# MLB post season: 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 4, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592 "2009-10-04T21:59:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/441 "2009-11-02T04:54:03Z")
I really let these games get the best of me. You would think I would have learned from when I was a kid and just cried and cried when they interviewed Owens after the game in '83. This game felt like that. It wouldn’t have been as heart breaking if Lidge had just come out and sucked. But, he struck out Derek Fucking Jeter! The Yankees just took advantage of the opportunities given to them. They are an awesome team. Gotta hope Lee can find that magic again tomorrow night to bring this thing to New York. E-Sabbath, obviously I am a Phillies fan, but I disagree wholeheartedly that their hitting A Rod shows unsportsmanlike behavior. The key to getting him out is to pitch him inside. That is what they have been trying to do the entire series. The plunks were accidents. It is an accident that happens when you pitch inside. Utley has led the league in hit by pitches a few years straight. I don’t think it is because other pitchers don’t like him or don’t want to pitch to him. Most of these were accidents that happened due to the other pitch throwing to him inside. The same applies to these pitches to A Rod. Not every hit by pitch is malicious. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/442 "2009-11-02T04:58:23Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Where the hell was the 3rd baseman on that steal? Running behind him with the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/443 "2009-11-02T04:58:57Z")
What a fucking ending! For a couple of minutes I was heartbroken for Joba - maybe I was projecting, but I thought he was looking tough and focused against the first two hitters. And then Damon nearly gave me an embolism when he took off for third, but it was an absolutely brilliant play that set the stage for Rodriguez and then Posada to come through in the clutch. Fantastic stuff with some classic Yankee October baseball. And after that eighth inning I was grateful for the most routine save I have ever seen. The Yankees are playing with pure house money tomorrow night. If Burnett pitches like he did on Thursday it’ll be over because the offense is finally working. What was all that about dominant pitching and the bats not mattering in the playoffs? The Yankees have scored 15 runs in the last two games. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/444 "2009-11-02T05:14:48Z")
Jesus christ. It’s game four of the World Series, you’re trailing the series 2-1, top of the ninth, game tied, no one on base, two outs, two strikes. And you lose. No, you don’t just lose by one, that would be too predictable. Instead - again, game tied, top of the ninth, no one on base, two strikes - you lose by _three runs_. …that sound you hear? The gears turning in my head as I try to figure how the _hell_ a team manages to do that. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/445 "2009-11-02T05:19:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Fantastic stuff with some classic Yankee **October** baseball. Yesterday, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/446 "2009-11-02T05:21:17Z")
The World Series is on, so it’s still October as far as I’m concerned. Any discrepancies with the Gregorian calendar are baseball’s problem. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/447 "2009-11-02T05:31:48Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > E-Sabbath, obviously I am a Phillies fan, but I disagree wholeheartedly that their hitting A Rod shows unsportsmanlike behavior. The key to getting him out is to pitch him inside. That is what they have been trying to do the entire series. The plunks were accidents. It is an accident that happens when you pitch inside. Utley has led the league in hit by pitches a few years straight. I don’t think it is because other pitchers don’t like him or don’t want to pitch to him. Most of these were accidents that happened due to the other pitch throwing to him inside. The same applies to these pitches to A Rod. Not every hit by pitch is malicious. Not only am I a diehard Yankee fan, I am an Arod fan of the HIGHEST ORDER (as **pricciar** knows) and I do not believe these hit-by-pitches have been intentional. Naturally when they’d hit him my inner RAEG would break through and I’d yell “you sumbitch!” or something worse, but I do realize they (like said above) are just trying to pitch him inside so he doesn’t knock the cover off the ball. No way do I believe they’re hitting him on purpose in the first inning when they’re already in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/448 "2009-11-02T05:43:17Z")
The HBP tonight could not possibly have been intentional, and that goes for Tex’s plunking as well. I didn’t see last night’s, but I doubt those were on purpose. That’s where you have to pitch him. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/449 "2009-11-02T05:52:25Z")
So, if the Yankees win, who, based on their performance so far, would be the Series MVP? No Yankee standout so far. If Burnett wins tomorrow, I guess he should get it unless it’s one of those 10-8 wins. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/450 "2009-11-02T05:56:24Z")
Jeter. He only has one RBI but he’s hitting .412 during the series. I think he has to be the guy even if Burnett is locked in tomorrow - they’ve won two games by outhitting the Phillies, so that says position player MVP to me. I thought Rivera had three saves, but he only has two, otherwise he would be a close second. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/451 "2009-11-02T11:04:26Z")
Man, the Yanks could _not_ have pulled that game any tighter. Ninth and two outs. Of course, once they break a hole, the hole, she is broken. It still counts as a squeaker of a win, to me, not a blowout. And yeah, I guess you’re right, it wasn’t intentional about A-Rod, just tight. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/452 "2009-11-02T11:25:18Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Jeter. He only has one RBI but he’s hitting .412 during the series. I think he has to be the guy even if Burnett is locked in tomorrow - they’ve won two games by outhitting the Phillies, so that says position player MVP to me. I thought Rivera had three saves, but he only has two, otherwise he would be a close second. Right now I’d agree and say Jeter. Seems like he’s been hitting everyone and on base all series. The Phillies are a tough team though, so I’d be a bit surprised to see them lose 3 in a row at home. If the series goes 6 or 7 games the MVP may change. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/453 "2009-11-02T12:52:05Z")
or A-Rod. He’s been their postseason MVP for sure. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/454 "2009-11-02T13:49:41Z")
Right now I would go Jeter or Mo. His 6 out save the other night and the rest of his work makes him a candidate, especially if he closes out another close one tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/455 "2009-11-02T18:51:40Z")
I’m going to go with **WhutJim?** and say Mo at this point. It could chance, but Mo is the one that has done the most with his time IMHO ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/456 "2009-11-02T20:00:49Z")
Matsui is 4 for 8 with two homers and two RBI. Both homers came with two out and the one in game two broke a 1-1 tie and was the winning run. ---
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/457 "2009-11-02T20:23:58Z")
I’m not sure where this Rivera talk comes from, unless you are giving him a lifetime achievment award. He pitched 2 solid innings in game 1 though he did give up 3 baserunners. Beyond that all he has done was protect a couple 3 run leads, a task most pitchers should be able to accomplish. Rivera was much more valuable against Anaheim and Minnesota. I’d give it to Burnett if he pitched decently tonight. If not probably Matsui or Jeter. Though if Lee throws a complete game shut-out tonight, I’d be tempted to give it to him. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/458 "2009-11-02T21:12:56Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > I’m not sure where this Rivera talk comes from, unless you are giving him a lifetime achievment award. He pitched 2 solid innings in game 1 though he did give up 3 baserunners. Beyond that all he has done was protect a couple 3 run leads, a task most pitchers should be able to accomplish. Rivera was much more valuable against Anaheim and Minnesota. Probably from watching the other closers on the other teams blowing games. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/459 "2009-11-02T22:02:33Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > Matsui is 4 for 8 with two homers and two RBI. Both homers came with two out and the one in game two broke a 1-1 tie and was the winning run. That’s a good batting average, but he’s only a pinch hitter in the three Philly games. I don’t think a good average and one big hit is enough to win the MVP award. I think you essentially need two or more clutch pitching performances, at least two big hits, or steadily torrid hitting. The Yankees’ RBI leader is Posada, with five. He’s 4 for 13 in the series but he’s not going to start tonight. If he comes in late and gets a big hit he might take it. Otherwise I say it’s Jeter’s to lose. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592/460 "2009-11-03T04:31:03Z")
Well, if Philly wins two more games it would appear to be Chase Utley. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592.md?page=22) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-post-season-2009/512592.md?page=24)