If Carpenter can match last year's Game 5 NLDS performance, I'll be very happy.

Got rid of my extra tickets. With the 15% commission I ended up selling them for a bit of a loss but at least it wasn't a 100% loss. Probably could have sold them for a few dollars more but I really wanted to unload them.

Anybody going to the Yankees game?

I may be, if work allows.

Anybody going to the Yankees game?

I guess it's the collegial atmosphere of the bleachers that accounts for it, but I'm mystified that on stubhub a bleacher ticket goes for between 2 or 3 times the price of an upper deck seat right behind the plate.

a bleacher ticket goes for between 2 or 3 times the price of an upper deck seat right behind the plate.

But that's where Aura and Mystique hang out!

I hope that doesn't prompt some of the creatures to sit in the upper deck. I'll be in section 420 in Orange.

Let's go Nats!

I feel less sanguine about the A's. AJ Griffin vs Max Scherzer is not a good matchup.

So when was the last time two pitchers with losing records squared off in a postseason game? I don't know exactly how you'd define it, but a combined 10-13 record for two playoff starters has to be some kind of record.

Has Leake officially been announced as the starter and are they replacing Cueto?

I need a drink.

I heard on ESPN Radio last night that Cueto had been taken off the roster.

Probably could have sold them for a few dollars more but I really wanted to unload them.

I wish I could have bought them, but it's an eleven-hour drive and I have to work on-campus tonight.

I heard on ESPN Radio last night that Cueto had been taken off the roster.

Yep. He's been replaced by an S. Miller, who wants to Fly Like An Eagle.

And McCoy, what is it with you and your brinksmanship going to games? First Sunday, now today? You only have a finite number of playoff games, then KAPUT! Let's go, man! I don't want to hear excuses about having to work, as I'm stuck out here in California for the week so all the games are over or being played before quitting time. Well, except for the game in Oakland. No MLB Network nor DVR in the hotel room. Bummer.

Here at Nats Park, and they just raised an enormous flag over the Half Street entrance. This is so awesome and surreal at the same time!

I feel like a bad baseball fan. I have never heard of the As starter.

I guess he's not a brother of John-Ford Griffin.

Today I am rooting for: San Francisco, Oakland and Baltimore and St. Louis. For wildly inconsistent reasons:

SF/Oakland/Baltimore: want series to go five.

Oakland/Nats: want "better" team to win.

Baltiore: don't like Yankees.


If you're keeping score at home, that means today's winners will be: Reds, Tigers, Yankees and Cardinals.

And McCoy, what is it with you and your brinksmanship going to games? First Sunday, now today? You only have a finite number of playoff games, then KAPUT! Let's go, man! I don't want to hear excuses about having to work, as I'm stuck out here in California for the week so all the games are over or being played before quitting time. Well, except for the game in Oakland. No MLB Network nor DVR in the hotel room. Bummer.

I'm going to the game just not with 3 people I know. When the game was announced at 1:00pm everyone I know had to bail. 1pm on Wednesday with 48 hour notice is really hard to pull off.

As for Sunday it was rain and transportation issues. I couldn't really risk the chance of a 3 hour rain delay followed by a 4 hour game. That simply wasn't doable.

I do have tickets to Game 5 as well and plan on going to that as well. I'll probably be leaving from work in about an hour to go to the game.

did phillips get any grief from the tv guys on that dash to third? because marty was killing him on the radio and rightfully so

brandon phillips is a great ballplayer but this was a situation where his aggressive nature bit the reds big time

did phillips get any grief from the tv guys on that dash to third? because marty was killing him on the radio and rightfully so

I don't remember much, but the guys on the Reds blogs have been pretty hard on Brandon.

In hindsight, Phillips play deserves a lot of hate. I still think the bigger problems was only getting 6 outs from Marshall/Chapman, and of course not walking Arias and forcing Bochey's hand.

So when was the last time two pitchers with losing records squared off in a postseason game? I don't know exactly how you'd define it, but a combined 10-13 record for two playoff starters has to be some kind of record.

2006 NLCS between the Cardinals and Mets had Anthony Reyes (5-8) vs. Oliver Perez (1-3, 3-13 if you count his time with the Pirates). Both pitchers had season ERAs above 5.00

Section 422 at NYY game. I'm pretty immature and loutish, DKDC, so I'll make sure your experience is unhappy.

Actually, I generally avoid whooping and cheering. In Philadelphia, my impassivity (at a game between two teams to whom I have no allegiance) yielded me a warning from a Philadelphia fan: "You'd better put a construction hat on, because I'm going to knock your [expletive] brains out."

I provide that anecdote only to illustrate that while my fellow Yankee fans may be among the worst, the trend of braindead degeneracy has definitely spread beyond the Bronx.

I rarely have a pleasant experience at the Stadium, but have never been to a playoff game for a team other than the Mets (1988 ALCS). I will try to encourage my son to root for a Midwestern team, as I've enjoyed PIT, MN, and STL far more than any baseball experience in the NE.

did phillips get any grief from the tv guys on that dash to third? because marty was killing him on the radio and rightfully so

I was listening on the radio when the play happened but later in the game one of the TV guys referred to "Phillips' base running blunder." He didn't blather on about it for twenty minutes but at least then he wasn't making excuses.

of course not walking Arias and forcing Bochey's hand.

I don't agree with this thought process. I thought Arias was overmatched throughout the at bat and ultimately hit a pretty routine two hopper than unfortunately for the Reds just got botched. I don't like the idea of loading the bases in general and Broxton, while he's been good with Cinci, does not have great control. The idea of a walk or an HBP that forces in a run is pretty high. I think the process was fine, the execution was not.

Ok on my way down to the park. Let's go Nats!

agree with jose. intentional walks especially to load the bases are a bad idea.

broxton made his pitches, rolen couldn't handle a tough hop. it happens

or wouldn't if the reds had the 2-1 lead they should have had if brandon didn't do his felix jose imitation

23. Not fair to single out Philadelphia. I was also threatened physical harm by a section of Boston fans at Camden Yards when I had the temerity to cheer an early Baltimore HR (before the Orioles became the existential threat to the "Yankee Universe" that they now are). Boston ended up winning 8-1.

And in Boston: I missed nearly half an inning of game action in a game with Oakland that was tied in the 7th. Because some guys in expensive dress shirts really needed to have several photos taken with Wally. The big difference in Boston is that this unpleasantness didn't occur in the putative "cheap seats." I was about 25 rows back of the field, between home and third.

Actually, I generally avoid whooping and cheering. In Philadelphia, my impassivity (at a game between two teams to whom I have no allegiance) yielded me a warning from a Philadelphia fan: "You'd better put a construction hat on, because I'm going to knock your [expletive] brains out."

I've watched the Red Sox in many visiting cities including the Bronx without incident. If you aren't a jackass, don't treat the mundane play like you just won the series and don't heckle the opponent you should have no problems. I find if you can get there early and engage in friendly banter with home team fans sitting next to you that helps the experience.

Screw it, heading to the game now and since I won't be around to say it later; it's over.

[27] Would that it were so. I am generally disinclined towards rooting for the Orioles. So an overt show of emotion would have been odd on my part. My object isn't to slander Boston fans, who are certainly no worse than Yankee, Met, or Philadelphia fans. And I can certainly accommodate the idea of the Red Sox winning a meaningless regular season game against a divisional inferior.

I think that when the Gabba Gabba Hey house from BU shows up, though, a better option to friendly engagement is to seek alternate seating arrangements.

I had a friendly conversation with an oldster at Fenway who apologized and said, "you know, this really used to be a lot more fun." So while I may be the only under-70 who bellyaches, at least I know I'm not totally alone.

[27] It's also generally weird to suggest that baseball fans are well-mannered. At a single game in Philadelphia (albeit against the hated Mets when both teams were competitive), I witnessed a man toss a beer onto a man wearing a Gary Carter beer who was sitting several rows below him with small children who had been doing nothing besides quietly explaining the game to his kids. He subsequently assaulted on officer of the law.

Later in the game, I saw a cop punch a man while his partner stood him up.

I suppose I could insulate myself from this debauchery if I wanted to pony up for the nice seats? There is a pretty aggressive contingent of alcohol-fueled young bucks who don't know how to drink who attach themselves to the fanbase of successful teams.

29 of course he used to have more fun! He didn't us to be 70!

It's also generally weird to suggest that baseball fans are well-mannered.

In my experience they are. The problem of course is that for the 99% of them that are, the 1% ruin it for the rest. Just in your example there were probably several hundred people in the section you were in but just one person threw the beer. That's not to excuse it of course but I have found that most people are pretty decent if you engage them in a friendly way at sporting events or elsewhere.

The day you go also can be an issue. If you go to a Friday or Saturday night game when school is in session then yeah, you get a few more of the college kids who are a bit more eager to knock back a few.

I've been going to games at Fenway for 35 years and have been to about 20 other ballparks. Yeah, one or two idiots can spoil it for the rest but ultimately I find few problems wherever I am.

I had a friendly conversation with an oldster at Fenway who apologized and said, "you know, this really used to be a lot more fun."

Oh, and not to let this slide. If that guy was going to games in the 70s it was MUCH more rough and tumble than it is now. Brawls in the stands were a much more regular experience back then.

When I was at Fenway in 2005 Boston fans were some of the most knowledgable and friendly fans I met. I was wearing an As Jersey (though it was an eckersley jersey) and they were playing the As. I got a few of serious questions about the team, and in general had some great baseball conversations. This was not true when I went last year.

#27,

A larger-than-usual percentage of the Red Sox and Yankees fans who invade Camden Yards are antagonistic and seek out confrontation. I’ve been to many Orioles games at Fenway and Yankee Stadium and I’ve rarely run into that type (except for in the OYS bleachers).

I’ve never been to a playoff game at NYS, so I’m not sure what to expect. The emotion of a playoff game is very different from the Orioles-Yankees games I’ve been to over the years.

I would expect this game would attract more of a diehard crowd than a bunch of dudes looking to get tanked, but we'll see. I expect the usual razzing (which I have no problem with and I think is fair for the home team), but hopefully it stops there.

It’s obviously easier if the Orioles win. This was the worst baseball game I’ve ever attended in person, so my bar for pain is set pretty high.

the late 70's and early 80's were a rough time to be at teh ballpark because the price to get in was modest, beer was cheap and bleachers were still open

then baseball clamped down on beer sales, closed the centerfield bleachers at most stadiums and increased security and never looked back

going to a detroit tigers game in 1979 and sitting in the bleachers was akin to asking for a punch in the face on some nights

[33] I agree there is a weird nostalgia at play. I recall some sunbaked days at Yankee and Shea in the 1980s where the upper deck was like the Bowery Mission.

I've been to 21 of the current ballparks and have just found it more enjoyable in the central division. What can I say? At the Metrodome, people waited until the half inning to get stuff. At Busch, Homer Bailey got a nice hand after pitching 7 or 8 strong. And at PNC in early September (apparently the only game they won that month), I had the most fun I've had at a game since I had to be taken by my dad. Even in Milwaukee, where people were tailgating HOURS before a game against the Twins, the atmosphere was friendly.

The final note is that this is not just anti-drink Carrie Nation stuff. I love to drink!

Oh, and not to let this slide. If that guy was going to games in the 70s it was MUCH more rough and tumble than it is now. Brawls in the stands were a much more regular experience back then.

Agreed. Both Boston and NY were far less accommodating of opposing fans back in the day. Now it's rare for anything to go beyond good-natured heckling, and mostly people in opposing gear are ignored.

And feel free to single out Philly. Those fans are one of the last bastions of thuggery in baseball (how are the White Sox crowds these days?).

[35] There will be plenty of kids with Paulie D hair and Cooperstown Collection Clemens jerseys. The only question they'll have is whether they're hittin' "Scaws" postgame or "just that titty bar by the train." I don't know where their rims and Escalades come from, but maybe Dads in Dyker Heights and Eastchester are more indulgent.

CHECKLIST:
Evergreen-
Conradian Play []
Infield Fly [ ]
THIS TRAIN! [X]
Dramatic Late-Inning HR [ ]
Men in scoring position with nobody out-- nobody ends up scoring [ ]
1-2-3-4-5-6 inning [ ]
Pitcher gets a hit [ ]
Regular Season starter warms up in bullpen [ ]
Shapeshifting strike zone [ ]
Idiot runs on field [ ]
Strike out of side [ ]
Decibel Meter [ ]
Intentional walk [ ]
Stolen Base [ ]
Caught Stealing [ ]
A team facing elimination is said to be down to their last X [ ]
Movie previews: Argo [ ] Wreck-It Ralph [ ] Cloud Atlas [ ] Lincoln [ ] Skyfall [ ]
Surprise bunt [ ]
Web Gem [ ]
Play at the plate [ ]
Replay review [ ]
2-Out Rally! [ ]
Shapeshifting strikezone [ ]
An announcer basically screams out "I LOVE THIS GAME!" [ ]
"Deke" []
-----STL-DC specific----
Costas mentions Mickey Mantle [ ]
Costas mentions Roger Maris [ ]
Costas mentions Stan Musial [ ]
Costas mentions Walter Johnson [ ]
Costas mentions any Olympian [ ]
Teddy Roosevelt [ ]
Edwin Jackson's No-Hitter [ ]
Harper does something awesome [ ] (Harper Ks instead [ ])
Mark McGwire [ ]
They point out a politician at the game []
"Sun Monster" [ ]
Pujols mentioned [ ]
FREESE! [ ]
Game 6 2011 flashback [ ]
Shot of Strasburg in the dugout [ ]
----SF-CIN Specific -----
Zito with the A's [ ]
Leake was a childhood teammate of Strasburg [ ]
Aroldis Chapman hits 100+ []
Buster Posey does something awesome [ ]
Dusty Baker with the Giants [ ]
Mention of Dusty Baker's son [ ]
1869 Red Stockings alluded to [ ]
Big Red Machine referenced [ ]
Pete Rose mentioned by name [ ]
Willie Mays mentioned [ ]
Barry Bonds mentioned [ ]
Zito's musical stylings [ ]
Wild Brian Wilson appears [ ]
Hensley "Sir Bam-Bam" Meulens mentioned [ ]
----BAL-NYY specific -----
Video played of Jeff Maier play []
Orioles hold 1-run lead at any point of the game [ ]
Ichiro does something awesome [ ]
Matt Wieters does something awesome [ ]
Ichiro and Matt Wieters go head-to-head at something, whether it's a SB attempt, doing a dance-of-death around home, etc []
Mariano Rivera mentioned [ ]
Yogi Berra [ ]
Yankees Fan Appearances: Billy Crystal [ ] Rudy Giuliani [ ] Mayor Bloomberg [ ] Jay-Z [ ] An NFL or NBA player []
Somebody suggests Cal go down there and get in a Baltimore uniforms [ ]
Mention of Japanese media there for Ichiro and Hiroki Kuroda [ ]
Smoltz references Maddux or Glavine (or Steve Avery, I guess) [ ]
A-Rod strikes out [ ]
Thome career retrospective [ ]
Swisher's upcoming free agency [ ]
Past a diving Jeter [ ]
Reminder to fans to switch to TNT for DET-OAK, since it's on that [ ]
Yankees score multiple runs in late inning [ ]
Curtis Granderson's off-season work overseas [ ]
Girardi seen looking at Binder [ ]
Buck Showalter as Yankee manager [ ]
Mention of the many former Texas Rangers on Baltimore [ ]
----DET-OAK specific ----
Trout mentioned (fish or player) [ ]
Bernie Lean explained [ ]
Prince Fielder is robbed of extra bases [ ]
Moneyball explicitly mentioned [ ] (Brad Pitt mentioned [ ])
Billy Beane mentioned [ ]
Miguel Cabrera does something awesome []
An Australian takes the mound for Oakland (Blackley or Balfour) [ ]
Pat Neshek's son mentioned [ ]
Verlander in dugout [ ]
Reference to the whole Athletics stadium thing [ ]
Mount Davis explicitly referenced [ ]
Brandon McCarthy referenced [ ]
CONFIDENCE [X]
Out in foul territory that would be in the seats in any other stadium [ ]
Game ends after midnight [ ]
Graphic on Oakland's rookie pitchers [ ]
Allusion to Prince Fielder's rift with his father [ ]

Also, I think the old timer at Fenway was nostalgic for the gentrified days of the 1990s, when a day at Fenway was a fashionable thing but not the insanity it became after 2004. Who knows?

Maybe he really misses the days when brawlers from Revere would make those John Hancock tower types think twice about coming out to the yard.

Turns out my tickets are in the very last row and the vendors are using it as storage. Good times.

Nats aren't really knocking them out in bp

This was the worst baseball game I’ve ever attended in person, so my bar for pain is set pretty high.

Funny--I was at that game too! (With my then-infant son, actually, though he and my wife departed before the exciting conclusion.) I rather enjoyed it. ;)

I never had problems as a Yankee fan in Fenway in the early '90s, but maybe that's because the Yanks were in their laughable period just then. (Also, I mostly wasn't attending Sox-Yankee games, and I probably was keeping my head down. I did love those standing-room tickets, which if I remember correctly were still just $5 back then.)

(Needless to say, that's the LARGEST CHECKLIST EVER, I believe, so I'll probably be going game by game with only the "evergreen" things sticking around)

There is a giant headed JFK wandering around the fairgrounds. Will we get new presidents today? Or is this just a crazy guy

I have very clear memories of a childhood trip to Candlestick Park, sitting out in the cheap seats on a bitterly cold night, listening to the thundering roar of ten thousands Giants fans stomping the bleachers and chanting "GOODEN SUCKS! #### THE METS!"

I think tonight is the crucial game in BAL/NYY, because I believe Sabathia can beat Hammel again, and I believe either Saunders or Tillman can beat Phil Hughes.

In other words: it's not over.

The Giants' NLDS team batting line coming into today's game is .126/.215/.179.

Good gawd, y'all.

We are being treated to a jumbo tron video of John McCain and teddy having a training montage

Now there is a giant teddy monologue about how he can't e stopped. This is bizzare

Now he has glowing apparently magical Holden sneakers

Is this the first playoff game exclusively on the MLB network? There are going to be a lot of really pissed-off fans who don't have the cable tier that includes it.

No

Re 52. That's the same tape they used for the last game when teddy won. Where you at?

i was overseas when the braves won in 1957 so all of my postseason remembrances are bittersweet. the loss by the cubs to the yankees in '38. the loss to the tigers in '45. (i was a cubs fan before the braves came to town) the loss to the yankees. the dodger playoff loss (eyes close, grimace of pain). the loss to the cards times 2 for the brewers

some day. some day..........

The one good thing about my seat is that i get tv close by.

There is a giant headed JFK wandering around the fairgrounds.


It's just some swelling.

So for game one of the day, we're looking for these:

CHECKLIST:
Evergreen-
Conradian Play []
Infield Fly [ ]
THIS TRAIN! [X]
Dramatic Late-Inning HR [ ]
Men in scoring position with nobody out-- nobody ends up scoring [ ]
1-2-3-4-5-6 inning [ ]
Pitcher gets a hit [ ]
Regular Season starter warms up in bullpen [ ]
Shapeshifting strike zone [ ]
Idiot runs on field [ ]
Strike out of side [ ]
Decibel Meter [ ]
Intentional walk [ ]
Stolen Base [ ]
Caught Stealing [ ]
A team facing elimination is said to be down to their last X [ ]
Movie previews: Argo [ ] Wreck-It Ralph [ ] Cloud Atlas [ ] Lincoln [ ] Skyfall [ ]
Surprise bunt [ ]
Web Gem [ ]
Play at the plate [ ]
Replay review [ ]
2-Out Rally! [ ]
Shapeshifting strikezone [ ]
An announcer basically screams out "I LOVE THIS GAME!" [ ]
"Deke" []
-----STL-DC specific----
Costas mentions Mickey Mantle [ ]
Costas mentions Roger Maris [ ]
Costas mentions Stan Musial [ ]
Costas mentions Walter Johnson [ ]
Costas mentions any Olympian [ ]
Teddy Roosevelt [ ]
Edwin Jackson's No-Hitter [ ]
Harper does something awesome [ ] (Harper Ks instead [ ])
Mark McGwire [ ]
They point out a politician at the game []
"Sun Monster" [ ]
Pujols mentioned [ ]
FREESE! [ ]
Game 6 2011 flashback [ ]
Shot of Strasburg in the dugout [ ]

Towel watch: Red. Very, very red. We're talking "The Cardinals might think this is a home game" red.

Has anyone figured out yet whether this Bronson Arroyo sweatshirt commercial is a joke or for real?

Sitting next to a very fat guy who can't fit into his seat. But he's really into the game already.

Chris Carpenter yells at somebody [ ]

My family and I went to one game at old Yankee Stadium decked out in Red Sox gear and had no problem. We just had some friendly banter with the locals, both in a bar before the game and at the game.

DANGER! DANGER! WE HAVE COWBOY JOE WEST BEHIND THE PLATE!

supposedly after the game arroyo went to a local watering hold and played his guitar and sang for the fans

What does the Teddy Roosevelt checkbox mean? Teddy wins the race again? Somebody mentions Teddy? TR rises from the grave and terrorizes the ballpark?

What does the Teddy Roosevelt checkbox mean? Teddy wins the race again? Somebody mentions Teddy? TR rises from the grave and terrorizes the ballpark?

I meant it to mean that Costas, Kaat or whoever they have as a dugout reporter mentions the racing Teddy Roosevelt.

Am I alone when I say that I would rather have Joe Buck and Tim McObvious than Buck Martinez and Orsillo announcing the Tigers vs A's games although I know TBS is doing the games.

#61: What's there to explain? It's a cover of Adam Sandler's "Red Hooded Sweatshirt" song from Saturday Night Live. (I see the song is also on one of Sandler's albums.)

I like Orsillo and Buck so I can't share that opinion with you.

No, but I'd listen to pretty much anyone but Rick Sutcliffe instead of Buck if I had the choice.

I hope it means that Craig Sager will recite the J.D. Salinger short story "Teddy" in its entirety.

I took my cousin to this Phillies-Red Sox game. I was dressed in my Phillies, she in a Red Sox cap and a Schilling Red Sox jersey. She had no problems, but that could have been to a few mitigating factors:

1) The Phillies won easily
2) We were in the 400 level behind home plate so probably a better class of fans
3) She's cute and large-breasted
4) Curt's still pretty loved in Philly so the jersey was okay. (In fact, the guy flirting with her on our way out talked about he would never bear any ill will toward Schilling.)

For a split second I thought that was gone.... but then it died. I'm guessing that's a home run in July.

Did Freese make a Conradian play?

Time for everyone's favorite game: Was it Conradian?

Turns out my tickets are in the very last row and the vendors are using it as storage. Good times.

Game 5 of the 1993 WS my ticket was in the very last row of Vet Stadium, in the 700 level, in between the jumbotrons, and in the middle of the row (which was the only place in the park that featured metal bleachers like you'd see at a HS football game). I joked at the time it might have been the single worst seat in the whole of Vet Stadium... But at least no one used it for storing concessions.

Time for everyone's favorite game: Was it Conradian?

IMO if you have to ask, it wasn't. It also seemed too mundane to be Conradian.

It also seemed too mundane to be Conradian.

That's what I figured. It wasn't a unusual error. I mean, he should have made it, but it wasn't an embrassingly bad play.

That's wasn't a good inning for the Nats. They should have got the run back.

Edwin Jackson no-no [X]

3) She's cute and large-breasted

Photo evidence, please.

You know...for statistical reasons.

(Man, I'm bored at work.)

KOZMA!!!!! What the WUT

This is... unexpected.

Oh dear. That could be it for the Nationals.

Wow. Pete Kozma.

And they throw the ball back. It's over.

Pitcher gets a hit [X]

I just logged in at work to note how crazy that is. Kozmania!!

I ####### hate the Cardinals. ####.

Is that Strasburg warming up in the bullpen?

Strasburg in dugout [X]

Thank God they shut strasburg down.

And then Carpenter gets a hit? Chris is a terrible hitter.

Edwin Jackson may be the mole.

I ####### hate the Cardinals. ####.

Just out of curiosity, NJ, why so much?

Why not change pitchers? This is a pretty important game and it's still within reach, only the 2nd inning...

EDIT: Two pitches after I post that Jackson pulls a Mattheus, gets three outs with two pitches.

E-Jax not exactly giving the Nationals what they wanted here.

Edwin Jackson, the gift that keeps on giving.

Thank God they shut strasburg down.

Fairly or not if the Cards make this stand up (and there is a looooong way to go), I suspect that will be the big post-game talking point.