Nah, not so much. Gyro-whaaa?

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Anyone out there still fascinated by this guy?

I am fascinated. But isn't his mid-season slide caused by a rookie wall? He's used to the shorter Japanese season and the fact that the Japanese team doesn't have to play the Yankees and Blue Jays 19 times? And in Japan, aren't there pitcher protections not found here - impolite to run up the score, don't try to beat the other teams brains out every game, etc.?

Yeah, flynnie, but in Japan they also work their pitchers half to death, or used to anyhow. At least in the 20th century, every day was a throw day.

They may have found enlightenment -- alternative interpretation: may have gone slack -- in the 2000's, but I'm not sure whether or why.

SI and others have speculated plenty; I just need to catch up on my non-NJ reading in the offseason.

Interesting Q&A with Bob Boone on nationals.com. He seems to understand the subtle difference between GHF and mindless optimism.

Think what you want about the Yanks, but Pettitte is one helluva competitor. This last inning giving up the lead-off triple to Sizemore and leaving unscathed was impressive.

Indians get leadoff man on base in 5 of first 6 innings, and still Yanks up 1-0 in the top of the 7th

Agreed about Pettitte, Shaw; and Carmona too. Has any pitching duet posted a pair of quality starts in the 2007 postseason before this afternoon?

Did Pettitte pitch around Lofton, or was that an IBB? Not sure that MLB GameDay knows the difference.

Curious about the Maicer at 3d, chone in CF combo vs Willits in CF, Chone at 3d option. Matsuzaka is prone to the big inning this year where he loses the strike zone. The Yanks have had success waiting him out. I'd think the extra patient hitter might be a good option. But I read that Izturis has a .400 BA with RISP, or something like that, so that's why Soscia has him in the middle of the order.

Just to clarify - my last name is not Willits, despite 3 posts about him.

Mystery solved: MLB GameDay does record intentional walks (Martinez just got a free pass from Rivera).

Gee I wish the Expos hadn't traded Sizemore...

Wait a second, nothing here about the bugs in Cleveland? Had a few fire drills at work but caught the wild pitches from Joba on the way home and it sounded like something for the ages. I'm behind, somebody fill me in.

While discussing the bug infestation in Cleveland, Chip Caray dropped a gratuitous mention of the Nats -- "the (g)Nats were causing some problems over in the National League at the end of the season, too...".

Hmmmmm. Sucking up to the new bosses maybe?

My money's on Caray as the new play-by-play guy for the Nats next year.

Bob L.: big swarm of gnat-like critters, especially in the infield. They seemed particularly fond of poor Joba; he practically had them caked on his neck. May have distracted him enough to contribute to the wild pitch.

http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/1005/mlb_a_bugchamberlain_412.jpg

We all knew the Nats messed with National League; who knew that gnats would serve to mess with the American League, too!

I posted about the bugs in the Cleveland thread but nobody was there...

I liked when K-Rod sprayed everybody with insecticide.

I was also pining to have seen Sizemore in a Nats uni...

Speaking of the bugs, fave lines from Barry's gamer:

"The Yankees, to that point, had all of two hits -- one of them Melky Cabrera's solo homer off Carmona in the third. But the true swatting had begun, and artistry was replaced by absurdity."

runner up:

"Perhaps the RBI goes to the midges?"

Diverting attention back to the National League for a minute: Any clues as to a good eating and drinking establishment at which to try to catch a baseball playoff game on a football Saturday?

Union Jack's in Bethesda seems a good bet for Cubs-Snakes, but is anyone besides me going to care about Rox-Phillies? And, if so, where?

that playing field view of sizemore's triple was impressive. that guy is an incredible player. he was on third base every inning waiting for someone/anyone to knock him in. ended up just doing it himself. one of my favorite players in the game looks like he's just replaced Beltran as top CF.

it's nice to see lofton in the playoffs again.

i think pettite has gotten even better.

great playoffs all around this year. great season finales. great stories throughout with all the veterans making round numbers and the youth movement continues to impress. so glad dc got a team just as baseball's true revival has begun.

New Barry post.