1901

Very, very sad to see that Ozzie Smith is auctioning off all his Gold Gloves, World Series rings, and other awards and memorabilia–apparently because he needs the money.

Pride goeth before a fall. Can’t help but think he permanently damaged his brand in 1996 and will never get that back.

1902

Tonight’s Yankees lineup against Verlander, which is fascinating in a few ways:

Gardner (LF)
Ichiro (RF)
Tex (1B)
Cano (2B)
Ibanez (DH)
Martin ©
Chavez (3B)
Granderson (CF)
Nunez (SS)

Swisher is out. Gardner’s in even though he just came back from a season-long injury and hasn’t shown he can contribute. And A-Rod is benched, which is going to generate some buzz.

But the biggest statement to me is Girardi playing Nunez at short, as he’s one of the worst fielders I’ve seen in twenty years, in a must-have game where one error against Verlander could cost you the game. Girardi’s saying they are so desperate for any chance of offense that they’re willing to put anyone in the field who might be able to get a hit.

1903

That is sad. As a longtime Padres fan I’ve always had a wistful ‘what could have been’ feeling about Ozzie. What happened in 96, what am I missing?

1904

This can’t happen again, can it?

I mean, it’s Verlander. For the third game in a row, the Yankees failed to score in the first 8 innings. Verlander faced 2 batters over the minimum. Now he gives up a HR to Nunez in the 9th to make it 2-1, but he’s not going to blow this lead, right?

WE WANT VALVERDE

Edit: And with one out, Leyland is pulling Verlander. PLEASE LET IT BE BENOIT

1905

I’m going to ask this question, even though I know it’s mostly ridiculous and I probably wouldn’t do it myself:

Superman is at the plate with the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first. Do you consider giving Superman an intentional pass to load the bases, knowing that the rest of the order has been just pitiful at the plate? Do you give Superman any chance to beat you?

I think the Detroit strategy here is to give Ibanez the proverbial unintentional intentional walk. Pitch around him, see if he’ll chase, but if he doesn’t, don’t give him a chance to kill you.

1906

And Superman chased. 3-0 Tigers.

1907

Despite that home run in the 9th, another amazing Verlander start. I just wish his pitch count had been lower so Jim would have left him in to finish it out. As it was, Phil Coke was just barely good enough to finish it off. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster that NY had a bunch of lefties so the skipper went with Phil over Benoit. I’m still unhappy about the Tiger bats, 10 left on base, but hey…3-0, chance to sweep tomorrow!

1908

This postgame is hilarious. They’re talking about – and to – Verlander like he had an off day. I mean, he wasn’t blowing people away, but he pitched 8 innings of 2-hit, no-walk, shutout ball. What else do they want?

1909

God help me, I’m starting to almost feel bad for the Yankees. They just look kind of old and tired.

1910

This is why baseball such a gay sport. You can lose a ton and still win. I’ll take football.

1911

Because losing teams never have success in the NFL.

1912

Ozzie feuded with LaRussa in his last year and then has spent all the years since refusing to make any appearances on behalf of the the Cardinals as long as LaRussa was manager. It was hard not to think of Ozzie as pouting all that time. And it meant he lost a lot of visibility.

He also went through a divorce that probably cost him. He was on a lot of radio commercials for a local law firm that specialized in handling divorce cases for men.

1913

And if the TBS radar gun was accurate, he was hitting 98-99 mph in the 9th!!

I’m thinking that’s about 4-5 mph high, but still strong.

1914

That actually wouldn’t surprise me if he was hitting 98-99 in the 9th. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s still that strong that late either. He’s one of those guys that actually gets better the longer he pitches in a game.

1915

The 2010 Seattle Seahakwks and their 7-9 record playing in the NFC Championship game after knocking off the Super Bowl champion Saints in the first round of those playoffs wonder what the heck you’re talking about.

Also, screw you for using “gay” as a pejorative term. It’s the 21st century and you’re a grownup.

1916

In regards to all three sentences: wtf?!? What a terrible post and I feel dirty for having taken the bait and replied.

1917

It is kind of funny the level of expectations that Verlander now has. The fact he only struck out 3, allowed a home run and had to go deep into counts with a lot of batters renders his start below expectations.

1918

Verlander was awesome, as always. The media just has to drum up “drama” regardless of whether there is any or not. Verlander was fine in the 9th, but Coke makes more sense given who was coming to bat.

And MAN!, that last pitch he threw was ballsy. Nasty nasty slider. He had no business throwing that pitch in that situation, but it sure as hell bit.

1919

Hell, for JV, anything under triple digits is low. For instance:

Verlander cranked up the heat in the final frame, averaging 97.5 mph with his fastball. He threw four heaters to Alex Gordon in the last at-bat, and each one hit 100 on the radar gun. Those were the four fastest pitches he threw the entire game.

That was back in April, but I don’t doubt his ability to do it in October.

1920

Seattle fans wish we’d made it to the NFC Championship game that year! (Not really, the whole thing was kind of embarrassing, other then the awesome Beast Mode run.)

Seattle beat New Orleans in the wildcard round and then lost at Chicago in the divisional round. The Bears then lost to the Packers in the NFC Title game.