...for the Indians to advance to the ALCS.
I know, I know, long time readers know that I'm a Detroit Tigers fan. Sadly, after dominating their division during the first half of the season, my hometown team took a late season plunge right out of playoff contention, much to my dismay.
Fortunately, there is one other.
I lived in Cleveland for eight years before I headed to Chicago in the mid-1990s. During that time there, I saw a team that was once considered a joke make it to the World Series in 1995. I became a fan and to this day retain a soft spot in my heart for the Indians--except when they play the Detroit Tigers.
With the Detroit Tigers out of contention, I've turned to rooting for the Indians. Given my extreme dislike of the New York Yankees, you can guess that I've been loving every minute of the last two games, particularly last night's game. It was a nail-biter of a pitching duel, in which the Tribe threatened multiple times but couldn't score to tie the game until the 8th inning, forcing the game into extra innings with a 1-1 tie. Andy Pettite was strong, and Fausto Carmona was amazing, pitching all the way through the ninth inning for the Tribe and giving up only three hits, one of which, unfortunately, was a home run.
Then, in the bottom of the 11th, with the bases loaded and two outs, Travis Hafner worked the count to 3-2.
Then he hit a base hit, winning the game.
And the Yankees are down 0-2 in the series.
And I love it.
And the Tigers next year!
And to think I recommended your blog on that recent survey of favorite science blogs - yeah, I'm a disgruntled Yankee fan right now but I have to give credit to the Indians in these first 2 games. Last night's game was a classic and the Yankees had exactly what they wanted with Pettite, Chamberlain, and Rivera but close games turn on only a couple of pitches. I'm impressed with Sabathia and Carmona and think that the Indians have a good shot of going all the way (the Yanks have a long road ahead of them to take this series). What is interesting is that 2-3 months ago nobody was talking much about the Indians and everyone was waiting for the Tigers to make a big move. Hot teams win playoff series and the Indians certainly look to be hot right now.
And the Yankees are down 0-2 in the series.
And I love it.
Seconded.
(Not that I have anything in particular against the current crop of pinstripes, but here in New Hampshire, it's illegal to not hate the Yankees. ;-) )
"Given my extreme dislike of the New York Yankees, you can guess that I've been loving every minute of the last two games, particularly last night's game."
How could you have possibly mentioned last night's game without mentioning that it was the flies that got the win?