Big Night - Running Diary

A la Bill Simmons I will be keeping a running diary tonight during this huge night of baseball. The Yankees and Red Sox are playing on ESPN, the Tigers and Twins are on FSN, and the Indians-Royals score is refreshing itself on my computer screen, should be a good night. The Sox are up 2-0, the Tigers are up 1-0, and the Royals lead the Indians 3-1. Great start to the night. Rob is sending me rude text messages.

8:37- With runners on first and third with one out, Sean Casey grounds into an inning-ending double play. I swear, this guy is killing us, I don't care how nice he is to have in the clubhouse.

8:42- Posada crushes a double to CF, I bet Coco Crisp would have gotten to that ball. Matsui just misses a HR, 2-1 Red Sox. I think I just jinxed the entire evening.

8:44- Robertson strikes out Michael Cuddyer on a 2-2 pitch with a man on 2nd. If Nate can just be clutch for the next 5 weeks, I'll be ecstatic. He then walks the wimpy Jason Kubel to face former Tiger Rondell White who is about 8 years past his prime. If the Twins score here, this diary is done. Robertson promptly walks Rondell White, White is hitting .152 this season. The dangerous Nick Punto (.198) looms with the bases loaded and two out. Punto flies out to the warning track, too close for comfort.

8:52- Melky Cabrera grounds into a double play to end the Yankee threat. He looked safe, but that's what you get for sliding feet first into first base, what a goon. Meanwhile, Daisuke cannot throw strikes but has allowed only one run in 4 innings. (It should be noted that I am enjoying these games with no volume.)

8:57- Just noticed that CC Sabathia has 12 k's through 6 innings for the Indians, but they still trail 4-1.

9:00- Pettitte strikes out Julio Lugo and makes it look like he could do that every time they faced one another. Not pretty. 1st and 3rd with one out for Pedroia, sounds like runs to me. Ellsbury steals second, Jeter objects so Joe Torre sprints out to argue. Wow, he stole that even though they tried to pick him off and he really was safe, that's impressive. Jason Giambi's arm must have lost some strength without the aide of steroids. Pedroia lines one to center and two runs score, 4-1 Red Sox.

9:07- Mike Lowell hits one up the middle and another run scores, 5-1 Red Sox. Pettitte has thrown 90 pitches and has gotten 10 outs.

9:13- Pettitte throws 2 consecutive 3 ball strikes that should have been called balls. Gotta love the Yankees. I bet Pettitte gets this out now, the Yankees Gods will make it so. He gets it. What a bunch of crap, that inning could have been much worse for the Yankees.

9:18- I was seriously just writing "Robertson is facing Morneau right now and I just bet he gives up a home run" what that exact thing happened. Nate Robertson is lousy. He nearly gives up a homer on the next pitch to the next batter. I have zero faith in him. He was pretty clutch in the playoffs last year but he hasn't brought much of that magic this season.

9:21- Jeter strikes out looking on a nasty pitch and does the classy thing by complaining the umpire. The pitch was right down the middle. Just looked and saw that the Indians have closed the gap and now only trail 4-3. Things are not going as well as they were 10 minutes ago.

9:25- Bobby Abreau takes a walk (he's the Yankee that scares me the most, seriously) and he's on for A-Rod. More on this later, but I'd love to see A-Rod in a Tigers uniform next season. We'd treat him with the respect he hasn't gotten from the Yankee faithful. I have no problem giving him an 8 year deal worth $200 million. So, Mike Ilitch, if you're reading this, you have my permission. A-Rod, strikes out looking, does the same thing Jeter did, I'm sensing a pattern.

9:30- Tigers go quickly in the 5th. Sometimes I get the feeling that they are just trying to get games done as soon as possible. Tonight feels like one of those nights, not good.

9:43- Granderson leads off the 6th with a single, hopefully this will lead to some runs. It would be a shame for the Tigers to not make the playoffs when you consider that Polanco, Maggs, and Granderson are all having career years. I don't think it's fair to expect any of them to play this well next year so they'll need some other guys to step up. I remember at the beginning of the year that Granderson was considered okay, a solid regular, but he's really made the leap this year. He's up there with Carl Crawford and Grady Sizemore in my book.

9:52- Tigers have the bases loaded with two out and Pudge is up. The Indians have no tied the score in the 8th. A Tigers win tonight, coupled with a Yankee loss would make my Saturday very enjoyable. I love September baseball. I bet Pudge strikes out. Right after I wrote that, he took ball 3, full count, bases loaded, two outs. Pudge has fouled off three straight pitches, my nails have all been bitten off. Pudge draws a walk and my mood improves my 83%. Good times!

9:58- Yankees now have the bases loaded for Johnny Damon (garbage player). They yanked Daisuke and brought in the rugged, Mike Timlin. Damon hits a bouncer up the middle and everyone is safe. 5-2 Red Sox. Meanwhile in Minnesota, my favorite Tiger, Timo Perez singles to right and scores two runs for the Tigers. Perez is a lifetime .267 hitter and is hitting .407 (24-59) for the Tigers since his call up from Toledo.

10:06- Jeter strikes out with the bases loaded to end the inning for the Yankees. My heart smiles.

10:14- Casey Blake homers to left and the Indians win 5-4 over the Royals.

10:21- Jason Giambi is really struggling at first base. You really gotta wonder what the Yankees will do with him if they make the playoffs. Can you really have him out there then when the stakes are that high?

I'm gonna call it a night here and just watch the rest of these games tonight. This is what is great about September baseball though. Both of these games matter so much. Tonight the Yankees lead over the Tigers is 3.5 games, after tonight it could be 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5. Every inning is huge, every pitching change is huge. Just good times all around. I remember when I was like 19 I thought, all I want is for the Tigers to be "in it" in September, that's all. Sure, I'd like it if they made the playoffs, but the possibility of making it is almost as enjoyable.