Despite the home field advantage and score differential at home, I'd give the edge to the Yankees in game seven. Clemens is pitching on four days rest while Schilling will be on the mound with three days rest for the second time in a week.

Also, the left handed lineup that Brenly has put on the field against the Yankee right handed pitching has not had the kind of success Arizona would like. If Clemens falters, expect to see a strong El Duque on the mound for middle inning relief followed by the best reliever in baseball, Mariano Rivera. 6-4 Yankees, for the fourth year in a row.

Scenario for tonight's game: Ninth inning. Arizona holds a one- or two-run lead. Having pinch-hit for Schilling in the previous inning, Brenly has to call on someone to close the door, or at least attempt to do so.

Would he DARE bring in Kim in this situation?

Given the managing style he's shown in this series, it wouldn't surprise me a bit.

If he does bring in Kim and Kim DOES blow it again, Does Kim later do a Donnie Moore and kill himself in the offseason?

Yankee bats will come alive tonight because they are the Yanks and thats their destiny. Bet on it. I did.

Kim won't kill himself but there's a great chance that Colangelo will kill Brenly...perhaps before he leaves the ballpark tonight. It could look like Jack Ruby's meeting with Lee Oswald before Fox signs off from Phoenix tonight.

Suppose he does bring in Kim... and Kim shocks the hell out of everyone by actually slamming the door?

Enough speculation... off to watch the game!

Fuck yes! Johnson for MVP.
Brenly is still a chicken shit manager, tho.

Kim is off the hook. I never even thought Arizona could get to Rivera like that. Oh well, Arizona thoroughly outplayed the Yanks in this series, and it was just dumb luck the Yanks were even in a game 7. Congrats to Arizona.

-Superman-

Well, I have to say that I am shocked - I wrote off Arizona a bunch of times, including at least twice tonight. In the beginning of the ninth, I was thinking that Arizona had better chances of getting hit by lightening than getting to Rivera.

You guys that bet on this stuff and think you can predict the outcome of games like this are nuts.

Great game, great series, baseball at it's best.

I'm happy good triumphed over evil this year.

LOL. Me too. Just goes to show, that if there are two big hits in the city, all you have to do is bring out the big guns in the desert, and maybe Right will triumph.

I guess you guys who told us that the Yankees were a lock won't be down in TJ for a while, due to financial problems.

i'll be down in TJ just to bring me out of this depression since I almost had it and it just slipped away in the 9th.
I ain't stupid I only bet what i could afford.

Part of my previous post:

"If the only way that Kim can regain face or avoid permanent scarring is for him to somehow be the hero this weekend, or for the D'Backs to win the last two games even without his help, then so be it. And if so, the disappointment of not winning a fourth consecutive NY championship (and having my original betting prediction be incorrect) suddenly won't really seem that bad at all in the grand scheme of things."

Praise God, I got my wish. Sometimes money is much less important than other things.

Still, I offer my sincerest apologies to anyone who lost money due to my recommendation. I'm shocked that Rivera would blow a save like that which never happens. There isn't a Yankee fan alive who didn't think that it was all over after taking the lead 2-1.

As a NY sports fan, I was disappointed (I'm actually much more of a NY Mets fan than a Yankee fan, as Porker can attest). But after listening to some of these hardcore Yankee fans on the local radio stations, I'm beginning to have second thoughts about that disappointment. You just wouldn't believe some of the comments and crap that they've been spewing. No wonder NY gets a bad reputation.

Before I go, allow me to say that I'm happy for Matiz (I know many lifelong anti-Yankee sufferers). As promised, no more baseball predictions from me (on this board), even though my incorrect prediction resulted from a highly unlikely event. I deserve every bad name that you can throw at me. Fire away.

A Bet with your head not over it kind of guy,

Out-of-Towner

I'm just stunned the D'Backs could get to Rivera like that. I mean, it wasn't a fluke bottom of the ninth. No single-player heroics here. They hit him several times, left runners on even. I'm always glad to see the Yankees lose, regardless of how great their talent is.

That having been said, I don't really support this idea of purchased franchises built of veteran mercenaries who arrive for one year of victories. Most of the D'Backs played their "growth years" elsewhere, while the Yankees can actually boast a home-grown, or at least traded-for, roster. Remember the Marlins? Buy a World Series, then sell everyone. Didn't like that, don't think they should be taking the place in the upcoming contraction year, of more traditional teams like the Twins, who have had ups and downs and some past glories.

Speaking of that. Who would you recommend for contraction? I understand that Montreal is a front-runner, and that the other eliminated spot would likely be Minnesota or ... who?

Ootie, I was so excited in the ninth inning I almost peed in my pants. I was prepared for defeat (even had the remote ready to switch away after Rivera got the last out), but I won't complain about the way it turned out. These two teams were so well matched they seemed destined to play each other right down to the wire. If they'd played best of nine, or best of seventeen, it still would've been decided in the bottom of the ninth in the last game. Who says baseball is boring???

What a great series! I've been a diehard baseball fan for over 30 years and I'd rank it in the top three during that time span. And I really had no rooting interest in either team.

I didn't think Rivera threw badly in the ninth inning at all. The only ball that was smoked was Womack's hit. Give the D-backs credit though... they did what they had to do. I guess Rivera's number finally came up.

book guy... I see your point about purchased franchises, but I don't think these D-backs are comparable to the '97 Marlins. Those Marlins were the most boring, unemotional team imaginable, and as you noted, most of them flew the coop in the following off-season. I don't think that will happen with this Arizona team. Granted, they are a bunch of purchased imports, but at least they played with emotion and acted like they were enjoying themselves. And many of them will probably be around next year.

Montreal is one obvious choice for contraction. I'd really hate to see Minnesota get cut, for the reasons you mention. If it were up to me, either Tampa Bay or the aforementioned Marlins would go.

Well, since I brought up the topic of the best World Series in recent memory and where this year's version ranks, here's my opinion on the top five:

1) '75- Reds/Red Sox (the Carlton Fisk waving-the-ball-fair series)

2) '91- Twins/Braves (this one often gets overlooked)

3) The just-completed D-backs/Yankees series

4) '86- Mets/Red Sox

5) '80- Phillies/Royals (ONLY because I'm a Phillies fan)

The 86 world series was awesome

Being a mets fan in boston made it even better

The sox will never win the world series again !!

I was too young for the 75 series although that fisk image is stained in my brain !

Next year looks like another great year for baseball !

atlanta should start to see the basement soon.

what will happen to the mariners ?

the yankees rebuilding ?

where will bonds and giambi play ? - New York ?

Will Rocker retire and star on bass fishing episodes ?

Will we see some teams folding ?

When will Morgan and Henderson retire ?

We will see more Red Sox implosions and some trades!!

Will Mac retire or continue and hit .180 with 40 homers next season ?

Who will draw a bigger crowd - Adelitas on any monday night or the Expos on free ticket night ?

The phillies should be back to reality this year and fight for last place. ( sorry farsider)

Do chics still dig the longball ?

take care
milkster

The 86 NLCS was the best ever, with Mike Scott and Nolan ryan pitching their hearts out for Houston in games 4 (16 innings) and 5 (12 innings),

hi guys

well it is announced - Big Mac is retired !
who will replace him ?
how much revenue will the Cards lose ?
will the Mets get barry bonds ?
hurry up spring training !!!

milky

Look for the Cardinals to make a big push for Giambi since they have the money they will save from McGuire's retirement. Mac agreed to $30mil 2 yr. extension in spring but never signed it.

I'm not looking forward to next year. My Tribe is in payroll reduction phase. Won't resign Gonzalez, maybe trade Alomar and Vizquel. Stick a fork in them now; they're done with the run that they've had for the last 7 years.

hi

the indians are a fun team to watch , every year i think they will fold and they are right in it.
Manny is a doughnut because he always crumbles after time - forget him , he will haunt the sox for many years and doctors to come !!
Juan should stay an indian , he is great and a rbi machine.
But they are better off having you pitch for them !!
They need 1 or 2 new starters in their roation.
I am for contraction because teams will have at least 1 more decent or ok pitcher in thier lineup!!

milky

The Cardinals reportedly have a strong chance to sign Giambi. Giambi regards Mac as a mentor...no, a GOD...and Mac is actively working him to come to St. Louis and play for LaRussa.

Powerslave, I absolutely agree with you that the 1986 NLCS was the best postseason series ever. Combine that with the Angels shocking meltdown to the Red Sox in the ALCS in the same year, and the Mets' comeback in the Bill Buckner World Series, and you've got the most memorable postseason baseball has ever seen.

Hall of Fame, Class of 2007: McGwire, Ripken, Gwynn, all first ballot no-brainers.

If Rickey Henderson decides to call it quits, he's another first-balloter that year.

On the Giambi front... the team most affected by McGwire's retirement may be the Yankees, whose chances of signing Giambi just went way down.

I'll cast another vote for 1986 as the best overall postseason ever. It's not even close.

being a true mets fan for many years
you can also guess what series was my favorite !!
boston is truly cursed !

milky

Come on Erip! Giambi is the Yanks new first baseman ... Georgie wants him.

-Superman-

i think the yankees will get Giambi
15 to 20 mill a year , thats a lot of fichas !!!

milky

Superman, Giambi shows some signs of possessing the elusive non-money hungry ethics of his mentor, Big Mac. If any free agent superstar simply can't be bought by George, it may be Jason. Jason's a throwback player.

However, even though St. Louis is a truly great baseball city, I gotta think though that great moments at Yankee Stadium such as the fans chanting "Paul O'Neill" during his last inning on the outfield grass sends chills up the spines of other players who are about to hit the market. There's something attractive beyond money about wearing pinstripes in the house that Ruth built.

Here's another vote for '86 as the best baseball post-season ever: Mets incredible series with Houston climaxing in their ninth inning comeback from 3-0 on the road in Game Six with Mike Scott waiting for them in Game Seven (some say this was the greatest game ever played); the Red Sox comeback against the Angels; and the Mets impossible comeback in Game Six of the World Series against the Red Sox ("Here comes Knight, the Mets win"). I can still see the TV shot of Clemens standing on a chair looking at the TV in his clubhouse (with two outs and no men on in the bottom of the tenth) prematurely celebrating. But I guess he got even with the Mets last year, in more ways than one.

A Wondering if Roger will ever come to the plate at Shea Stadium kind of guy,

Out-of-Towner

My question to baseball is how the fuck can Selig say with a straight face that there is "no market available that can support a relocated team" when RFK Stadium in Washington DC sits empty.

There is also the "can't beat 'em, join 'em" syndrome. Giambi has watched his team go out to the Yanks two years in a row ... I don't see why Giambi would have an ethical problem playing for NY ... I hope he doesn't anyway. NY needs someone who can hit after only scoring 14 runs in the WS ...

-Superman-

Superman, I meant that he won't merely go to the highest bidder (e.g. ARod)...presumably the Yankees. He'll weigh other factors along with the money.

Professional baseball. Who cares? A bunch of spoiled steroid monsters playing in a corrupt league plagued by strikes, racism, poor health, and hypocrisy. America's pastime used to mean something, even though the game is a bit slow. Now it sucks.

Clemens was quoted saying that he was going to plunk Bonds, and then he actually did it. Does this piss anybody else off (any Giant fans out there), or is it just me?

Why is there no disciplinary action taken against him? Is there any doubt left that he purposely beaned Piazza two years ago (and almost killed him)?

If Clemens threw at me, I would conveniently allow the bat to fly out of my hands on the next pitch right toward his face. My "it was just an accident" would sound just as sincere as his apologies, so I'm sure I wouldn't be thrown out of the game.

Clemens is such a pussy too, too scared to pitch in Shea Stadium. He's such a macho man as long as he's the only one with a weapon in his hands. He'll get his someday, hopefully when somebody follows my advice above.

A Can you tell I'm in a bad mood today kind of guy,

Out-of-Towner

Please! It doesn't piss me off in the least, but then I am a Yankee fan. I like the way Clemens pitches. He has stones and he is not afraid to go inside. Barry gets off because people are afraid to put one under his chin. Like Barry really cares anyway ... he wears more body armor than anybody in the game. Barry leans way over the plate, and you knew Clemens was not going to let him get away with it. Clemens has always brushed guys back and Barry has always crowded the plate.

If anyone was stupid enough to throw a bat at Clemens, he would put a 98 MPH fastball into their grill the next time up. Nobody would have the stones to do it.

Roger is not scared to pitch in Shea. Torre has held him out ... it's not Roger begging off. Torre has actually said he will not adjust his lineup this year when he goes to Shea, and Clemens will pitch if he's sheduled (which he currently is). I guarantee you nobody on the Mets beans Clemens. For all their smack talk, the Mets won't do it ... for the same reason lised above. The Yanks have two guys who can launch it at 98 MPH, and none of those pussies want to get beaned in retaliation.

Anyway, pitchers don't headhunt. If a guy gets hit in the head, it's because the pitch got away from the pitcher while they were trying to pitch inside. They are not stupid. When a pitcher wants to hit someone, they put it below the shoulder and into the ribs where it's not possible to move fast enough to get away from it.

Roger's most glorious performance was a couple of years ago in the ALCS when he fired two straight pitches right under Alex Rodriguez's chin to open the game. He ended with a one-hitter as none of the Mariners even attempted to crowd the plate after that.

-Superman-

I respect your opinion, Superman, but to call the Mets players "pussies" concerning a 98 MPH fastball is kinda silly and not being objective. I for one would chuck a bat at Clemens if he purposely threw at me; and if he threw at me again, he'd have another bat sailing at his face.

Also I find that many Yankee fans and Yankee players are totally hypocritical. When Clemens was not a Yankee, they couldn't complain enough about him. Now that he's on their side, there's nothing wrong with him. Similarly, when Benitez plunked a Yankee when he was an Oriole, there was such a big uproar. I guarantee you that if a Met pitcher had plunked Jeter or one of the other star Yankees in the head, you would have never heard the end of it. So let's try to be fair and objective and not lose our integrity.

Oh, one other thing. The Mets are way ahead of Clemens. I can still see Clemens prematurely celebrating the Red Sox 1986 World Series victory in Game Six from his position standing on a chair watching the TV screen in the Boston clubhouse. The pain from that one will never go away for Clemens no matter how much success he has in the future (similar to the big Yankee choke last year). It was certainly one of the best moments in baseball history, and one of the few moments in mankind where the bad karma justifiably came around BEFORE it was earned (something like the new Cruise movie Minority Report).

A Telling it like it is kind of guy,

Out-of-Towner

What's sad to me is the Mets fans memories of one of their only two World Series championships is forever tainted and stained. Nobody remembers the Mets, everyone remembers Bill Buckner. LOL. My personal memories of that team is how they went one and out even though they had the talent to reign for 5-6 years. Oh well, at least Gooden and Strawberry tagged along with the Yanks for some more Championships.

Clemens is the type of player that will get under your skin if he's not on your team. It's the nature of the sport to root for guys on your favorite team and against him when he's on other teams. I always liked Clemens anyway, even if he did play for the hated Red Sox. Same way I can respect Pedro, Schilling (a guy who is a lot like Clemens), and Johnson.

I'll stick by calling the Mets pussies, because they are the ones who talked all the smack but did not do anything about it except get blown out in the World Series. Even when Clemens chucked the bat at Piazza, the Mets did nothing about it except talk more smack. Anybody can talk, but how many have the stones to back it up? Clemens backs it up. Given his, ummmm, nature, I guess it's no surprise Piazza does not.

Yeah, the Yankees really collapsed last year. They beat the team with the best record of all time in the playoffs, beat another favored team in the A's, then got beat by the better team in the World Series. The very fact that New York was even in that game 7 was more a statement of Arizona's collapses than the Yanks great play. AZ pulled it out and that's fine.

The difference is the Yanks will be there again this year while the Mets will be at home watching again. So much for all their great offseason moves.

-Superman-

Clemens is scheduled to make his next start on Saturday against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. We'll see if the Mets have the stones to throw at him. Now's the chance they've been crying about for 2 years. Don't be surprised if they don't, and don't be surprised if Clemens pitches inside.

-Superman-

Trot Nixon got suspended for I think 5 games for having the bat 'slip' out of his hands in the direction of the immortal Ryan Rupe this year when the Red Sox thought he was using two of their hitters for target practice in the 1st inning of a game this year. Of course it's usually the other way around with those teams, as Pedro was the one doing the dusting in his one hitter a couple years back.

Beanball wars and fights actually stir things up a bit, and I'm all for it unless somebody gets hit in the head. Of course strategically hitting somebody in the head like Clemens did can fuck with somebody's head, and his team definitely benefited from that edge in the long run, as bizarre as it played out.

The funnier part than plunking Bonds was walking him 4 times. I guess Benito Santiago in the 5 hole didn't much scare Sr. Clemens. Also nice to see Giants bullpen collapse and get Clemens the W after going 130 pitches. THAT's an afternoon's work (though the Big Ugly does it every start...).

It will be fun to see how next weekend unfolds. If he matches up against a guy like Steve Trachsel, Trachsel doesn't exactly have a lot to lose by getting ejected/suspended.

It has always amused me that despite all of the Yankee historic success, the Mets still invite ridicule from arrogant Yankee fans. The reason is that the Yankees have to share a city's fan base, a city which historically has been a National League town. And the Yankee fans just can't seem to live with that or accept it.

It's like the oldest offspring who has to live with the parents attention being divided among the other children. Or the oldest offspring citing accomplishments that are the result of longevity which the younger children haven't had the time yet to accomplish. Or the oldest offspring belittling the accomplishments of the younger children. Some firstborns in time learn to accept such divided attention, but some never get over it.

Even if the Yankees are in the playoffs again and the Mets go home again, it is comforting for Met fans to know that the Mets will always be in the heads of the Yankee fans.

BTW, I've certainly noticed that Mets fans are more loyal than Yankee fans. During the Yankee 15-year drought (1981-1995, not even the Mets ever went that long without a World Series appearance), you couldn't find a Yankee fan. It doesn't matter how many championships the Yankees ever win or how many fans continue to jump on the front-running bandwagon; it will never change.

And no matter how you color it, the Yankees DID choke last year. Forget the previous playoff success last year or in all the years before that; it doesn't change the truth about last year. THEY CHOKED (forever to be known as exactly that)! They had the Series in the palm of their hands. Not even the Mets ever choked away a championship like that. And the '86 Mets will be remembered as making the greatest World Series comeback of all time by true sports fans, versus simply "the Buckner Blunder" by Met haters.

As for the use of the word pussy, I think it applies much more to the Yankee fans who called up the local sports radio station last year after "the choke" and were actually crying their eyes out. It was so pathetic. Caller after caller whimpering with cracking voices. Appropriately you could say that they were all "choked" up.

And those callers were actually concerned more about "what am I going to say to the Met fans tomorrow" instead of anything else. Just another example of Yankee fans always worrying more about the Mets than their own success (many Yankee fans admit enjoying Met losses more than Yankee wins).

I can understand the pain though. Any TRUE Yankee fan last year felt like his heart had been ripped right out of his chest, and it was only natural for them to cite the previous playoff round successes (and previous year successes) to try to ease the pain. But that rationalization doesn't change the facts: THE YANKEES CHOKED; THE GREATEST CHOKE OF ALL TIME!

Yeah, the Mets will probably not retaliate against Clemens (unlike myself who would throw a bat). Who wants to get suspended five games or fined (right Porker?). And they were smart not to retaliate in the World Series too (as I foolishly would have). It's a no-win situation. It's just unfair that a bully (and all bullies are the genuine pussies in this world) who has the only "legal" projectile gets off scot free while the retaliator gets punished. Sounds like hockey to me.

But it's still SO hyprocritical. Put the shoe on the other foot and the Yankee fans would be up in arms. Have Jeter get hit in the face and I'll guarantee you that Yankee fans won't describe the offending pitcher as "needing to pitch inside". To deny that (or to deny that "loose-cannon Clemens" was purposely aiming for Piazza's head) is being purely naive.

Just so there's no misunderstanding, Superman, the "tone" of my post is light-hearted. I'm having fun with this (as I hope you are) because I actually like the Mets AND the Yankees. But I don't allow my rooting to cloud or distort the truth.

A NY kind of guy,

Out-of-Towner

"Just so there's no misunderstanding, Superman, the "tone" of my post is light-hearted. I'm having fun with this (as I hope you are) because I actually like the Mets AND the Yankees. But I don't allow my rooting to cloud or distort the truth."

Good clarification, there, Ootie. Maybe it registered.

Am I the only one who is fed up with MLB's juiced-up players, juiced-up stadiums, juiced-up balls, juiced-up bats, etc., etc....? Do all the records being shattered in recent years really MEAN anything? Seems like this sport is about as corrupt as boxing now. When are they due to go on strike again? And what about all this nonsense about contracting longstanding teams?

You can call Roger Clemens allot of things, but coward is not one of them. He is big, strong and a bad ass, maybe a little crazy. I don't think it would make any difference if he pitched in the national league. Didn't seem to bother Don Drysdale or Bob Gibson.

Roger once took on some off duty tough guy cops in a bar in Houston (I think three) and was arrested, and as it turned out the cops were the original instigators.

All the dominating pitchers throw inside and therefore hit batters. Nolan Ryan could throw it faster than anyone, but he still had to throw it inside. You don't crowd the plate on these guys, which Barry always does.

I do agree that you love Clemens if he plays for your team and hate him if he plays for another team, ala Deon Sanders. I hated Deon when he played for the 49ers, but thought he was great whe he played for Dallas.

Inferiority complexes suck, and the Mets have a BIG one. LOL.

I have no hate for the Mets, Ootie. I don't pull for or against them unless they're playing the Yanks, but facts are facts. The greatest comeback in WS history IS the greatest choke in history. Weak ground ball to Buckner ... all he had to do was make the most routine play in baseball and it's over ... most little-leaguers would have made the play ... your team won on a total fluke. Arizona won last year on a fluke ... but since the Yanks had won 2 games themselves by complete miracle it sort of evened out.

Ben, you are right ... Clemens is a badass and would pitch the same way in the National League. Remember when Robin Ventura charged Nolan Ryan and the old man put him in a head lock and layed about 20 upercuts to his face? That's Clemens. I also agree with you about Sanders ... I can't stand the guy, but I had love for him when he wore the star. This year will be the beginning of the return of the Cowboys!

-Superman-

It is bizzarre for somebody to call the Yanks "choked" in the last WS. Do you wanna ask BYK for his opinion on the Yanks? The snakes won because they had the two best starting pitchers in the game, and it proved huge in a short series.

BTW, I am not a Yankee fan. I am an avid Red Sox fan. I don't like Ootie repeatedly reminding me of 1986.

BTW, I see this over and over. It is NOT true that "Weak ground ball to Buckner ... all he had to do was make the most routine play in baseball and it's over."

By the time Mookie Wilson hit the grounder, the game had already been tied (by the wild pitch). So, if Buckner had fielded the grounder, they would have continued to play in extra innings.

Ben,,,
Good post about Gibson and Drysdale. In there day,,if a batter stood at the plate to watch the ball leave the park,,,next time up he better not dig in. Gibson was known to throw a little "chin" music in that case.
Batters back then didn't crowd the plate as much either. I saw a game over the weekend, I think it was the Angels/Reds game,,a batter got hit that his arms were partway over the plate.

You're exactly right, Byron. When Superman explains that the greatest comeback in World Series history was simply "the Buckner fluke play", he is conveniently forgetting that the Mets were down two runs with two outs and no men on. There were three incredibly clutch singles and a wild pitch that preceded the Buckner play (that's why it's a shame that Buckner has to be considered the scapegoat; the Red Sox pitchers were as much to blame). Fluke? Absolutely not. Just the greatest comeback in World Series history.

But I must disagree with you concerning last year's "choke". By the time the ninth inning of Game Seven rolled around, all of the superior AZ pitching was moot at that point. The Yanks simply had to protect a one-run lead. The whole World Series boiled down to that half inning. Rivera simply needed to get three outs like he had done the last 25 times in a row. So the Yankees lost because of a fluke? Absolutely not. It's plain and simple; the Yankees choked (although I must give them full credit for two great comebacks during the Series).

Superman, you're a Cowboy fan? That explains a lot. LOL.

A Loved it when "The Catch" beat the Cowboys kind of guy,

Out-of-Towner

Well ... that's interesting. I stand corrected if Bucker did not actually single-handedly blow the game. But, maybe that's the point. Buckners blunder is all that World Series is remembered for by the common fan. It's not remembered as one of the best teams of the 80's like it should be ...

The Yanks two great comebacks/lucky wins in the series were no different than Arizona's one! By your logic, Arizona choked twice and the Yankees once. The Yanks got severely outplayed in that series and deserved to lose. They could not score runs. The better team won.

I guess it's a good thing Dallas revenged "The Catch" in '92 and '93, huh? Fortunately that play was not that traumatic for me considering I was 6 years old.

-Superman-