afford to sign Arod to what he wants. Basically, if Cashman gives him 5 years at 150 million, and he's got 81 million coming to him over the next 3, what team is going to give any player 8 years at 231 million? It's a high stakes game of poker, and Cashman/Steinbrenner have held their own with Boras. If Arod wants to stay, he will. The money will be there. However, by the Yankees saying they won't be involved if he opts out is not only likely real, but devastating to Boras. With the biggest spenders off the market, Arod won't get as much from the other teams. It really is the best match for both parties. I expect it to come down to the last day, 11 hours into the opt out window. We'll see....

Are you counting 99 too? To me, I don't think any of you would have been devastated had you been swept in 2004, or out in 5 games. I don't really believe you believe your math, but so be it. I am still convinced of the following: Of our two series, 2003 and 2004, the better team lost. In both cases. That's what makes it great. I think what makes this post season awesome..or at least I hope so..is that all the teams have similar records, have weaknesses, and there is no run-away team. Should be fun.

78, 86, 99, 2003....I loved every second. 2004 was a blip on the radar.... I also loved 1996, 98, and 2000. Soon, I can add 2007 to that list.

It will come down to dollar amount, not ownership. Don't kid yourself.

So the reality is the loss column...in that case, the Red Sox are one back of the Guardians, and one ahead of the Yankees and Angels. The Yankees are two back of the Guardians and Angels, and one behind the Red Sox.