Andy, by his own admission, couldn’t put the ball where he wanted it on Saturday. Then he settled in, fought back, stifled Philadelphia, the offense lifted him, and we won. He called it a grind. It was. Like Jorgie used to say: we grind it. That’s how we win.
I think we’re going to take it tonight — hence “The Takeover.” We’re back home, with Andy pitching, the way it was with the classic teams of the last dynasty. Pedro is getting ready to hear the chants from the stands that he hears in his fitful sleep. Somewhere in the clubhouse, Wade Boggs is feeding oats to a Thoroughbred Stallion on loan from the NYPD. It’s just a feeling I have. But if we don’t, we take it tomorrow, with CC going against Cole Hamels. There is a calm that washes over me. Confidence and serenity. I want to watch baseball now, and feel the universe return to a certain state of balance.
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Oh, Mary. I hadda crush on you since ‘Reeeeeeeal Love’…
I also think we’ll win tonight, but it’s not over till the Phoenix Woman posts!
Victorino reaches first on a weak bouncer off the plate.
Doubled up. They have 24 outs to go.
3 grounders
A conference after one pitch, huh?
Still like seeing Pedro give up a 310 foot out in the first inning.
Jeter and Tex both make loud outs, but outs nonetheless.
That must have hurt Ryan’s feelings.
I doubt any non-strikeout would.
Anytime someone says “…with the exception of Chase Utley,” the point they’re making probably isn’t too sharp.
The popout. 21 outs.
Four grounders, two pop-outs
Truth. I’m amazed we’ve pitched to him as much as we have.
Good start to the inning
Doesn’t Petey kind of look like a Dominican Kenny Powers?
That’s what I like to see. Make Pedro work.
Yeah. We’re his Daddy.
Matsui saw everything well that at-bat
Mastui seems to have Pedro’s number. Go-go-Godzilla!
Fans Jorgie.
Andy’s got the good knucklecurve tonight.
Chooch really stoked the engine on that one.
Ruiz should have had a double. Gardner misplayed that and Ruiz exploited. Good for him. … Well, maybe he didn’t misplay it.
It was more mischief from Dunkin Donuts
Well, then I won’t post. Oh, shit, I just did! Aiiiiieeeeeee!
That’ll be an RBI.
Eyyyy PW!
Like the popup. 18 outs.
Let’s tag Pedro for a few more runs, just to be safe. And because it’ll feel really, really good.
Good try, Hawaiian.
I love the Pedro headfake there. The guy does entertain.
(wrong) way to go Vic!!
Yeah I didn’t quite see that until the replay. Weird.
Flyin’ Hawaiian needs to check his radar screen, etc., etc.
The power of PW compelled it
And it’s looking like it’s getting late early
Phillies just can’t get Damon out.
Petey drills Tex. Bases loaded for the Centaur. If you’re gonna get drilled, that’s a pretty good spot.
Tex gets on base!
There’s nothing in the rules that says a centaur can’t play baseball.
Christ.
Not a good call, but good pitching.
GOJIRA! 2 runs!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!4444444444444!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fuck yeah. Should’ve yanked him before Matsui put the knife in again.
We need to play this at the Stadium every time Pedro pitches.
Though that might have been our last opportunity.
Andy wanted that pitch to K Chase.
but it was THAT pitch!
Crap, when Utley can’t buy a hit, you know it sucks for the Phillies.
Too bad Pettite’s a wingnut.
Ryan Howard has got to be thinking, “I should’ve shown up this series. You don’t get to play in the WS every year.” The outs seem to be accelerating now.
As the camera rests on CC stuffing his face, I can’t help but reflect that November has been very kind to big fat guys.
Nice walk Werth, but the Phillies need to break their backs to preserve outs 1 & 2 in the remaining innings or their season is over.
Jorge has really tested my devotion this year. And specifically this postseason.
OK Andy. Settle down.
I can’t fucking believe I’m nervous about Feliz digging in.
The curve has gotten away from him here….Phillies doing the smart job and making him work here.
Continuing to stay away form Feliz is smart….he is usually NOT a push hitter.
Andy isn’t going to give Werth much to hit tonight.
I’d love to see the scatter on the pitches Andy’s thrown this AB, because it looked like 4 strikes to me.
Pettitte is flat-out freezing these hitters. Legend in the making.
Phew. 15 outs.
Excellent pitch…….57 pitches through 4 for Pettitte if I’m right….maybe 59 actually.
Rob’d.
HAHAHAHA Swisher’s batting music is R. Kelly’s ‘Rockstar’
Rudy! Rudy!
I’m so glad Rudy had to give up “his usual seat” for Michelle Obama. And that he thought he was entitled to complain about it. So tired of that guy.
Sorry Brett, you ripped that. Good inning for Pedro.
That was an okay catch, but Chase Utley just makes shit look smooth.
Anyone know when they announce the MVP – tonite or later? Jump in if you want to start that discussion.
Caught ‘im lookin. Only 2 Ks for Andy tonight, but still.
Frozen Francisco treat.
It’s gotta be Utley, right?
He’s got a gem going, there’s no doubt…
I think it’s early for MVP chatter. I’d like to wait until Mariano is pitching before I get that cocky.
He’s got the Scott Caan thing going on. I don’t know what that thing is, but it’s going on.
Not cockiness. I just don’t see as strong a case for anyone on either team as Utley. If Lee had shut us down on Monday, then mayyyyybe, and only if Philly wins.
‘Tonight’ — that was premature, you’re right. ‘After the last game,’ I meant. Certainly the candidates are pretty clear at this point though…
Oh man, ICE COLD. 12 outs.
Solid.
Bye bye Pedro.
What, did FOX whine about it? I’ve been following on ESPN to avoid the Murdoch cooties.
Cap’n doubles.
Rollins did everything wrong for the Phillies there
Not only the double play of course, but he also swung at the very first pitch against the left-hander.
The Phillies only chance of winning this game is getting someone before the Yankees get Rivera.
That’s not going to happen with the way Rollins approached his at bat just now.
Captain!
Now that’s a goddamn bunt.
That was a fantastic bunt, JHJr.
The fifth run will certainly do it.
This is when aggressiveness becomes panic and panic becomes lack of strategy.
Tex comes THROUGH. 5-1 #NYY
This has gotten away from the Phillies now.
The bullpen outside of Madson, as has said many times, has been brutal all year.
Obvious mistake from Durbin there to Texieira.
Still surprising from an MVP player like Rollins though.
People have forgotten in this series that this man did win the MVP award.
Tex hasn’t hit a lot this series, but when he has it’s been important.
Did that hit Alex’s uniform? And he shook his elbow out? Um…
One thing I wanted to point out apropos your Mariano Duncan Phillies trivia is that Mickey Morandini (he of the unassisted triple play) of all people started ahead of Duncan for much of that year. Additionally, that team was steroid central with Darren Daulton, Nails during his ‘roid rage era (not that he needed the ‘roids to rage), Pete Incaviglia, and others.
OK, I like Johnny, he’s gritty as hell. But if we’ve got to keep either Johnny or Matsui, don’t we have to go with Matsui? How could we put Johnny at DH? Matsui is the superior hitter.
OHHHHHHH FUCK! 2 MORE RBI FOR GOJIRA!
Tomorrow’s headline: Phillies lose World Series to Hideki Matsui.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!66666666666666666!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And Matsui puts it even further out of reach.
No foolin’. Musta got sick of seeing A-Rod get all the headlines.
Matsui!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think the idea is that Johnny has more tools. He’s a threat to steal, harder to double up, and can still play the OF, albeit somewhat poorly. Matsui can, uh, tell when a storm is a’brewin’ with his trick knees.
Is it me or has Posada looked pretty lost this postseason? Even when he is hitting, the bizarre baserunning mistakes and ridiculous numbers of passed balls make it seem like his head just isn’t in the game all of a sudden.
Any other night, I’d be upset at Robi’s struggles.
Yeah, this is hard to understand. He never made mental errors before.
Ok, not premature any more. It’s Matsui-san! Gotta be.
Heh! According to ESPN GameCast right now, Andy Pettite’s a Philly.
Don’t you have to give it to the guy who hit 5 homers?
Ehh, if 6 RBI in one game ties a WS record, then maybe…
Two hits for the Phillies and one was Victorino’s nubber.
Nah. If he breaks the record, absolutely. But not for tying within a loss. Hit one more, Chase!
Posada often makes mental errors.
Everyone realizes Pettitte’s working on a two-hitter through five-plus now, right? If he’d had a better game in 3, he’d be in the mix.
Like?
Shit, he almost did…
Almost did it right there.
His defense especially wrt to passed balls has always been subpar but I think the baserunning mistakes have been very out of character and the passed balls have really gotten out of control.
Unbelievable.
Whoa. Ryan Howard homers. 7-3.
Oh look, Ryan Howard showed up.
Hey there, Ryan. Bittersweet much?
Ok, finally got here. Got roped into being a body man for a friend who’s running for the U.S. Senate here in CO. Luckily, he’s also a Yankees fan (like every native son of the L.E.S.), so we followed along on my blackberry.
Oh, and here’s Ryan Howard trying desperately to snap his funk all at once.
Good to know you can be here for this. After giving up the accidental Ryan HR, Andy K’s Werth.
Actually, that brings them back to long-shot territory from the netherworld. That was actually kind of big.
That wasn’t a strike, but the umps are giving it to Andy.
Gotta take him out now.
Howard, for the first time in this series, pushes the ball the other way.
Not a mistake from Pettitte in my mind.
Was a mistake to leave him in anyway. Stupid.
Thanks for letting us do this thing, Andy.
Is it wrong that everytime I see that Ninja Assassin commercial they have been playing every five minutes during the WS, all I can think of is “He’s dancing in Korean?”
Remember, Feliz went deep off of Chamberlain on Sunday.
Joba makes me nervous. I might need to go to tape-delay so I can fast forward it.
I want to see the shit out of that movie.
If the Phillies were to come back and take a lead, I guarantee they’d give it back in the same inning.
Clutch.
Joba gets us the out. 9 outs away.
But no wears there…now more bang the Phillies pen more now.
Steve Bartman took it away from Francisco.
Good Swisher AB.
Y’know, I’d be more stoked about the FOX NFL pre-game show going to Afghanistan’s version of the Green Zone if they weren’t flogging it so relentlessly.
Also: WAY stoked to be seeing a sneak preview of “Men Who Stare At Goats” tomorrow afternoon.
Seeing it Friday, reviewing it for the Prospect. Just got the galleys of the book, read the first two chapters on the bus. It’s hysterical so far.
I love it when Chan Ho makes an appearance, regardless of the result. It’s the hopeless nostalgic in me.
J-Rol laughing in the face of elimination there. Spoke repeatedly of watching football and *college* basketball (said the college part twice) after Game 5. Cole Hamels is ready for a fresh start. Manuel has seemed almost distracted in most decisions he’s made. That Lee catch. Individually, they don’t mean much, but taken together i see a team that wasn’t fully committed to winning this. Weird for a defending champ. Were there issues, or did they just ‘learn helplessness’? No doubt i would have had a hard time convincing myself I could beat this team…
If Joba’s got to throw 9 feet wide of Jorgie, I’m glad it’s there.
One down, two to go for Joba
Francisco K’d.
Friggin Chooch.
I don’t know, I don’t really buy into this kind of thing, especially with regard to baseball. These guys are professionals and they are almost always trying their hardest, especially in the playoffs. I just think that Manuel isn’t a great in-game manager (although he seems to be a great clubhouse manager, kind of like Torre in a certain way) and that, bottom line, the Phillies just haven’t been as good as the Yanks.
I had a chance to read the script. It’s good stuff! Need to pick up the book, though.
I don’t want Joba pitching to Chase Utley. Saying that now.
And Joe’s thinking the same thing.
Seriously.
I have a terribly skewed opinion of Chooch’s skills at the dish.
Poor for Joba there to Victorino, who has done nothing at all offensively.
And Fox, we all know you want a Game 7 and wish Utley would home here, but it’s not going to happen.
Marte has been brilliant in this series.
Marte is a good call. He has been unbelievable during this series and his platoon splits are ridiculous.
OK. This is still a game. Marte vs. Chase. Strike 1.
Really? We only have one lefty better than Phil Coke? That’s just kind of sad.
Someone explain why we’re pitching to Utley again?
How do you hit that as a lefty hitter (I am one)? It’s like a wiffleball pitch. His release point is further towards first than your hip and the ball ends up on the outside corner. Nasty.
Yeah!!!!!!
Oh man, that’s a shitty way to kill a rally.
Coffin, meet nail. 6 outs away.
nice pitching though. stretch time!
Absolutely no doubt they’re not as good as the Yanks. But I see a definite difference in focus, seriousness of purpose, and desire between these two teams, in addition to the talent differential. That’s a background emotional/mental reality (if I’m right) that affects the overall product of all the individuals, who i agree are giving it their all to a man on both sides. It seems like the Phillies are pretty happy with their championship still, while these Yankees are playing like they have everything and more to play for — above all, self-respect and the pride of a very proud city. This is as it should be.
Utley is having a bad game at a bad time.
Hideki Matsui isn’t going to have to draw his bride tonight. If he makes it out of the stadium with under 5 offers of marriage, I’d be surprised.
They haven’t won it in a while and their manager’s head will roll if they don’t win it this year. Hell, if they don’t win it tonight it still might roll. George’s kids shelled out too much of Dad’s dough to settle for anything less.
AAAAARGHHHH IT’S THAT DJ HERO SONG MAKE IT GO AWAY PLEASE ZOMFG!!?11!
They say that the lame best perform the act of love, and with his knees he qualifies.
True but it was bound to happen and you can’t blame him really, in my opinion. You can’t expect the man to win the series by himself. Ryan Howard is the real goat to me since he didn’t even hit righties.
Also, as a sidenote, it would be a true disgrace to allow a team that throws Chan Ho in important innings to win the WS.
I can’t even explain how happy I am to see Mariano warming with the World Series on the line. It just feels so right.
Tex fanned.
As you’ll notice, not how I chose to phrase it, but yeah, something like that.
Come on ARod put the cherry on top.
Ditto.
Caballo!
Ohhhh Jimmie. That’s an error. Alex to first.
First person to Photoshop together a “Godzilla puts the Yankees on his back” pic gets $5 from me.
Oxygen tanks and ortho surgeons being called in anticipation of attempted triple
How can it be only the seventh inning right now?
I can’t reasonably expect Matsui to get an RBI here, but I sort of do anyway.
This dude ate a chocolate-covered Twinkie before a WS game?
I think that’s Spike back there just chillin’.
They could have put in Kam Fong.
without a beer??? The Babe would scorn
Hooray! Jorge gets on base!
A-Rod did WHAT?
Come on Robi do one good thing this whole series. Please.
Okay that’s Spike there, but I picked him out on the replay before, dammit.
Robi Ca-NO.
4 straight strikes from Marte.
Five.
Time to K Howard one last time
SIX!
Unlike Cano, Marte seems to have put everything together at the right time.
Phils really needed their big bats to be a couple spots down the bench this inning.
Thanks, Damaso.
And now…
Redemption for 2001.
Enter Sandman
Jesus, Marte slaying dragons. And now the hammer.
That’s what that man DOES.
I have been watching Mariano retire hitters since I was 13, and it’s lost none of the novelty.
Seriously good Ibanez AB. Doubles on the bad read from Gardner.
Why was he playing so shallow?
Seriously. Again with the two outs though.
three…more…outs!
Feliz fouls out.
3 outs away.
Because Mariano gets more mishit popups than solid fly balls to center
After tonight, the world will fear the back of Mariano’s pimp hand. Do they size WS rings for thumbs?
I guess. But thank god it worked out because all I could think of was my eternal frustration and regret that in the fateful inning in Game 7, 2001 Torre played the infield in with the bases loaded and one out rather then corners in middle infield at double play depth. If he had done that we might have ended up winning since Jeter surely would have caught that bloop playing back. OK, rant over.
Joe Girardi almost smiling.
Great play be Feliz
My lord.
Wow. Great play.
I said the key to this series was whether last year’s MVP, Cole Hamels, was going to pitch like the ace he was last year or not. If he did, then the Phillies were going to win the World Series.
If not, then the Yankees would win their 27th title.
The latter has happened, and the Yankees are three outs away from this title, though the bottom of the 8th still isn’t over yet as Eyre leaves with a quality session from him, no question.
Someone needs to give Jeter a Pie
And Rivera a pie
Naturally, the Captain has to hit in his last 2009 AB.
Andy gets pied too.
Enter the 9th inning.
At this point, the proper thing to do is have a food fight.
OK this is it people. Let’s do it.
GIMLI!
I thought and said that the key was whether Pettitte’s body could keep up with his heart. I think that has been pretty well borne out as well. He pitched better on short rest than he did on full. On the Phillies side, when Manuel saw what he had available in Cliff Lee, it was crime to let his team fall to a 3-1 deficit without making the Yankees beat his ace twice. Hamels made fairly clear fairly quickly he wouldn’t be a factor in the series, you’re right about that, but that needn’t have been the key factor it was if Manuel had adjusted. (IMHO.)
That’s one.
Two more outs.
Never noticed the likeness but so, so true.
Verily hath the Sandman smited Gimli
He goes now to his father’s halls.
The Phillies look like they are on orders to take not one but two strikes before swinging.
Chooch walks.
and two.
So say we all. And now two have been smited.
One more. Love how Buck hyped it like that was gone.
I feel that. That was the one time I ever rooted hard for the Yankees (9/11 and all – solidarity). And Mo got beat (I agree with your take). Hit me in the gut — must’ve been god awful for y’all real fans. I appreciate what this means to y’all now.
You mean his father?
last pitch coming
So glad Victorino is going to make this out.
Edit: stop battling. Bow to the inevitable the way Mariano bows to you!
Victorino’s gonna take this like a man.
This is a pretty good at-bat.
Major heart there. Soul of the team & will go down swinging. It is right and proper.
Mom just called. The anticipation’s killing her.
I think Shane might lace one in a second.
Wow, not just good, great at-bat.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
27.
Or not. 4-3. Game.
Well, good night, I have secured transactions at 8:30 and the flu. It was a pleasure enjoying this game with you all and congrats.
YANKEES WIN! And Mom, whom I’ve been giving a play by play since she’s not watching (too nervous) flips the fuck out.
Universe: restored to its rightful balance.
This is has to be a very sweet one for New Yorkers and Yankees fans. Wish I was still there to see the smiles around town & the office tomorrow. Congrats.
PIEEEEEEEEEEE TIME #27
That’s that pride I was talkin’ about. Represent!
It’s time to vote PW a World Series share.
FIVE GOOOOOOOLD RIIIINGS!
Alex Rodriguez is a World Champion.
Seriously – my mom’s gone from English to Spanish to Nuyorican in, like, .9 seconds. It’s insanely awesome.
and a Pedro in a mango tree
Thanks to everyone for a great thread. Time for me to call my mom.
NHK’s saying Godzilla’s the MVP.
As a Wisconsinite living in NYC at the time, this (what you guys are now feeling) is I imagine what it would have felt like if the Packers had managed to beat the Giants & gone on to beat the Patriots in 2008. But they didn’t. Oh well.
Hideki it is.
*sob* The Yankees are the World Champions
*waa* Congratulations
*sniff* But yay! Matsui he is da man.
MUCH LOVE TO ALL YOU GUYS
Jimmy Rollins is so silent now!
Just got back from celebrating…seriously, it’s been at least a year since I’ve felt this way. All my love to all y’all, and let’s stay together.