September 28, 2011

On the last night of the baseball season, both wild cards are on the line.

Justin Sablich is live-blogging.
The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are tied for the American League Wild Card lead while the St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves are in the exact same situation in the National League. If that wasn’t enough to keep you interested, we still have home field advantage up for grabs in both leagues.
Here at Meadhouse, we're watching the Brewers, who are fighting for the home field advantage. We're also rooting for Ryan Braun to win the NL batting championship, and this news just came in:
Jose Reyes heard the boos when he was lifted for a pinch runner. Mets fans wanted to see more....

After a bunt single in the first inning Wednesday, he was finished. His day and year done, Reyes headed home to watch Milwaukee's Ryan Braun try to overtake him for the NL batting championship.

"It was kind of tough," Reyes said. "I want to stay in the game. They have to understand, too, what's going on. They have to feel happy about it if I win the battling title."
Will Braun leave the game if he gets ahead?

UPDATE: "The greatest day of baseball, in my time" says the announcer, referring to 32 years. So many wild games, with so much riding on it.

119 comments:

Fred4Pres said...

Please let Boston win because only to tamper Trooper's insufferability.

And in memory of Rickey Branch.

Anonymous said...

Teixeira grand slam!

Curious George said...

Not cool for either to do it.

Ted Williams, the last player to hit .400 or above in a season, was at .400 with a final double header to finish the season. He decided to play, went 6 for 8 and finished with a .406 BA.

Ann Althouse said...

"Ted Williams, the last player to hit .400 or above in a season, was at .400 with a final double header to finish the season. He decided to play, went 6 for 8 and finished with a .406 BA."

I like that.

Bender said...

If that wasn’t enough to keep you interested
____________

That's right. There is NOTHING more exciting than watching teams battle it out for FOURTH PLACE.

Winston Smith Rides Again said...

I love how Reyes puts his own achievement ahead of the team in the eyes of the fans.

I don't know how will have the funds to sign him next season.

Curious George said...

Braun is 0 for 1...

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

"Ted Williams, the last player to hit .400 or above in a season, was at .400 with a final double header to finish the season. He decided to play, went 6 for 8 and finished with a .406 BA."

I like that
.

The Yanks started their regular roster, except for Arod. my Red Sox hat is off to them.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

BTW if someone wants to watch the game I linked to it "At the Deep Gray Café..."

Watch the RedSox Win Tonight

We just made an out at the plate to keep the lead 3 to 2

Its a dandy.

who-knew said...

I have to agree, Ted Williams set the standard for going after the batting title. The game comes first. Reyes title will be tainted because he quit on the game to get the individual honor.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

ESPN is also carring the game here

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player?id=226976

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Lester in trouble.. two walks, nobody out.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

WOW

BIG DOUBLE PLAY

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Big play Scutaro

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Lester still laboring

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

ESPN'S HD is top rate.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Lester is out of another jam..

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Lester is a cancer survivor.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

There are tree camera crews covering this game..

Not long ago some games were only carried on the radio.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Oh no.. rain delay.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The Camden Yards grounds crew chief is a woman..

I wonder what the commander in chief Obama thinks about that.

Patrick said...

Professor, I was going to make the same reference to Ted Williams. He doesn't play anymore, I guess.

viator said...

A Yale philosophy major and rookie third string catcher was the hero of last nights game for Boston...

http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2011/09/28/red_sox_still_tied_with_one_game_to_play/

Patrick said...

Looks like Braun is 0 for 3, Brewers up in the bottom of the 6th. If he doesn't win, at least the Brewers aren't limping into the playoffs.

yoobee said...

Braun has already said he would do the same thing. Roenicke said he would oblige Braun and pull him if he went ahead of Reyes. I think it's unprofessional for either athlete, but I can't wait for the people to criticize Reyes, without realizing that Braun would have made the same choice in a heartbeat.

I'm Full of Soup said...

So Reyes got a hit which put him in the lead and the Mets took him out to try and best preserve his BA lead? If I have it right, Reyes is a big pussy compared to what The Splendid Splinter did one year in his last game.

I'm Full of Soup said...

Yes Althouse - Ted Williams was known as The Splendid Splinter and,per my SOP, I did not read the previous comments which were not quite as colorful as mine.

I'm Full of Soup said...

TB Rays are within one run of tying the Yankers.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Oh shit..

Yanks are laying down again!!!

Trooper York said...

Jose Reyes is a punk ass bitch and typical of the type of losers who play for the Mets.

Trooper York said...

Oh and by the way.

Reyes will be on the Red Sox next year.

Trooper York said...

You do have to admire Ted Williams.

He had his head screwed on right.

Trooper York said...

Well he used to.

Just sayn'

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The Sox would not put up with more prima donnas..

Manny took them to school up there.

just saying.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

A sign at the Milwaukee Brewers Stadium

Please Watch Out For Flying Bats and Balls

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Former Met Rodriguez up on the mound for the Brews.

Any chance his father in law in on the stands?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Gomez ducked away from the ball!!

bush league play

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Frozem with a change up in the corner.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Dam Gririmaldi.. where is Mo?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The Yanks lose this game..

I'm suing!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

TB ties the game

dam Yankees

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Gomez is out at the plate.

Good play

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The Brewers announcers are making fun of the attendance at TB.. TB in a playoff hunt.. against the Yankees.. last day of the season.

they only draw 14,000

"The 14,000 are going crazy"

ouch.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Are the Brewers celebrating?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Red Sox game resumes!

its down to the wire!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The hopes of the Red Sox are in their hands..

The Yanks are washing their hands.

wv thendef

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

brews one out away

David said...

Williams was a gamer. It would have killed him to sit down.

Williams was not American League MVP that year. Joe Dimaggio hit in 56 straight games that summer and was MVP.

God rewarded Williams by letting him hit a home run in his last major league at bat when Williams was 42 years old. Williams hit .316 that year with 29 home runs. He had made another run at hitting .400 at age 39, when he batted .388.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Aceves hits the first two hitters he faces..

WTF

Congrats to the Brewers

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Aceves taking a long time

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I never seen a delay work for the pitcher

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Aceves strikes one out!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The sox are out of yet another jam

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I love the Sox, but I wouldn't recommend them to my friends..

Tropper is right.. almost

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Drew is coming up big here..

Home Run.. called it!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Base hit Scutaro!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

CC.. what a dispointment!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Jezz.. what do we have to do to score an insurance run?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Looking back on it Scutaro is a lousy base runner.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Bard used to mean game over..

Used to

Please dont start walking people

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Boston faithfull at Camden Yards praying.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Bard looks good

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

He was safe!!!!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The sox reversed the call to safe!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I love this - NO DAM TV REPLAY!!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Lasershow trying to hit it out from the dirt

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I dont know how he can hit so far off the plate

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

One base at a time.. gee I wonder how they figured that.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Common big papi

Not you titus ;)

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Hey Titus is in Boston - Any chance his within earshot of someone watching this game?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Home run big papi called it!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

its up to Gonzo

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The Yale hits into a DP!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Its up to Paps now.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The Yanks are up in the top of the 12.. with a combined battery of 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.

Thank you Yiramcalsomdy

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Go Paps

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

This is what baseball looks like!!!

just saying

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

2 ks Paps

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Ok there are two outs.. we need one more!!

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Put Rimo on

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I told them to put him on.

Both games are now tied and my teams are on the road.

Ann Althouse said...

Boston loses!

Ann Althouse said...

Beat ya, Lem.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The sox keep coming up with new ways of crushing our hopes.. sometimes its.. unbearable.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Were you rooting against us professor?

Or was it some underdog fling with the Orioles?

Fred4Pres said...

Lem, I am sorry for you.

And Trooper will be unsufferable.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Longoria homered..

Congratulations to TB..

When it rains, it pours.

Ann Althouse said...

"Were you rooting against us professor?"

No, we were all about the National League over here.

We started noticing the AL stuff pretty late, and then it was mostly about how interesting it was.

Tampa Bay doesn't seem to have too many fans, so I'm sorry the Boston people didn't get what they wanted. But it was pretty cool the way Tampa Bay fought it ought tonight.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Trooper will be unsufferable.

The Yanks have spoiled their fans.. with victories.

I hate to close with this but - wait till next year..

The Sox need to make some changes.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

No, we were all about the National League over here.

Oh yes. I remember.

The Rays did come back against the winningest team in the AL.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Wouldn't it be funny if now when the Yanks try to turn it on for real, in the playoffs, it is the Rays whom they cannot turn it on against?

Because of how Giradi strategized tonight?

I'm rooting for TB.

David said...

Tickets in Tampa Bay should not be too hard to get.

Wait 'til next year, Lem. The Sox will have this year's AL batting chump.

I'm Full of Soup said...

I was impressed with the noise and support the Orioles' fans were making even though their season was over. But it seems Americans love a winner until we don't.

Ann Althouse said...

@Lem You'll be rooting for Tampa Bay now, right? Might as well start loving them now.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

TB over Yankees is easy..

It comes naturaly as a Sox fan.

From Inwood said...

Trivia

Ted W was batting .3995 before the last two games of the 1941 season which, when rounded to the usual three decimal points, would be .400. But, he wanted to be a true .400 hitter & after the doubleheader he was.

I believe that Wade Boggs sat out the final Bosox game one year in the mid '80s & beat Don Mattingly for the batting title.

Why did they not pull Albert Pujols tonite as his BA headed south, eventually, alas, falling below .300? So that he might have a shot at his 100th RBI, instead of winding up with 99 as he did?

Why didn't the NYY leave Mark T in to see if he could reach 40 HRs?

I thought the AL Batting race was betwen Young & Gonzales. But out of nowhere....

Why can't I get on this blog before a zillion comments have been made?

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Why can't I get on this blog before a zillion comments have been made?

Cuz Lem went 0 for a Zillion.

Dose of Sanity said...

Cards are in. Thank you for the motivation Nyjer. See you in the NLCS.

ndspinelli said...

Lem is our Hemingway reporter. Great job! We're heading to the Hemingway house in the Keys. We went to the Brewers game last night. It had a postseason feel to it. When we lived in KC we attended many postseason games. Since we moved to Wi. in 1983 I've only been to postseason games in the HHHDome. This is a good team. They're playing a team from Arizona that has less talent but they're hot. Arizona, StL, and Tampa are hot. That makes them dangerous to the more talented teams. Remember..the postseason, even more so than the regular season, is about pitching..particularly relief pitching. That's why I like the Brewers v Phillies in NL and Yanks v Tampa in AL. I have the Phillies v Yankees w/ the Phils winning. But..beware of those hot teams, it could make my picks horseshit.

Time for everyone to make their predictions. Put it on the record. Gee..I wonder who Trooper is picking?? He's as predictable as death and taxes.

Toad Trend said...

RedSox nation is crying in their Cheerios this morning...epic collapse is complete.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

I'm all set for a Brewers vs Tigers World Series!

kjbe said...

yoobee, Braun said on PTI, last night, that if he went 3 for 4 and got a 5th at bat, that he'd stay in - going for the win and home field.

Can we stop talking about Boston, now?

About Reyes, at least he hit (I guess), more than I can say about Willie Wilson in '82. The guy sat out the last game to take the title from Yount. Lame. Too bad for him - karma got him...

Patrick said...

It's been a good baseball season. It will be even better watching Meadehouse live blog the World Series with the Brewers beating the Rays in 6 games.

As for Trooper: at least you're not a Twins fan. That bunch has had a rough year.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I have the Phillies v Yankees w/ the Phils winning.

East coast WS.

From your lips to Gods ears.

I want TB to beat the Yanks. So Girari has to chew a long winter over his decision not to put in his closer Mariano Rivera in a closing game situation if there ever was one.

jrberg3 said...

" So Girari has to chew a long winter over his decision not to put in his closer Mariano Rivera in a closing game situation if there ever was one."

Why would Girardi choose to pitch Rivera instead of giving him rest? He didn't care about this game, he didn't need to, that's what clinching before game 162 is all about.

I was thinking, if they were strategizing, that the Yanks were hoping for a play-in game tonight. Either way it wouldn't have mattered because the Yanks wouldn't have played either the Sox or the Rays in the first round (which is a silly baseball rule about teams in the same division) so the Yanks would only have softened up the potential winner for the Rangers or Tigers.

jrberg3 said...

And I must say Lem I have enjoyed reading your comments this morning and projecting your emotions into them knowing the eventual outcome.

I'm a Yankee fan that lived in Boston for six years and no one knows emotional roller coasters and shows it better than Red Sox fans. If the Yankees eventually lose to the Rays so be it, at least it won't be the Sox.

And let's face it, the Sox were up 9 games on what September 3rd? Their epic and historic collapse
in September is why they aren't in the playoffs, it's not the Yankees fault.

Trooper York said...

Carl Crawford....True Red Sox!

Trooper York said...

Yankees vs Brewers in the World Series.

Yankees Sweep.

Crowds of Brewers fans go to field and protest and sing and fly balloons and chant and refuse to admit they lost.

It's a Wisconsin tradition.

Tom from Virginia said...

When I went to bed, the Red Sox were winning and the Rays were losing. I learned long ago that it was better for me to find out the next morning that the Titanic sank instead of watching 2400 souls perish before my very eyes. Who will be the modern-day Homer who will capture the pathos that was the 2011 Red Sox?

Trooper York said...

It was Homer Simpson:
"BOSTON SUCKS....DUH!"

I Callahan said...

The Stankees won't win more than 1 game against the Tigers. Tigers in 4.

sorepaw said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Trooper York said...

Because the National League is boring.

Look the pitcher is up again! Three heaters down the middle of the plate!

Trooper York said...

There is no rivalry in all of sports that is better than the Yankees and Red Sox.

In fact the rivalry between them is the best part of the sport.

Dose of Sanity said...

Because the National League is boring.

Look the pitcher is up again! Three heaters down the middle of the plate!


I was the Brewers-Cards game earlier this year where the pitcher was up with the bases loaded. Westbrook hit a grand slam. It was the 3 grand slam by a cardinals pitcher in 3 years.

Just sayin'.

Trooper York said...

Well Dose that is because National League pitchers suck. They can't cut it in the American League.

jrberg3 said...

"Why the one-sided interest in the American League?

The Braves completed a September choke by losing to the Phillies in 13 innings."

Because in Atlanta, no one cares. Their fanbase is boring and disinterested today.

I've been listening to sports radio online out of Boston (WEEI) and it is high comedy listeing to the fans bitch and moan. It's like 2003 all over again and the past 7 years never happened. Luv it!

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