does anyone else have this eerie eerie feeling that the Yankees are somehow going to wind up winning the World Series? It's haunting me.

Red Sox lose again to Toronto and make tomorrow's game if not a "must-win", it'll be a "it wouldn't help if they lose" game, though with Jared Wright going for the Yankees, their game in Baltimore isn't a sure win either. I still think Wakefield vs. Johnson on Saturday decides the division.

I thought Wright was going to be working out of the pen the rest of the season?

 

Anyway, with the White Sox winning and the Tribe suddenly unable to score, it appears that the WC is the only way they're making postseason.

 

Chris Carpenter had another bad start, giving up six runs and at the moment, the Astros in poised to keep the Phillies at bay.

4-0 Padres over the Giants. NL should be pretty much set after tonight.

Oh yeah, it is Small starting. Well, that definitely makes tomorrow a must-win for the Sox. The middle of the lineup is doing jack shit right now (Varitek, Olerud/Millar and Nixon) and that is absolutely killing the offense.

 

It's funny, people kept saying the Red Sox will be fine because they're playing at home most of September, but they are only 8-7 in home games this month and 7-5 on the road.

Hope Al wasn't just listening (or watching) Mike and the Mad Dog. Tom Verducci of SI just absolutely ripped Bobby Abreu. Saying he dogs it in the field, doesn't hustle, doesn't come up big in the clutch, looks to take walks instead of driving the ball, and is a bad influence for the young players on the Phillies team.

 

I knew Tuesday when Abreu was booed that all this crap would start spewing out. I can only imagine what the Philly media is saying.

White Sox clinched the AL Central. It was unlikely they'd blow it, but considering everyone figured they'd be the first team to clinch, it can't be all that encouraging of a sign going into October.

Hope Al wasn't just listening (or watching) Mike and the Mad Dog.  Tom Verducci of SI just absolutely ripped Bobby Abreu.  Saying he dogs it in the field, doesn't hustle, doesn't come up big in the clutch, looks to take walks instead of driving the ball, and is a bad influence for the young players on the Phillies team.

 

I knew Tuesday when Abreu was booed that all this crap would start spewing out.  I can only imagine what the Philly media is saying.

I avoid Mike and the Mad Dog in favor of XM Radio's morning Baseball show. In any case, I really don't know what to make of all this Abreu nonsense. I watch the Phillies all the time, and I never see it.

 

First off, this idea that Abreu is a lazy player. Abreu is so lazy that he managed to not-hustle his way to 40 steals in 45 attempts, with another 31 steals this season. He's played the last few weeks of this season with a painful, nagging leg injury. In addition, Abreu has not missed more than five games in a season since 2000, when he "only" played 154 games. If Abreu's doesn't appear to be hustling, keep in mind he is playing in pain.

 

The looking to take walks idiocy is just nonsense. First off, it implies that taking walks is a bad thing, when the last thing the opposing team needs is a fast runner on first base with Burrell and Howard up. Second, why the hell would Bobby Abreu look at his stat sheet and think a walk is more glamourous than a home run or RBI?

 

As for the clutch situations comment, Abreu hit a two run home run that would've won a recent Phillies/Astros game if not for the Phillies' ninth-inning implosion. For what it is worth, Abreu is batting .298/.422/.571 in "close and late" situations.

 

In fairness, Verducci's a national writer, and maybe he's just picking up what the beat writers and radio guys say in lieu of watching enough games to make a true judgment. In a way though, it reminds me of how Roberto Clemente got the short end of the stick from the media most of his career.

Last series of the season, and there are four important games tonight. All Times Eastern.

 

NY Yankees (Wang) @ Boston (Wells), 7pm, espn. Yankees can clinch a tie for the AL East with a win.

 

Chicago White Sox (Buehrle) @ Cleveland (Millwood), 7pm.

 

The Pale Hose have clinched the division, while the Indians are in a dead heat for the wild card. The Indians would win the wild card outright with a sweep, and clinch a tie by winning two of three.

 

Philadelphia (Brito) @ Washington (Hernandez), 7pm.

 

The Phillies are laboring under the impression that starting Brito is a good idea. They really can not afford to lose a single game this weekend.

 

Chicago Cubs (Zambrano) @ Houston (Pettitte), 8pm.

 

Perhaps the best pitching matchup of the evening.

After seeing that Clemens was pitching on Saturday in what could be his last regular season start of his career, I went ahead and got tickets, even though I have to drive 3 hours each way to see the game. It'd be nice if the Astro's clinched with that game(sorry Al ), but I just hope Clemens doesn't re-injure himself between now and then...

Man, it's gonna be the Sox and Yanks getting the East and WC, isn't it?

If that happens, whoever draws Anaheim is going to have the tougher go at it, I think. I really don't think we'll see Sox/Yanks III this year regardless.

The Sox have looked good against the Angels. The fact that the Angels lack a good lefty reliever could hurt them again.

Cubs ink Ryan Dempster to a three-year extension. He's been great in the closer's role, but I'm still not completely sold on him. Not enough for three years, anyway.

Yankees are 3 outs away from winning the AL East. After all the shit that happened this season, they still win the damn division and are in the playoffs. UGH Unbelievable.

 

If the Sox win tomorrow, they get the WC.

With Patterson, PH, and Macias being the scheduled three to face Lidge in the ninth, the Phillies are gonna have to win tomorrow and pray for an Astros loss just to tie the WC.

 

It's beginning to look like we'll get the same old teams in the postseason as last year. Fuckin' joy.

Red Sox clinch the AL WC spot with the Indians losing, whoo!

 

*does a happy jig*

And Jose Macias lines out with the tying run at second to clinch the WC for the Astros. Considering where things stood on Monday, this is all just terribly depressing.

Thanks for nothing, Bruiser

In the post-game celebration, they announced that Biggio and the Astro's agreed to a 1 year extension. Hopefully not for too much money.

Considering Biggio's HR in the final Astros/Phillies game essentially decided the wild card, he's worth it.

Biggio's not the star he used to be, but he still seems good for 20 homers and a guy who can leadoff or bat second and get on base enough. I've grown up watching him and Bagwell torture the Cubs.