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NY Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians: It all comes down to the last 3 games (or is that 4)

Posted on 09/30/2005 7:32:46 AM PDT by 1Old Pro

Compared to last October, this weekend's scenario probably doesn't seem all that bad to the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox.

Down one game with three to play, the Red Sox will try to stage another dramatic comeback against the archrival New York Yankees when the teams open their big series at Fenway Park.

``It's going to be three Super Bowl games,'' Boston's Kevin Millar said. ``Whoever set the schedule this year is a genius.''

Last season, Boston became the first team in major league history to overcome an 0-3 deficit in the playoffs, rallying to take four straight from New York in the ALCS to capture the pennant.

The Red Sox would go on to win their first World Series title since 1918 by sweeping St. Louis, putting the Yankees in the unfamiliar position of waiting until the next year for revenge.

The Red Sox held the Yankees off for most of this summer, hoping to win their first AL East title since 1995. However, Boston, which has finished second to New York in each of the previous seven years, squandered its advantage, and enters the weekend one game out.

Things could have been considerably worse.

The Red Sox trailed Toronto 4-1 in the sixth inning Thursday night while the Yankees were cruising to an 8-4 victory in Baltimore.

However, Manny Ramirez belted a two-run homer before David Ortiz fortified his MVP candidacy by belting the tying homer in the eighth and driving home the winning run with a single in the ninth, giving Boston a 5-4 win and plenty of momentum heading into the weekend.

``The best thing that ever happened to this team was winning this game tonight,'' Ortiz said. ``Everybody was on their toes.''

While the Red Sox split four games with the Blue Jays, the Yankees took three of four from the Orioles, giving themselves a small cushion heading into this do-or-die series.

``It'll be unbelievable. It's always a playoff atmosphere when you play the Red Sox,'' said Yankees slugger Jason Giambi, who belted a first-inning, three-run homer Thursday.

``It will be a lot of fun.''

A less consequential race will also be taking place during the series as Ortiz and Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez will go head-to-head for the MVP award. Both players boast eye-popping numbers, but the winner may ultimately be decided by who takes the division this weekend.

``That's how you win an MVP -- getting into the playoffs and winning the World Series,'' Ortiz said this week. ``All I want to do is get into the playoffs one way or another.''

Rodriguez agreed.

``I think the focus is on the team. I think a nice side note behind that is, obviously, the MVP race,'' he said. ``No question, front and center right now is the Yankees vs. Boston.''

If the teams finish in a dead heat after Sunday, a one-game playoff to determine the division champion will be played at Yankee Stadium on Monday.

Both teams are also still very much alive for the wild card. The Yankees also lead Cleveland by one game. The Indians will conclude the regular season with three against the AL Central champion Chicago White Sox.

If the Red Sox, Yankees and Indians finish tied, New York will play Boston on Monday, with the loser heading to Cleveland for a one-game playoff to determine the wild card.

After Yankees rookie Chien-Ming Wang squares off against veteran left-hander David Wells in the series opener, Randy Johnson and Tim Wakefield will meet Saturday followed by Mike Mussina and Curt Schilling in Sunday's regular season finale.

This is the first time the Red Sox and Yankees have battled for the division down to the wire since 1978, when light-hitting shortstop Bucky Dent homered to win a one-game playoff and send New York to the postseason.

The pennant came down to the final two games of the season in 1949, when Boston brought a one-game lead into Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won both to reach the playoffs and begin a dynasty that claimed 14 AL pennants and eight World Series titles in 16 years.

Before that, you have to go back to the 1904 season, when Boston met the New York Highlanders in a doubleheader on the final day of the season. Boston won the opener to take the pennant.

``You sit there and you say at the start of the season that the best team wins after 162 games. And now you're down to the final three,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said. ``We all know what the situation is. ... To think that it's come down to a handful of games to decide what 157 couldn't decide, that's great for baseball -- but not too good for my stomach.''

Updated on Friday


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: mlb; sports
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To: 1Old Pro
Man oh man, if that happens, and it will, Boston fans will really be depressed.

Ain't it cool!

41 posted on 09/30/2005 7:54:45 AM PDT by gridlock (ELIMINATE PERVERSE INCENTIVES)
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To: j_k_l
"1/3 the payroll... 1/2 the age... of Boston or New York."

And a 1/10 of a chance to win it all!

42 posted on 09/30/2005 7:54:56 AM PDT by frogjerk (LIBERALISM - Being miserable for no good reason)
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To: 1Old Pro
"Let's not bring lack of experience into this."

Being a Cleveland fan is ALWAYS about excuses [I know because I am a "Lifer"].
43 posted on 09/30/2005 7:55:08 AM PDT by j_k_l
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To: misterrob; mainepatsfan

It all comes down to this...Go SOX!!

44 posted on 09/30/2005 7:55:12 AM PDT by scott says
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To: add925

"psssst.....Ward Churchill wants you to change your Mascot."

Grrrrr... F*** Ward Churchill and anyone like him!!!!!

(Sorry, I've lived with that mascot for 47 years I LIKE it).


45 posted on 09/30/2005 7:55:15 AM PDT by brownsfan (It's not a war on terror... it's a war with islam.)
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To: frogjerk

Wang 8-4, 4.02 ERA
Wells 14-7, 4.47 ERA

I turned down bleacher seats in Fenway -- no way do I want to be a Yankees fan in the Fenway bleachers.

From today's Globe: 876 police to deploy after Sox games


46 posted on 09/30/2005 7:55:41 AM PDT by eastsider
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To: mylife

ping


47 posted on 09/30/2005 7:56:09 AM PDT by ozaukeemom (Nuke the ACLU and their snivel rights!)
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To: #1CTYankee

You can cut the tension in the air with a knife!


48 posted on 09/30/2005 7:57:31 AM PDT by frogjerk (LIBERALISM - Being miserable for no good reason)
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To: KarlInOhio
My hope: Red Sox win 3 and the AL East, Indians win 3 and get the wild card and the Yankees get an early vacation.

-----
I like the second part of that. But if that happens, I think the Indians would still have a playoff with the Yankees for the wild-card. I think the Indians will beat either team in either case.
49 posted on 09/30/2005 7:57:47 AM PDT by gooleyman ( What about the baby's "RIGHT TO CHOOSE"?????? I bet the baby would chose LIFE.)
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To: add925
"psssst.....Ward Churchill wants you to change your Mascot."

I Agree. We should go back to the old one.


50 posted on 09/30/2005 7:57:48 AM PDT by j_k_l
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To: 1Old Pro

Game 1: ESPN
Game 2: Fox (in most areas)
Game 3: ESPN2, I think


51 posted on 09/30/2005 7:58:35 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: avalon

and what is your record against the non-contending Blue Jays?

The good news is that the AL east is no longer the Yanks/Sox, and the rest to be trampled on. The other three teams have put up a fight against the top two.


52 posted on 09/30/2005 7:58:47 AM PDT by ilgipper
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To: angcat
"My medication is ready!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Being a lifelong Red Sox fan I will hereby predict the Sox will be in at least 1 playoff game, they must continue to torture me even after the regularly scheduled season.

53 posted on 09/30/2005 7:59:01 AM PDT by #1CTYankee (I thought about that and DELIBERATELY didn't go there. (Or maybe I did?))
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To: GraniteStateConservative
Game 1: ESPN Game 2: Fox (in most areas) Game 3: ESPN2, I think

Great, DISH network doesn't' carry the YES.

54 posted on 09/30/2005 7:59:57 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: brownsfan
Grrrrr... F*** Ward Churchill and anyone like him!!!!! (Sorry, I've lived with that mascot for 47 years I LIKE it).

We'll just tell Churchill that he is a fake Indian and his vote doesn't count.

55 posted on 09/30/2005 8:00:04 AM PDT by add925 (The Left = Xenophobes in Denial)
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To: Petronski

true....but the Indians have a heck of a lot of talent....They are all 29 and under instead of 33 and older. Young talent is cheap talent.

And the Mets and Orioles have proven over the years, expensive free agents does not mean a lock on the playoffs.


56 posted on 09/30/2005 8:00:36 AM PDT by ilgipper
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To: Petronski

Indians: 96-66
Red Sox: 96-66
Yanks: 94-68

No pinstripers in the playoffs. We'll take care of our end. You take care of your end.

We can make this dream a reality!

Believe!


57 posted on 09/30/2005 8:01:43 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: j_k_l
Whoa, Dude! Thats scary!


58 posted on 09/30/2005 8:02:45 AM PDT by add925 (The Left = Xenophobes in Denial)
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To: Alberta's Child
When they first signed Jason Giambi, I predicted that the Yankees would never win a World Series as long as he was on the team.

Yeah, but he's won me this year my first fantasy baseball World Series!

59 posted on 09/30/2005 8:02:50 AM PDT by GraniteStateConservative (...He had committed no crime against America so I did not bring him here...-- Worst.President.Ever.)
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To: GraniteStateConservative

Geez, I hope you're right. That bullpen gives me the shakes and Terri loves to leave the starters in too long.

The good news is that Fatso and Wake have had good aSeptember.


60 posted on 09/30/2005 8:03:32 AM PDT by ElTianti
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