Is it me, or are sportswriters determined to make Cole Hamels into a mirror image of A.J. Burnett? Read this Times piece, which centers around Hamels’ inconsistency. And sure: Hamels is inconsistent. But… so? Look at A.J. Burnett. He’s an inconsistent pitcher. And yet for all but one inning this postseason, he’s put in excellent [...]

Stunning, right? I mean — ten strikeouts? Almost all of them swinging strikeouts? One run off, what, five hits? That playful tap on Jorge’s backside? That ‘nother-day-at-the-office popfly catch? Losing that game hurt like hell. You don’t want to lose game 1, and certainly not at home. But it almost feels like an honor to [...]

What other song could I possibly use for this post? Sluggahjells thought I should have used it for the ALCS. But I knew — knew! — the biggest stage still awaited the Yankees. Who’s going to win this series? I have no idea. For the last four days, we’ve all read a lot about how [...]

Joe Quesada of Marvel twitpic’d this as soon as Mo struck out Baby Sarge to clinch our fortieth pennant. It’s time to beat Philly. My first lyrical thought turns to Jadakiss’ “A Milli” freestyle: How he been nice for so long/ why they hating him? But to celebrate: new Clipse! Featuring Cam! Update: And of [...]

I have the Yankees iPhone application — recommended — so I watched a Gameday-style facsimile of Game 5 while at the Gaslight Anthem show on Thursday. It couldn’t sufficiently capture the drama, I figure, particularly not with Swisher getting us down to our last strike with the bases loaded, but I kept throwing my phone [...]

A.J. vs Lackey. We’re going back. Fuck L.A., we’ve done that already. Philadelphia, we stare at you from 95. We have 27 outs to get through this last bit of business and then we will come through your city like a hurricane. Soundtrack is courtesy of the hardest band that ever lived, with its ode [...]

I’ve seen Joe Torre falter and I’ve seen him soar. I’ve seen him outmanage and I’ve seen him be outmanaged. I’ve seen him refuse, with Churchillian steadfastness, to give up, down to an 11th-inning Game 7 home run. And I’ve seen him squander as big a postseason series lead as any manager ever has. Torre’s [...]

What did you expect, Bleacher Creatures? That this would be easy? That we deserve to sweep? That the Angels would go without a fight? What’s the matter with you? Do you remember losing the first two games of the 1996 World Series? How’d that turn out? Do you think that we’ll sweep the World Series? [...]

In a terrible mood. Nothing baseball-related. Good game last night; spectacularly gritty Phillies play; respect due to Chan Ho Park. Game two. Woo. I thought about making the soundtrack X’s “Los Angeles” — because the serieeeeeeees has to leeeeeeave (choke-choke-choke-choke-choke-choke-choke-choke) Los Angeles, get it? — but that’s stupid and the Phillies are full of Ink [...]

It’s the National League Championship Series! And so here’s Nicholas Beaudrot of Donkeylicious for your analytical guest-hostery. Thread: it’s open! Pennant fever: catch it! What’s a Braves fan to do? The Dodgers are a hated rival from the past; the Phillies, from the present. I hear the Falcons and Hawks are good; maybe I should [...]