On the Yankees beat

Well, no reason the Yanks can't go all the way.

And no reason Omar and the Mets won't be lamenting the departure of Kazmir and Bannister all winter long.

What a collapse. Tom Glavine ... stupid bleepin white man! Just remarkable. As remarkable as the Yanks turning it around.

Will there be a NY intra-rivalry again any time soon?

It's just so depressing to see the Mets go down like this ...

Que puede hacer? La vida es una puta entonces hay que casarse ...

Great win for the Yanks. They will go to the series, I am sure of it ... with a few breaks that is ...

Remember Charlie Hayes and the swinging bunt in 1996?

You need the small favors.

IFO,

Glavine is a white man. Very good observation. But what does that have to do with anything? Tell me.

Hernandez, Pedro, and Glavine are just too old. A team can get by with 1 of these guys on their starting staff, but 2 and especially 3 is ridiculous. The Yanks let Hernandez go, because he was constantly "dinged" up way back when. The Mets took a chance with these 3, and almost squeeked by. The NL playoffs will be a "grab bag" of mediocre teams. Any AL team that advances to the World Series should triumph in short order. If the Yanks can get by Clev., they are that team. The Yankees have defeated Boston, the last 4 series they have played. With Dice K melting down like Frosty The Snowman, and "bridge" Okajima getting hit on a regular basis due to being overworked, Boston will be easier to defeat than the Indians. The Angels don't even factor into the equation. The R\Sox psycologically have already defeated them.

CONGRATULATIONS, YANKEES, ON AN EXCELLENT SEASON.

THE YANKEES WERE THE BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON AND I HOPE THEY CARRY THAT FORWARD INTO THE POST-SEASON.

LET'S GO YANKEES.
2007 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS.
NUMBER 27 AND COUNTING...

The Yankees finished the season just 2 games behind the Red Sox.

The Indians and the Red Sox finished with the same exact record -- the best in MLB.

The Yankees and the Angels have the same exact record -- second best in MLB and better than all NL teams. We would definitely have finished first if we had a healthy team all season.

How many more wins and a better record would the Yankees have wound up with if they didn't have such an injury-filled first two months -- totaling 54 games (they had a 22-32 record for Apr. & May)? It's a shame we had to use an MLB record number of rookie pitchers in those first few months.

I hope Jorge changes his mind about managing. I picture him as a Billy Martin type; great instincts, fiery, etc.

I think he'd be a natural manager.

Three more years for him would be great, but I have a feeling that when he starts to go, it's gonna be quick.

I for one was happy to have a tension free last weekend of the season.

The Yanks/Indians series hinges on one person: Sabathia. It was kind of like last year with the Twins... if they lost a Santana start they were dead. Zito out pitched Santana and the Twins were dead.

If Sabathia pitches well, it should be a great 5 game series. If Sabathia wets the bed... the Yankees could sweep.

I feel good going into the playoffs. I felt stronger going into 2004, but I like that Beckett looks good, Dice K and Wake pitched well their last game, Manny is back, Ortiz is possesed and Drew somehow is hitting.

That being said, I am a smidge nervous going into the Angels series. We'll see... should make an interesting time on the message board.

We haven't seen Sabathia, and they haven't seen Wang.

Or Joba.

We'll see.

I said the Yankees could sweep

Please, Lord, let a Yankees-Red Sox series include one or two starts by Wakefield.

Beckett needs to go 8 or 9 innings in Game 1 against the Angels. Can you imagine Gagne pitching to Vlad Guerrero in the 8th inning of a close game at Fenway?

Maybe the Red Sox can sign rickey Henderson and Bobby Bonilla to play cards with Gagne during close games

I am hoping for the Red Sox to eliminate the Angels for the simple, selfish reason that the middle of the night is not when I like to watch baseball.

No ill feelings towards the Angels -- I have similar hopes for the elimination for any team more than one time zone away.

Yankee fans shouldn't be looking past the Indians

Red Sox fans shouldn't be looking past the Angels

Mets fans... well they need to pick sides

Sully, no reason in the world for fans not to look anywhere they like. The players and coaches are rightly focused on their immediate challenges (one reporter said there were seven computers outside Torre's temporary office at Camden yards today spewing out material on everything and everybody connected with the Indians). But we fans have the luxury of infinite speculation. It's part of the fun.

Oh I know Marianne...

I'm just saying the Yankees are playing the team tied for the best record in baseball and the Red Sox are playing a team a lot of people (including yours truly) picked to win the whole kit and also the kaboodle

Any true Yankee baseball fan is hoping for a Yankees-Red Sox ALCS. I would love to see the Sox go down in the first round, but rivalry aside. we DO NOT want to face the Angels. They have our number. We are better matched to beat the Sox. GO Yankess!!

No argument from me, Carrie.
I am a die Hard Red Sox fan who wants NO PART of the Yankees

Those of you you have read my posts know that while I appreciate what he has done this season and his career, I do not want torre back.

Unfortuntaly, I think he will cement that decision in this year's playoffs with another BAD decision in the ost season. While it is not official, everything I am reading is that Mussina will pitch game 4. Do we ignore the past 2 1/2 months because he had 2 good starts against bad teams. He was aweful in his last outing and Hughes, inexperience and all, has been very good - sptting in the face of his detractors and all those jumping off his phenom bandwagon.

the kids got us here and now we are going to go will the two pitchers in the post season who are members of AARP???

Bad move - hope it doesnt cost them the series beause you can count game 4 as a loss.

By the way, Congrats to the Yankees and all their fans. Also Congrats to the Phillies fans/ I lived down there for 5 years and I can tell you that those people have suffered more than any other city in the county - with all sports.

Hate to let my pessismism rain on the parade. Sorry

Marianne,

When it comes to playoff time slots, those are chosen by TV, not the Angels. Chances are the westcoast games will be played in the afternoon. It's a different ballgame now.

Let's Go Mets! The Mets will kick the Yankees ass in the WS.....oh wait...what do you mean?....the Mets aren’t in the playoffs? How did that happen? You know why it happened, because of all the cocky Mats fans who thought they were superior to us Yankee fans and busted our chops relentlessly in the beginning of the year. Hey where are you now so called Mets fans? Let's Go Yanks!

Let's Go Mets! The Mets will kick the Yankees ass in the WS.....oh wait...what do you mean?....the Mets aren’t in the playoffs? How did that happen? You know why it happened, because of all the cocky Mats fans who thought they were superior to us Yankee fans and busted our chops relentlessly in the beginning of the year. Hey where are you now so called Mets fans? Let's Go Yanks!

Let's Go Mets! The Mets will kick the Yankees ass in the WS.....oh wait...what do you mean?....the Mets aren’t in the playoffs? How did that happen? You know why it happened, because of all the cocky Mats fans who thought they were superior to us Yankee fans and busted our chops relentlessly in the beginning of the year. Hey where are you now so called Mets fans? Let's Go Yanks!

Yes,

Clearly the Mets historic collapse was only and completely due to the fans....if those Mets fans had only been more respectful of idiots like knucklerdragger here...unquestionably the Mets would be in the post season.

One has to wonder if this idiot EVER thinks before he/she posts such foolishness.

In any case....once again, Congrats Yanks and Yank fans...well desrved berth in the playoffs. The way the Yanks came back and played in the second half of the season was also historic.....very impressive. Let's hope the Sox and Yanks meet in the ALCS...because we all know which ever team wins that series will likely be the WS champs.

Cas,

You are probably one of those left wing tree huggers from Maine who lives off of the Government just like 50% of the losers who live in Maine. Go back to sucking Maple Syrup out of trees and shut up. You are a typical Red Sux loser fan. You will be beaten severely by the Angels. Once you have lost you can go through your long winter contemplating why you live in such a loser state......the state with the highest suicide rate....hmmm I wonder why.

Anon, Great post go get those lib-Sux fans

I'll give you credit knuckledragger.....you ARE consistent if nothing else....

Thank you for proving my point...but you see, you really dont have to...for everyone on this blog, on multiple occasions, has told you what an idiot you are. As much as you'd like to insulate yourself with chest-thumping morons, like yourself, who do nothing but chant "26 titles", while blindly scorning anyone and everyone who sees the game of baseball for what it is.... it is you, you idiot, that is unwelcome on here. It is you, the rest of us would gladly jettison if the rules YOU would like to apply were available.

You're beyond laughable...you're pitiful.

Thanks. We need some Red Sux police here and I am the man to do it! You never fraternize with the enemy!

Good Morning all. I come back from vacation and I see that Anon is up to his old tricks. Well I guess we all will just ignore him and hope he goes away. I have to admit that I am a little happy about the Mets collapse. My next door neighbor is as big a Mets fan as I am a Yankees fan. He busted my chops all summer long and I hated it. Now he is the one who is hating it. LOL I am not usually the type of guy who even cares about the Mets or the national league but I was jumping for joy when they lost, and of course had to go over to his house and invite him to watch the Yankee game with me. LOL Well as they say "You reap what you sew"...well I think that's what it is. Ok so onto the Yanks. I am a little worried about Pettite for the second game. Which Pettite are we going to see? The one who gives up 2-3 runs or the one that gives up 6-8 runs?

Congratulations Yankees on a great turnaround season, & especially Abreu after his dismal first two months.
Hope the Sox knock off the dreaded Angels, who own us, & also because Yankeee=Red Sox in post-season is always as good as it gets, all 4&1/2 hours worth each game.
Very nervous about Cleveland's 1-2 starters, especially since Petite & Wang haven't been razor sharp of late. Yankees have murdered mediocre pitching this year, but have been easily handled by dominant stuff. Also Viz hasn't been up to snuff of late & we really need him.
That said, after the unlikely turnaround my gut tells me maybe this will be our year & perhaps A-Rod can overcome past post-season woes & carry us all the way. The relaxed, focused A-Rod, enjoying his teammates & vice-a-versa this year was a thing to behold, & perhaps the most incredible season I have observed in 50+ years of following the Yanks religiously.
Go Yankees (and NY Rangers)

Casual Obsessor
Your back
After the beat down you received last week I figured it would take another week in rehab.
Hey what did you call members of the baseball and track teams in high school. Come on now it can't be worst than what HYD said.

I couldn't agree more Ken,

To anyone who does not want to see a Sox/Yanks ALCS, I say, you're missing out of the best possible match up in MLB. It almost makes the WS anti-climatic. It may sound a bit elitist...but it is true.

I've said it all along, the Yankees need a full-time "mental" coach to tutor Melky (and Cano) on how to play baseball. I offered to do the job early in the year.

These guys have all the ability in the world and don't have a clue as to "how" to play the game, especially Melky! And, it wasn't just yesterday with his 3 mental lapses. Remember back in April and May - all the base running mistakes? And, all year long not working the count, not situational hitting, and swinging at balls over their heads, etc.

I can't stand to watch the same mental errors being made over and over by these guys! It drives me nuts that nobody in the organization is fixing the thought processes of these two extremely talented players.

Let's get it together, we are the New York Yankees. The "old" Boss would never had stood for it.

Buster Olney on ESPN has already predicted that the Red Sox will roll over the Angels and the Indians will beat the Yankees. What a surprise- expect all other ESPN analysts to concur.

It is so obvious that bias is winning out over logic.

Olney's analysis is wrong on at least two counts;

He said that the Yankees were 6-0 vs. Cleveland, but only because they didn't face Sabathia and that both times the 2 teams played, the Indians were going through a rough stretch. While it is true that they didnt face CC, the Indians didn't face Wang and went up against Igawa, Rasner and Wright. As far as tough strecthes, the first series was in the second week of the season, so there was no "stretch" to talk about. And when the Yankees played them in August, the Indians were either in first or a close second to the Tigers.

Also, he said that the Angels have no chance because Lackey doesn't pitch well in Fenway. Since Lackey would pitch games 1 and 5 in Fenway, they have no shot. Actually, Buster, since there are 3 dyas off during the series, Lackey would pitch game 1 in Fenway, and Game 4 in LA (a potential closeout game for the Angels).

I predict that this series will be very similar to the Yankees/Twins series a few years back and the Yankees will win in four. They may lose Game 1, but then win Games 2 and 3. Cleveland will then panic and pitch Sabathia on 3 days rest in Game 4,and the Yankees will close it out at the stadium.

well cs07, as its been evident all season, what the clowns at ESPN say and predict, the opposite happens.

ESPN has lost and will continually lose credental (sp?) because of their off-base predicitons and mainstream mentallity. i mean, who is steve phillips to offer any sort of baseball expertise? he traded kazmir away for victor zambrano! sure, cashman has made his mistakes, but has always won some rings to his credit.

i dont value ESPN's nonsense. i think it was nudge who set the tone in middle of the year. he stated that all the crap and nonsense that was to be said on ESPN (as well as other news outlets) means nothing between the white lines on the field.

each series will be fun, and competeitve. angels didnt get into playoffs as a bad team, same with BOS, NYY and CLE. so to say BOS will roll over ANA is heresay. could it happen? sure, but ANA is no slouch.

Buckeye,

I was happy to see that AR let Melky know immediately what he had done wrong behind the plate. I am sure all close observers have seen, as I have, many times when coaches and the manager have spoken spiritedly to Cano and Cabrera in the dugout immediately after mental lapses on the field. The message is clearly being delivered. No need to be driven nuts that "nobody in the organization is fixing the thought processes of these two extremely talented young players". It might be more worth while going a little bit nuts about their ignoring the input that they are getting. Talented? Very. Coachable? Maybe not so much.

and to add, the ESPN boys have said all along that Yanks were done. and they continued to say that all during 2nd half, leading up to the playoffs. they also said mets were in, even thouigh they were in the midst of losing 7/8, going 5/12 in last 17 games, etc. neevr did they consider the comebacks of Phils and Rockies and so forth.

instead of providing useful insight, they drop arrogant predicitions and spew out garbage that viewers run with.

so when yanks and cubs/phils head to WS this year, it will be fun to see buster, gammons and crew eat some serious crow.

Dog nice to see you back.Did you see where that buffoon HYD impolded yesterday.No?? well let me quote this knuckledragger.
To wit: I spent all of my high school making fun of the "BASEBALL FAGS" and "TRACK PANSIES"
Wow, does the H stand for Hughes or HOMOPHOBIA.
No response from: Sully Snuffles-Jim Ahole-John Gstring-Rick Lostkeys-Nudge the fudge-Diaper-MichaelZooerastea-Casual Obsessor. Blind eye Marianne made a feeble attempt to spin but was quickly shot down.
My question Dog is where do you stand.Are you among the cowardly pompous or will you stand up and call it what it is. As you said they say "you reap what you sow"

hopefully, today will the last day of all the inner-blog bashings, finger pointing and other non-baseball reklated material.

tomorrow, we can ALL say that bigger and better things can be discussed concerning playoff baseball.

While this may be a Yankees blong, and much of the convo should be directed at the Yanks, other visitors supporting other teams are certainly welcome, as long as their comments are baseball related, not bashing Yanks or other teams, and can be agreed /disgreed upon in a respectful manner.

Too much to ask for? Im worried about Yanks winning series, and eventually the WS.....not about who said what about this team or that team.

Again, Anonymi, if you're going to quote me, put it in the correct context:

When I was in high school, I used to refer to baseball players as "baseball fags" and the track guys as "track pansies".

Break it down for what it is: 1. high school, ranging from 6 - 10 years ago; 2. the lacrosse players attitude; we also sported shirts that read, "we don't like you either".

If you take it in context you understand that it had to do with lacrosse being a high contact sport where "real men" could handle the abuse. The fact that you're not smart enough to understand statements made in context and have instead referred to them as "bigoted" statements, shows that you're no better than the black man who cries racism every time things don't go his way. Sure, sometimes it's a case of racism, but it's not every time. So anonymi, take my comments however you'd like. You're insignificant to me anyway. Maybe I'll refer to you as the Paperazi. Trying to take misleading pictures and present them for your big juicy story. You're a joke and no one takes you seriously.

If one of the regulars who I respect on the board had questioned my post, maybe I'd have rethought it. But anyone who claims they didn't make fun of people when they were young, is a liar. We were all young, immature, and mean at some point. Some of us (moronic triumverate) have remained that way.

Let's keep politics out of this, OK folks?

What happened to Sully Snuffles and his suck puppets:
Developed a case of lock jaw???Fingers turn to stone???Out to lunch???
Funny how these sarcastic hypocrites can articulate and form strong opinions on something they know very little about but remain silent on a HOMOPHOBIC cohort.
Hey, what does it take to say HYD you where way out of line.Get some help.

I'm right here.

HYD explained the context of what he said as a high schooler... not what he is saying now.

God knows I don't what people judging me by what I said in high school.

Yeah, I question the logic of bringing it up in a message board.

But then again HYD (whom I have never met) doesn't spend his days berating people (like BEN DOVER), making strange statements (like Cashman) or being the Red Sox obsessed sheriff (Anon 1).

Either way, let's talk baseball.

I'm sure TBS and FOX are p*ssed off that the Mets are out of it.

They could have had a major market team in every single Division Series to market it on.

Mets V Wild Card, Cubs V Diamondbacks, Yankees V Indians and Red Sox V Indians

Now they are stuck with Phillies V either the Padres or Rockies... which will probably get lower ratings than re runs of "The Baseball Bunch" with Johnny Bench

I see that the BBBEEEEEAAAATTTCCCHHHH anonymouse is back.

{SMACK}{SMACK} little anonymouse.

BBBEEEEAAAATTTCCCHHHHH!!!!!

HYD
What part of "BASEBALL FAGS" and "TRACK PANSIES" was taken out of context?
"REAL MEN" don't make statements that degrade other people.It is what it is and you are what you are a HOMOPHOBIC BIGOT.

Sully
Politics???? What a phony. You of all people,residing in a city where the majority is gay,know it's a HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE.

Anonymous, what part of baseball blog do you not get? There are sites dedicated to your topics. Go.

Anon... someone brought politics up when talking about Casual being from Maine. That's what I was referring to with the political comment

As for HYD, I said I question the logic of bringing up stuff he said in high school on a blog message board. I also know there is a difference between stuff you say in a high school locker room and what you say as an adult.

If he was saying that as an adult, I would have taken him to task for that.

Sully

The character and personality didn't change as HYD grew older. He had already formed opinions on certain groups and people and these opinions just got stronger.
Need proof,read his last post. This is a person who didn't care about the standard of conduct in high school nor does he now.

Anonymi: Clearly you failed logic 101. My most recent post only FURTHERS my statement that it was things I said 6 - 10 years ago and not what I say today. The fact that you find yourself so obsessed with me amuses me.

If you also believe that "real men" cry at weddings and while watching movies, that's fine. Good for you, I'm glad you're sensitive. That's fine. I think my comments touch the heart of some of our older generation. The guys who grew up watching Jim Brown style football. Back when the Yankees/Red Sox rivarly was not only heated, but about real hatred. Lacrosse players have historically gotten a bad rap (case in point down in North Carolina).

It makes sense though anonymi. You're the kind of Yankee fan that defends any anti-Yankee arguement with historical sentiment "26 World Titles". Respecting history is great. Living in it dooms one for failure. So if you'd like to live in circa 1999 go for it. If you're still afraid of Y2K, that's fine too. But seriously, get on with your life and stop obsessing with me. If you want to stand up for Gay & Lesbian Rights, go for it. But choose the appropriate forum. It's clear that I and everyone else on this blog have had enough of your incessant ramblings. If it will shut you up, I can make an apology to the Gay and Lesbian community. While in high school, I used terms that can be perceived as derogatory to your community to describe friends of mine as well as people I didn't know based on their affiliation with a certain sport. The terms were not meant to be taken as bigoted remark, though some may have perceived it that way.

Now anonymi, you've gotten your apology; though it's as much me apologizing for people's idiocy as anything else. With that, if you'd like to post, post baseball or find a new blog.

From this point forward, I will not respond to anything posted by any of the anonymi, Jeff, Cashman, or Ben Dover. It's not worth my or anyone else's time. Maybe I'll acknowledge your existence again if and only if, you start to talk baseball in a coherent manner.

ESPheww should stick to the X Games (garbage!). It has been VERY obvious who they are rooting for: The Bosox. I am not one of those Yankee fans rooting for the Sox to beat the Halos. I don't care which team finally wins, I just want their series to go 5 LONG, GRUELING games where both teams are forced to use up their bullpens. This will make them easy prey for our Yanks. Yes, I think we can beat the Indians, despite their much improved team, because of our bullpen. Yep. Because of our bullpen. Moose will not be left out there if he gives up 4 runs. As for the Mutts, who gives a rats butt! They were bragging all year, and look what it got 'em. The toilet paper rag - NY Post was saying this is Mets Country, and some of our sports reporters - Lupica, wrote us off for dead. They can all find a cliff to jump off of, just watch out for the Mutt fans who already are on the bottom. I am dissapointed. I wanted to play them in the WS this year, guess we have to wait til next year.

I agree with Mike that the Yankees key is to knockout the Indians starter and get into their bullpen.

It's improved, but they don't have a single guy who the Yankees would use in the 8th or 9th inning.

Either way, it should be a great playoff

ESPN sucks. They were showing highlights of the playoff teams on Sunday, showing the last games of the season, and they showed the Angels losing to the A's in the last game. Then they showed the A's Scutero hitting that home run off of Mo in APRIL!!! Yes, April -- and they laughed about it, thought it was very funny. This had nothing to do with the playoff teams because we know the A's are not in the playoffs. What does Mo's performance in April against the A's have to do with anything of relevance in the post season? ESPN sportscasters are incompetent fools.

I hope TBS doesn't show Dent, Buckner and Boone clips until we all vomit

Sully,

You Indians have two studs (Bentacourt and Perez) in their pen that the Yankees could certainly use! In fact, if they had them to go along with Mo and Joba, they would have the equal of the good old days of Mendoza, Nelson, Stanton, and Mo.

I see the Sox taking care of the Angels with the Indians/Yankees as a toss up, although with the current rotation plans, I see the odds favoring the Indians in 4. Hope that's not the case, but it is what I see happening.

Sully,

If it's done in context it's OK. We don't like seeing that stuff but if it makes sense to show it then fine.

As you can see from my post, that clip was out of context, it made no sense, it was done in a spiteful anti-Yankee manner. That's clear.

Do you see the difference?

We already slaughtered Carmona this year but I guess that doesn't count, Buckeye?

If Yankees fans don't have confidence in the team maybe they should hide in caves until it's all over. We don't need the negativity before the playoffs being, Buckeye.

Yankee Fan,

I 100% agree that showing the Scutaro homer is nuts... especially since after the rocky April, Rivera had a terrific season.

Trying to see things through a Yankee fan's eyes, I can certainly see where ESPN can be annoying. Remember they are based right where Yankee fandom fades out and Red Sox fandom kicks in in Central CT and they are a lot of vindictive New Englanders working there editing tape.

(Although the two people I knew from ESPN, one was a HUUUUUUGE Phillies fan and the other a lifelong Mets fan... but they concur the Red Sox fandom at ESPN is rampant.)

Showing the Scutaro homer is as relevant as showing an A-Rod error the first week of the season. Or an Igawa start.

On the other hand, when FOX was showing the '03 and '04 playoffs, I almost expected to hear McCarver and Buck chant "19-18! clap clap clap clap clap."

My GOD did they milk the "This team ALWAYS LOSES and we are going to remind you of that right up until the last pitch so we can sell the Curse over and over and over again!"

Maybe TBS will be so Pro-Braves that they will actually show games and comment on them and allow the teams to speak for themselves!

(God Forbid)

HYD
The fact that you could bring up homophobic statements that you made just 6 to 10 years ago not 50 when that kind of talk was common place without a hint of embrassment or remorse is a true indication of your immaturity and irresponsibility.
The fact that you issued an apology only when your feet were held to the fire has to be a big blow to your ego.
In any event, I think everyone in here including your cohorts knows what you are and what you represent.

I mean don't THEY suffer from Heterophobia??? How is it acceptable one way and not the other? You must have less than a stellar life and very thin skin to make such an issue out of such a non issue ...Mary boy.

Ben Dover is my lover. It made me cry when I read HYD comments. I needed to yell at him to let him know my feelings. Now that he has apologized I can say your the best.

hey anon at 5:47, would totally concur. i call espn: eSOXpn. i live just outside hartford and although equidistant from ny and boston (about 100 miles betw both), there are definitely more sux fans than yanks fans around here. i remember listening to the mike tirico (sic?) on eSOXpn radio, and he stated it himself. a lot of the staffers at eSOXpn live in the area and are themselves redsux fans. if u are one of their moronic announcers or show hosts you cannot help but to be influenced by the staffers. there are more yankee haters than yankee fans. simple fact. sure sure yank fans are EVERYWHERE. but usually if you are the fan of another team than it usually means that u do not like the yanks. who cares. f em. we have our yanks and they have their royals, or redsux, or braves... and come to think of it, given that the analysts at eSOXpn have predicted all along that the yanks were done, let them keep predicting it. the opposite will probably occur. one can hope the players themselves view the negative comments and use it as fuel.