Baseball Toaster Bad Altitude
Help
NLCS Game 4
2007-10-15 17:28
by Mark T.R. Donohue

Well, it really is high time I loaded on all of my warmth armor, balanced my broom on my shoulder, and headed out to Coors Field. I want to make sure to get there early enough that my lucky parking spot is free.

A few thoughts before I do: Clint Hurdle has never been thought of as much of an in-game strategist before, but then again he'd never before managed even a slightly meaningful game. I thought his move last night of bringing in the recently invisible Jeremy Affeldt to pitch the seventh instead of his usual automatic seventh-inning guy, LaTroy Hawkins, was a nice balance of the game situation and the Rockies' possible future needs (sharp bullpen lefties are every manager's friend). So maybe Clint, like his players, is tapping a previously unexercised level of talent and control. He maybe deserves a little credit.

Comments (229)
Show/Hide Comments 1-50
2007-10-15 17:47:04
1.   gpellamjr
What a shame. This is going to say "Game 3" all night. It's going to drive me crazy.
2007-10-15 18:03:17
2.   Bluebleeder87
I'm guessing Mark doesn't have a black berry, it would have come in handy today.
2007-10-15 18:09:46
3.   Ali Nagib
Can't Ken or the Timms do it? Or are you guys all paranoid and possessive about your own fiefdoms?
2007-10-15 18:14:05
4.   gpellamjr
3 Only Bob has fiefdoms. I think the rest maintain variations on manorialism.
2007-10-15 18:27:30
5.   Bob Timmermann
4
I can put the hammer on you, but I can't change the title of a thread I don't have the rights to.
2007-10-15 18:31:31
6.   Ali Nagib
5 - I thought at least one of you might have uber-access for the whole site, just as a backup.
2007-10-15 18:33:37
7.   Bob Timmermann
6
That person is kept at a super-secret location and it requires six levels of authorization to contact him or her.
2007-10-15 18:48:30
8.   Bluebleeder87
7

Ken Arneson can work his magic no?

2007-10-15 18:48:41
9.   bhsportsguy
There is at least one person out there who has eaten the same breakfast, lunch or dinner during this hot streak for the Rockies and will probably continue to do so until it is over.

I have done it but not for a month.

2007-10-15 18:56:11
10.   Sam DC
So how long have you been doing it?

And why?

2007-10-15 19:00:58
11.   Bob Timmermann
But Ken likes do things like eat and spend time with his family.
2007-10-15 19:04:40
12.   Bob Timmermann
Dbacks:
Young CF
Drew SS
Byrnes LF
Jackson 1B
Reynolds 3B
Snyder C
Upton RF
Cirillo 2B
Owings P

Rockies:
Taveras CF
Matsui 2B
Holliday LF
Helton 1B
Atkins 3B
Hawpe RF
Tulowitzki SS
Torrealba C
Morales P

2007-10-15 19:08:23
13.   Sam DC
Cirillo?
2007-10-15 19:14:24
14.   Bob Timmermann
Desperate men do desperate things.
2007-10-15 19:16:55
15.   Hallux Valgus
When Jeff Cirillo first came to Denver, I predicted he would break the doubles record.

He didn't. Stupid Jeff Cirillo.

2007-10-15 19:18:57
16.   bhsportsguy
10 No, that superstition only happens when the Dodgers or Lakers are in the playoffs.

I have not had to follow it that closely in recent years.

Last year, I had a streak of eating Quizno sandwiches when it was an important game.

2007-10-15 19:22:45
17.   Sam DC
"A chance for Bob Melvin to force the action in a must win situation."

Exciting!!

2007-10-15 19:22:52
18.   Bob Timmermann
Mark has made his displeasure with Cirillo known before.

Tom Singer of MLB.com suggested that the DBacks need to sacrifice more to get back in to the series.

2007-10-15 19:24:26
19.   xaphor
18 The baseball gods demand the blood of Byrnes.
2007-10-15 19:27:08
20.   Bluebleeder87
man, the Rox seem to have a great combo of a flamethrowing righty & lefty.
2007-10-15 19:28:51
21.   Hallux Valgus
Chris Young was determined not to end up in a double play.
2007-10-15 19:28:56
22.   Bob Timmermann
Ahh, the old CS 1U!
2007-10-15 19:29:03
23.   trainwreck
Chris Young bites on fakes.
2007-10-15 19:29:30
24.   Bluebleeder87
Vin Scully would be proud of that great pick off move from Morales.
2007-10-15 19:29:54
25.   Bob Timmermann
The DBacks are running like the Cardinals did in the 2004 World Series.
2007-10-15 19:39:22
26.   Hallux Valgus
Cleveland wins. I have a soft spot for Jake Westbrook. The Rox traded him and a few other guys for... Mike Lansing. I hate Mike Lansing.
2007-10-15 19:43:28
27.   bhsportsguy
For those of you in The Griddle nightly contest, 290 pitches and 208 minutes from the official MLB box score.
2007-10-15 19:47:44
28.   KG16
16 - only in my playing days did I do that sort of thing. Looking back, I must have been unbearable to my team mates...

Them: So, where we going for lunch?
Me: Del Taco
Them: We just ate Del Taco yesterday
Me: Doesn't matter, have a game today
Them: We know
Me: Have to have my game day lunch. Already did breakfast like I have for every game day. And no, I'm not shaving until we lose.

2007-10-15 19:48:33
29.   Sam DC
While watching some ball with my 6 year old, that jeans commercial where the guy pulls on his pants and a whole city street, including hot girl, crashes up through the floor came on.

And he said: "What was that commercial about?"

And I said, "Um, they want you to buy those jeans they are wearing."

"But what happened?"

How would you answer that question?

2007-10-15 19:50:45
30.   bhsportsguy
29 It could have been a teen age Brooks Shields saying there is nothing that come between her and her Calvins.
2007-10-15 19:50:56
31.   bhsportsguy
Brooke
2007-10-15 19:51:05
32.   KG16
29 - I think the idea is that the jeans are so heavy, he lifted the world. Heavy jeans are strong jeans.
2007-10-15 19:51:49
33.   Hallux Valgus
29 "who wants ice cream?!?"
2007-10-15 19:52:05
34.   KG16
30 - I'm guessing even a six year old boy would get that commercial
2007-10-15 19:52:43
35.   Sam DC
30 Well, I'll admit I probably would've taken the awkwardness just to see that commercial again.

Besides, that's easy to explain!

2007-10-15 19:55:39
36.   Andrew Shimmin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK2VZgJ4AoM
2007-10-15 19:59:22
37.   Bob Timmermann
I did not know that the Rockies got Brian Fuentes in a trade for Cirillo.
2007-10-15 20:00:12
38.   Sam DC
37 Should they just end the series now on principle?
2007-10-15 20:01:48
39.   Ken Arneson
11 Sorry; I was eating and spending time with my family. Title is fixed now.
2007-10-15 20:01:55
40.   Bob Timmermann
Matt Herges said he would be happy to play for the Giants next year:
http://tinyurl.com/2q3xtl

I'm sure that will put the Giants over the top next season.

2007-10-15 20:02:29
41.   Bob Timmermann
39
You are so selfish sometimes.
2007-10-15 20:04:10
42.   Hallux Valgus
37 and Dennis Stark was something of a CO phenom, for like a year. He also came in that trade.
2007-10-15 20:06:56
43.   Hallux Valgus
also, I believe Macah Owings was originally drafted by the Rox.
2007-10-15 20:07:21
44.   Bob Timmermann
If the Rockies were to win tonight, it would be very hard to pick an LCS MVP.
2007-10-15 20:08:50
45.   KG16
I'm really kind of interested to see how Fox and ESPN respond if Cleveland beats Boston in the ALCS. I have this feeling the DT fan fiction in re the Yankees won't be too far off.
2007-10-15 20:10:36
46.   Hallux Valgus
man, Tulo really makes up for the complete lack of range by Atkins.
2007-10-15 20:10:52
47.   bhsportsguy
Can the City of Denver host two major sports events at the same time? If the Rockies can win just one more game, they will get a chance to find out.

The Broncos will host Brett "Just throw the darn ball" Favre and the Packers on October 29th, which would be scheduled to go on about the same time as Game 5 of the World Series.

Are there 110-120K people around to go to those games?

2007-10-15 20:11:18
48.   Andrew Shimmin
Dear Troy Tulowitzky,

Knock it off.

Bastard.

2007-10-15 20:12:12
49.   KG16
47 - No faith in the Rockies to run the table in the playoffs?
2007-10-15 20:13:53
50.   Hallux Valgus
47 I promise you that won't be a problem.
Show/Hide Comments 51-100
2007-10-15 20:14:06
51.   Andrew Shimmin
Angel Hernandez knows what's what.
2007-10-15 20:14:17
52.   KG16
wow, ball called for licking your fingers.
2007-10-15 20:15:48
53.   Bob Timmermann
51
TUUWU
2007-10-15 20:17:23
54.   Bob Timmermann
I didn't know Conor Jackson could come to bat without the fact that his father was on "JAG" being mentioned.
2007-10-15 20:18:08
55.   Andrew Shimmin
Feel free to fall apart here, Morales. You're young. You shouldn't be expected to hold up under this kind of pressure. Just one little gopher ball, that's all I ask.
2007-10-15 20:18:09
56.   bhsportsguy
45 I really think that it is one of the more boring stories that we get whenever a major market team is not in the Finals of their given sport.

Super Bowls don't count because it is just one game and no one (outside of the two hometowns) acutally cares who plays once the game starts.

Last 6 World Series
2006 - St. Louis over Detroit, 4-1
2005 - Chicago (AL) over Houston, 4-0
2004 - Boston over St. Louis, 4-0
2003 - Florida over New York (AL), 4-2
2002 - Anaheim over San Francisco, 4-3
2001 - Arizona over New York (AL), 4-3

The problem has not been that there have been small markets, its that for the previous three World Series, the series have not been competitive.

If they have a 6 or 7 game series, it will do okay ratings wise.

2007-10-15 20:20:36
57.   Hallux Valgus
55 ditto, except replace "Morales" with "Owings"
2007-10-15 20:20:56
58.   xaphor
I recall the '02 all California series took a lot of heat for poor East coast ratings.
2007-10-15 20:21:10
59.   Bluebleeder87
Mike Lansing. I hate Mike Lansing.

Mike Lansing was on the Dodger radar back in the day.

2007-10-15 20:24:29
60.   bhsportsguy
58 You are right.

http://tinyurl.com/2t3jbh

Until the last two years when they were even lower.

2007-10-15 20:25:26
61.   bhsportsguy
60 That said, I think Fox would like Boston to make a spirited comeback and take this series back to Boston.

And then win it.

2007-10-15 20:25:37
62.   Hallux Valgus
59 really? I wasn't aware there was a radar that measured Mike Lansing outside of Casper, WY.
2007-10-15 20:29:47
63.   Bluebleeder87
Holliday doesn't have the hart to break you in half even though he literally probably can.
2007-10-15 20:30:09
64.   Bob Timmermann
Mike Lansing OPS+
1997 in Montreal - 110
1998 in Colorado - 79

He was OK at Coors, but awful on the road.

2007-10-15 20:31:44
65.   Bluebleeder87
I guess everybody is numb from John Mellancamps "this is our country" song & commercial, I remember last year he took a lot of heat for it.
2007-10-15 20:33:06
66.   Bob Timmermann
I think the guys singing "Viva Viagra" in the barn is by far one one of the worst commercials I've seen.
2007-10-15 20:33:29
67.   Hallux Valgus
64 He cost the Rox Westbrook, a year after he was drafted in the first. That led to 2nd base going to him, Mark Grudzielenek, and Todd Walker. I thought we held the patent on this type of 2nd baseman for a while. None of them could field a lick.

Don't get me started on Jacob Cruz.

2007-10-15 20:34:31
68.   Bluebleeder87
62

I kind of remember the Dodgers or maybe some sports radio guys making some noise about him a while back or maybe I'm just confusing him with somebody else.

2007-10-15 20:37:16
69.   Hallux Valgus
when the Rox were good, I remember this GO! ROCKIES! alternating chant as absolutely deafening. I remember reading quotes from opposing players acknowledging the same.
2007-10-15 20:37:42
70.   Bob Timmermann
Mark Grudzielanek never played for the Rockies.
2007-10-15 20:42:42
71.   Bluebleeder87
hey Bob what's a respectable OPS+?
2007-10-15 20:43:30
72.   Bob Timmermann
71
It's designed so 100 is an average player.
2007-10-15 20:44:00
73.   Hallux Valgus
70 Weird. I will substitute Grud... with Brent Butler and Kurt Abbott. I know they had a crap load of white second basemen with no range.

I would have bet good money that Grud... was one of them, though.

also, Aaron Miles.

2007-10-15 20:44:58
74.   Hallux Valgus
the Garrett Atkins draft also included Matt Harrington, and Michael Vick. Yes- THAT Michael Vick.
2007-10-15 20:47:17
75.   Hallux Valgus
George Brett sat in front of me at the All Star game in Denver.
2007-10-15 20:47:18
76.   Hallux Valgus
George Brett sat in front of me at the All Star game in Denver.
2007-10-15 20:51:32
77.   Bluebleeder87
Dear gawd, I just checked a couple of Dodgers OPS+ & Pierre is just awful.
2007-10-15 20:52:00
78.   bhsportsguy
According to weather.com, it is currently 44 degrees in Denver.
2007-10-15 20:52:36
79.   Bluebleeder87
Micah with great initiative there...
2007-10-15 20:53:58
80.   Bluebleeder87
Pierre's average OPS+ IS 84, 84!!
2007-10-15 20:55:09
81.   fanerman
80 Now you see what happens when you take the blue pill. Or was it the red pill? I can't remember.
2007-10-15 20:55:56
82.   Hallux Valgus
wow. with potentially three games left, Hurdle's taking a lot of chances to tax his bullpen. I think he should've stuck with Morales.
2007-10-15 20:56:31
83.   Hallux Valgus
that's why he's the manager
2007-10-15 20:56:42
84.   Bluebleeder87
Go Rox!

with a bloop double no less!

2007-10-15 20:56:47
85.   bhsportsguy
Its your year Colorado. Enjoy it.
2007-10-15 20:58:20
86.   fanerman
What a wild ride.
2007-10-15 20:58:47
87.   bhsportsguy
Andrew, you do have Matt Herges coming in to pitch.
2007-10-15 20:59:29
88.   Bob Timmermann
Hurdle can use a lot of his bullpen because even if the Rockies lose, there's an off day tomorrow.
2007-10-15 20:59:49
89.   luck
Hells yeah!

In honor of that hit, how about a link to the best George Brett video not actually starring George Brett?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceK0YQtxhbE

2007-10-15 21:05:21
90.   bhsportsguy
I bet they wish the World Series could start tomorrow.
2007-10-15 21:05:36
91.   Eric Stephen
Go crazy folks. Go crazy!
2007-10-15 21:05:41
92.   Bluebleeder87
85

you said it man. But you know what I think a LONG lay off can actually hurt the Rockies I really do.

2007-10-15 21:06:36
93.   xaphor
Jackson is going to have a long off season.
2007-10-15 21:07:30
94.   bhsportsguy
The lead may now be Herges proof.
2007-10-15 21:07:52
95.   Bob Timmermann
How can Tom Seaver be an Ambassador for the New York Mets? Do the Mets have formal diplomatic relations with other countries?

I know Shea Stadium is a tough place, but it's not like it's no man's land.

2007-10-15 21:07:56
96.   Eric Stephen
I kind of like these "Then & Now" features on TBS, even though they are random and have little to do with the participants in the televised game.

They just did a "Then & Now" on Tom Seaver.

2007-10-15 21:08:04
97.   luck
Holy God.
2007-10-15 21:09:46
98.   bhsportsguy
Between October 2nd and October 23rd, the Rockies may only play 7 games.
2007-10-15 21:11:01
99.   bhsportsguy
96 Tom Seaver was one of Vinny's favorite pitchers, he loved his mechanics.
2007-10-15 21:11:21
100.   bhsportsguy
Are the Rockies still batting?
Show/Hide Comments 101-150
2007-10-15 21:13:33
101.   bhsportsguy
I think Sam DC has the best shot to win the contest because this came will not end anytime soon.
2007-10-15 21:14:29
102.   bhsportsguy
Did everyone turn the channel.

TBS will be happy to be able to show Seinfeld and Sex and the City again.

2007-10-15 21:16:10
103.   Bob Timmermann
I'm sorry, I switched over to a website and was listening to the theme song from "F Troop."
2007-10-15 21:18:17
104.   bhsportsguy
103 An underated show, probably would not survive this "Anti-Caveman" mentality.
2007-10-15 21:20:24
105.   Bob Timmermann
If the Nippon Ham Fighters win their game tonight in Chiba, they won't play again until October 27.
2007-10-15 21:22:51
106.   bhsportsguy
Matt Herges, your pennant winning game pitcher.
2007-10-15 21:23:50
107.   luck
I heard that Mr. Met was aquired in an 1964s swap with Japan's Yomiuri Giants to inaugurate Shea Stadium as a ballpark with international appeal. Mr. Met has remained a fixture in Flushing Meadows, whereas Timmy Trashbag and The East River Merman didn't fare so well and have since faded from memory.
2007-10-15 21:29:25
108.   bhsportsguy
If the Rockies won the pennant, would anyone east of Colorado be watching at probably 1:45 a.m. - 2:00 a.m. EDT.

They might barely make the lead story in the late Sportscenter show.

2007-10-15 21:33:45
109.   Sam DC
I will. I think.

I took a break.

Now I'm all amped up.

And desperately fighting off sleep at the same time.

2007-10-15 21:36:57
110.   bhsportsguy
109 You just want to see if you win the griddle contest.

:)

2007-10-15 21:37:23
111.   Sam DC
I'd love to see the memo the guy/gal at TBS wrote to the boss about why they needed to plonk down a massive bid for baseball playoff rights.

I bet it didn't really describe what we've seen in the playoffs so far.

"And if we can get a team like the Rockies, playing mostly after midnight east coast time, and if they play the absolute minimum number of games, and we get three out of the Yankees, the Red Sox, the Dodgers, and the Cubs out early, or never in at all, to maximize the chances that no one is paying attention, then we should make absolutely no money.

"What do you say?"

2007-10-15 21:39:34
112.   bhsportsguy
I hear John Elway is in the house.

Bob has now turned off his TV.

2007-10-15 21:43:51
113.   Bob Timmermann
112
I am gutting this one out. I go to work late tomorrow anyway.
2007-10-15 21:44:22
114.   bhsportsguy
The Denver Broncos are 2-0 in playoff games against New England.
2007-10-15 21:44:49
115.   bhsportsguy
113 Did you boo or throw something at your TV when Elway appeared.
2007-10-15 21:46:13
116.   Bob Timmermann
115
I didn't notice Elway on TV.

I'm sure we'll hear more about him in the coming week. Especially since he played in the minors for the Yankees.

2007-10-15 21:47:33
117.   bhsportsguy
499 total pitches for the night so far. Probably around 370 minutes so far.
2007-10-15 21:48:15
118.   Ali Nagib
113 - You gotta stay up for a potential celebration anyway, right? Isn't it in the rules somewhere? Haven't they done a beer commercial on this topic at some point?
2007-10-15 21:48:58
119.   bhsportsguy
116 Can Joe Buck utter words "Coors" Field or will he call it something like the home of the Rockies?
2007-10-15 21:53:08
120.   Bob Timmermann
There is that sign behind home plate that it makes it pretty hard to say anything else.
2007-10-15 21:53:59
121.   bhsportsguy
If the Rockies can hold on, the NL West will join the NL Central and the AL Central as the divisions where every team has played in at least one World Series.
2007-10-15 21:56:52
122.   Hallux Valgus
I. Am. Beside. Myself.

Let's go Rox! My 10 years of season tickets implore you.

2007-10-15 21:58:26
123.   Hallux Valgus
look! you guys get both a Ucla and a Lakers reference.
2007-10-15 21:58:38
124.   Bluebleeder87
Everytime I see Tulo field anything I get kind of jealous, man, that dude can pick 'em
2007-10-15 21:58:47
125.   Bob Timmermann
I'm guessing it will be harder to get Rockies tickets next year.
2007-10-15 21:59:36
126.   Bob Timmermann
But no mention of Oklahoma's 43-game winning streak in college football?
2007-10-15 21:59:45
127.   bhsportsguy
123 Why?
2007-10-15 22:00:18
128.   Hallux Valgus
125 unfortunately, it won't be. Maybe harder to get great seats. That's it.
2007-10-15 22:01:02
129.   Hallux Valgus
126 that was there.

127 winning streaks

2007-10-15 22:01:08
130.   Bluebleeder87
So I guess poor Josh Wilker went to bed a little bitter with the BoSox losing today.
2007-10-15 22:02:25
131.   das411
ELWAY!!!!!!!!

Stan Marsh: "You're saying you're very famous, but you don't know who John Elway is??"

2007-10-15 22:05:16
132.   bhsportsguy
127 Actually the 2001 Lakers are a better example, I think they won 7-8 games in a row at the end of the year and then swept the first three series, lost the first game of the finals and then won 4 straight games to go 15-1 in the playoffs and 22/23-1 overall.

I'm assuming they are talking about the 33 game winning streak.

2007-10-15 22:06:54
133.   Bob Timmermann
The Dolphins actually won 18 straight games. The won the first game of the 1973 season and then lost in Week 2 to the Raiders, 12-7.

They lost again in Week 13 to the Colts.

I didn't like those Dolphins teams.

2007-10-15 22:07:56
134.   Bluebleeder87
I think they've done studies were teams fans can't sleep for a few days because of utter collective euphoria, I wonder if that's what's gonna happen with Rox fans.
2007-10-15 22:09:05
135.   Bob Timmermann
The 00-01 Lakers won 24 of their last 25 games.
2007-10-15 22:09:55
136.   bhsportsguy
135 Thanks Bob.
2007-10-15 22:11:00
137.   Bluebleeder87
well if anything at least Fuentez has a few runs to play around with.
2007-10-15 22:12:33
138.   Bluebleeder87
that's exactly how you wanna get Reynolds Fuentez, good job!
2007-10-15 22:13:46
139.   Bluebleeder87
oh shoot, 2 run lead now...
2007-10-15 22:14:19
140.   bhsportsguy
Oops.
2007-10-15 22:15:06
141.   bhsportsguy
Do the D-Backs have a Dave Roberts moment in them?
2007-10-15 22:15:10
142.   das411
NOW it's a game, man, wouldn't want Mark to feel too un-stressed now would we?
2007-10-15 22:15:28
143.   Bluebleeder87
140

LOL!

2007-10-15 22:16:22
144.   Bluebleeder87
As a Dodger fan my mind doesn't know how to compute a 3 run bomb.
2007-10-15 22:17:02
145.   bhsportsguy
Okay, now Hurdle has to bring in Corpus.
2007-10-15 22:17:17
146.   Bluebleeder87
the game isn't Funtes proof apparently
2007-10-15 22:17:40
147.   bhsportsguy
Sam are you there?
2007-10-15 22:18:29
148.   Bob Timmermann
I'm surprised he hadn't taken out Atkins already. Now he has.
2007-10-15 22:20:31
149.   Bluebleeder87
I HATE DHL! don't ask me why, I just do.
2007-10-15 22:22:01
150.   Bluebleeder87
you'd think with up & in heat Corpus would have Clark toasted.
Show/Hide Comments 151-200
2007-10-15 22:22:02
151.   KG16
Use of "the deuces are wild" there
2007-10-15 22:22:34
152.   das411
and THAT may be the biggest strike in Rockies history...at least for about 3 more outs...
2007-10-15 22:24:05
153.   Bluebleeder87
152

there 3 outs away from history!

2007-10-15 22:26:02
154.   underdog
Wow, I got home in time to see the Rockies up 6-1, John Elway in the house, and then Fuentes nearly cough up the lead. Lots of excitement in a relatively quick period. I'm still rooting for the Rockies but find myself sort of liking the idea of a DBacks miracle comeback in this game and continuing the series. But not all that much...

And yes, I'm sure Denver can handle both the Broncos and Rockies having big games on the same night. Seems there's a lot of people there who are very much fans of only one of those teams, for one thing.

2007-10-15 22:26:09
155.   Bluebleeder87
The Rox need to put a few more on the board for insurance purposes
2007-10-15 22:26:52
156.   underdog
Only one inning away from being able to avoid Frank TV promos!
2007-10-15 22:27:13
157.   LAT
151. Vin should get a royalty.
2007-10-15 22:28:16
158.   Bluebleeder87
underdog what did you do to Icaros he hasn't been around lately.
2007-10-15 22:29:34
159.   bhsportsguy
Guaranteed to hear a lot of "Us against the world" talk from the Rockies if they hold on.
2007-10-15 22:29:51
160.   Bluebleeder87
Colorado will hold there collective breath...
2007-10-15 22:33:17
161.   luck
Byrnes is in the hole. Start the timpanis.
2007-10-15 22:33:46
162.   luck
Or is that timpani?
2007-10-15 22:34:46
163.   Bluebleeder87
Season ticket holders for the Rox must feel little more special then the regular everyday Colorado fan, you'd imagine no?
2007-10-15 22:35:03
164.   LAT
I feel badly for the D'Backs cause I can't say "you'll get 'em next year" casue I don't want them to get 'em next year. Besides the great story that is the Rockies I want them to go all the way so I can root against them witout reservation next year. Does'nt make much sense, just my owm little internal conflict.
2007-10-15 22:36:00
165.   bhsportsguy
163 Nahh, I am just wondering and I should ask Mark, when did he have to pay for his playoff tickets.
2007-10-15 22:36:19
166.   LAT
159. "No one believed in us except ourselves."
2007-10-15 22:37:04
167.   underdog
Has Umpy McSqueeze been calling 'em like that all night? Whoo boy ball 2 was... close.
2007-10-15 22:37:20
168.   bhsportsguy
164 Considering how teams are not repeating post season appearances, it may not be that big of a problem.
2007-10-15 22:37:38
169.   Bluebleeder87
2 outs!
2007-10-15 22:37:52
170.   bhsportsguy
Stephen Drew just swung and popped up a 3-0 pitch, hmmm okay.
2007-10-15 22:38:40
171.   bhsportsguy
Nonetheless a Bruin will be in the World Series.
2007-10-15 22:38:54
172.   underdog
158 Hm, I dunno. I should go check on him. Maybe he's still in mourning after the Dodgers season, or lost all his money to a Nigerian prince in an email scheme and is down on Market Street panhandling.
2007-10-15 22:39:01
173.   Bluebleeder87
165

Mark bought his WS tickets a few weeks ago if I remember correctly, boy does he look smart now...

2007-10-15 22:39:21
174.   fanerman
Congrats!
2007-10-15 22:39:22
175.   thelarmis
162 good catch, it is indeed "timpani"!

alternative spellings with a "y" are also accepted: tymapni or timpany, though you'll rarely, if ever, see "tymapny"

GO ROX! congrats, Mark!

2007-10-15 22:39:25
176.   luck
!
2007-10-15 22:39:26
177.   das411
!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Rockies!!
2007-10-15 22:39:34
178.   bhsportsguy
173 You do get your money back if they don't make it. But they are costly.
2007-10-15 22:39:53
179.   dzzrtRatt
Eric Byrnes, first-swing tapper to short.

Great example, bud.

And mega-congratulations to the Colorado Rockies. They refuse to lose!

2007-10-15 22:40:20
180.   Paul Scott
Well done. Do the NL proud in the WS. :)
2007-10-15 22:40:21
181.   trainwreck
Congratulations to Rockies fans everywhere.
2007-10-15 22:40:29
182.   Ali Nagib
Boo-yrnes!
2007-10-15 22:40:46
183.   thelarmis
21 out of 22, including 7 in a row in the postseason = WOW!
2007-10-15 22:40:51
184.   Johnson
So Byrnes "leads by example" by hitting a check-swing grounder and then sliding headfirst into first - which is slower than running through the bag - to end the game. I am amused.
2007-10-15 22:40:55
185.   Bluebleeder87
159

"we just have a great bunch of guys here"

2007-10-15 22:40:56
186.   yankz
Truly amazing that it was Byrnes who ended AZ's season.

Congrats, Colorado! One of the most incredible runs ever.

2007-10-15 22:41:00
187.   das411
and I think that check swing groundout by Byrnesie is our gracious host's new favorite moment ever...this is one East Coaster who is glad he stayed up to watch this one end!
2007-10-15 22:41:03
188.   underdog
Well, that was an amusing way for the Crash Test Dummy to end his season and his team's, head-first sliding into first base.
2007-10-15 22:41:11
189.   Bob Timmermann
I have a hard time believing that I would ever see such a sight.
2007-10-15 22:41:37
190.   underdog
Craig Sager's suit alone makes me embarrassed we share the same name.
2007-10-15 22:42:00
191.   bhsportsguy
212 hours or so before their next game. It will be a long wait for Mark and the rest of the fans.

But there will be plenty of Rockies gear to be bought in the meantime.

2007-10-15 22:42:16
192.   fanerman
Boo-yrnes indeed!
2007-10-15 22:42:28
193.   Mattpat11
[Purple Reign Pun]
2007-10-15 22:42:28
194.   trainwreck
Willy Taveras is a spotlight stealer.
2007-10-15 22:42:30
195.   underdog
184 Not as slow as my ability to type, apparently. ( 188 )
2007-10-15 22:43:05
196.   yankz
191 Really, that long? Even if CLE wins the next two? Wow, that's gotta be rough.
2007-10-15 22:43:31
197.   dzzrtRatt
Most sweeps are boring and depressing.

This one was truly delightful.

I hope this moment has bonded the people of Colorado to this team for a long time -- through bad years as well as good. But they're going to be good for awhile, so enjoy it.

2007-10-15 22:43:50
198.   Bluebleeder87
Man, this is nice. Congrats Rox fans.
2007-10-15 22:44:12
199.   bhsportsguy
The highest future odds I saw on Colorado to win the World Series was 150-1 back before the season started.

You probably could have gotten 50-60-1 to win the NL pennant.

2007-10-15 22:44:17
200.   underdog
This is good, because I think next year the odds of the Rockies making it back this far are slim, so maybe there's hope for the Dodgers after all. Hope to have this sort of feeling this time next year... But for now...

Congrats Rockies on an incredible run!

Show/Hide Comments 201-250
2007-10-15 22:44:22
201.   luck
Apparently Byrnes thought that there was a wall in front of first base.
2007-10-15 22:44:31
202.   Mattpat11
I wonder if Byrnes might have been safe if he didn't slide in head first like a moron and slow himself down.

Probably not, but there is something to be said for that idiot ending the season in such a manner.

2007-10-15 22:44:33
203.   LAT
190. What about that hair?
2007-10-15 22:45:29
204.   underdog
180 Do the NL West proud, you mean! ;-)
2007-10-15 22:45:43
205.   bhsportsguy
196 Game 1 of the World Series will be on Wednesday October 24, start time will probably be something like 8:20 p.m. EDT.
2007-10-15 22:46:11
206.   underdog
203 Makes me embarrassed to be the same species.
2007-10-15 22:46:45
207.   underdog
I'm happy for Todd Helton specifically - always liked him, he's played most of his fab career in relative obscurity.
2007-10-15 22:47:04
208.   LAT
Its going to seem like eternity for the Rockies waiting for the AL winner.
2007-10-15 22:47:51
209.   Bluebleeder87
You guys see Helton he almost lost it for a moment there.
2007-10-15 22:48:26
210.   bhsportsguy
208 They could actually face a formidable offense.
2007-10-15 22:49:20
211.   bhsportsguy
209 Hopefully he will have a better experience than the Killer Bs did in 2005.
2007-10-15 22:51:12
212.   Bob Timmermann
Willy Taveras is a good luck charm for teams in the World Series.
2007-10-15 22:51:40
213.   Bluebleeder87
it would be cool if a couple of rebellious Rockies players would collectively moon america. ;o)
2007-10-15 22:52:22
214.   Bluebleeder87
Who's that old guy holdint the trophy?
2007-10-15 22:53:12
215.   Bob Timmermann
214
It was Bill Giles, former owner of the Phillies.
2007-10-15 22:55:35
216.   Boo Wolfe
199 Are you channeling to ESPN radio? Only a few minutes after your post on the odds, Ambrosio's post-game show lead-in: "If you had put $5 on the Rockies in April..."
2007-10-15 22:55:42
217.   trainwreck
Sure seeing a lot of kids out there.

I guess that religious policy must be true.

2007-10-15 22:58:41
218.   Bluebleeder87
It's gonna be a lot of days of for them though, we'll see what happens I guess.
2007-10-15 22:59:22
219.   A Dodger expatriate in Pennsylvania
215 Giles is "honorary" NL President? Wasn't it largely an honorific title in the first place? I gather yhat Bud Selig discontinued the offices of league president in 1999. So, what's the difference between having an NL president and having an honorary one?
2007-10-15 22:59:46
220.   Linkmeister
165 I did ask Mark how much he paid about a week ago. Somewhere around $700 for a package which included playoffs and World Series, I think. There's a search box on the right; you could try searching for "ticket prices."
2007-10-15 23:03:02
221.   Linkmeister
From the NLDS Game One post dated 10-05-07:

If the Rockies end up playing the maximum two home games in the DS, three in the CS, and three in the World Series, I am out a little less than $700. This is for one seat, for which I have the same rights as a full-season ticket holder (and the same price) even though I only was a 25-game plan guy.

2007-10-15 23:03:05
222.   Bob Timmermann
The NL president title has "honorary" in front of it because the guy has no jobs to do and doesn't get paid.

Giles did his one job for the year.

The AFC and NFC have honorary presidents too. They get to hand out trophies after the conference championships.

2007-10-15 23:04:09
223.   A Dodger expatriate in Pennsylvania
I think when the Rockies started their 21 out of 22 run, they had a 2% chance of reaching the playoffs on the Monte Carlo simulation Postseason Odds run by Baseball Prospectus.
2007-10-15 23:06:38
224.   A Dodger expatriate in Pennsylvania
222
So, in the old days, they had no job to do but still got paid? (Though I vaguely remember league presidents once having something to do with handing out fines and suspensions.)
2007-10-15 23:07:51
225.   Bob Timmermann
In the old days, the leagues were run separately and the league presidents would oversee the umpires and other internal matters.
2007-10-15 23:09:08
226.   Ali Nagib
223 - 2.32520%, although their odds went the lowest 2 games later at 1.82478%
2007-10-15 23:38:32
227.   A Dodger expatriate in Pennsylvania
201 Byrnes outplayed the left field wall and the 1st base bag throughout this series. The wall and the bag just got all the calls and the lucky breaks.
2007-10-15 23:39:15
228.   A Dodger expatriate in Pennsylvania
226 Simply amazing. Congrats Rockies fans.
2007-10-16 01:41:30
229.   bhsportsguy
221 Well, he only had to pay for 3 out of 5 tickets so far, my hunch is that he won't mind the max for the World Series.

Comment status: comments have been closed. Baseball Toaster is now out of business.