TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE - GAME 4

You know, I really need to wrap this thing up because I'm going to be up musky fishing this weekend.  Plus, I'm being distracted trying to keep my fantasy football team from winning a game.

Anyway, here are tonight's early returns:

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Buchholz	Bos	13	6th inning
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	7	6th inning
1B	AGonzalez	SD	0	late
2B	Kinsler	Tex	0	late
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	late
3B	Arod	NYY	2	6th inning
OF	Granderson	NYY	3	6th inning
OF	Cuddyer	Min	0	6th inning
OF	Matsui	LAA	0	late
DH	Davis	NYM	2	8th inning
			27
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	Scherzer	Ari	0	Wednesday
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
C	McCann	Atl	0	6th inning
1B	Cabrera	Det	8	6th inning
2B	Raburn	Det	8	6th inning
SS	Infante	Atl	1	6th inning
3B	Zimmerman	Was	2	7th inning
OF	Werth	Phi	13	6th inning
OF	Markakis	Bal	0	6th inning
OF	Morrison	Fla	2	8th inning
DH	Dunn	Was	1	7th inning
			35

900pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Buchholz	Bos	15	done - could get L
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	7	8th inning
1B	AGonzalez	SD	0	late
2B	Kinsler	Tex	0	late
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	late
3B	Arod	NYY	4	8th inning
OF	Granderson	NYY	3	8th inning
OF	Cuddyer	Min	0	6th inning
OF	Matsui	LAA	0	late
DH	Davis	NYM	2	Final
			31
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	Scherzer	Ari	0	Wednesday
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0
C	McCann	Atl	2	8th inning
1B	Cabrera	Det	9	9th inning
2B	Raburn	Det	8	9th inning
SS	Infante	Atl	1	8th inning
3B	Zimmerman	Was	2	8th inning
OF	Werth	Phi	16	8th inning
OF	Crisp	Oak	0	Did not start
OF	Morrison	Fla	2	Final
DH	Dunn	Was	3	8th inning
			43

I had Markakis in my S/L originally.  It should have been Crisp.

100pm

Last update tonight...

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Buchholz	Bos	15	Final
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	7	Final
1B	AGonzalez	SD	4	3rd inning
2B	Kinsler	Tex	0	4th inning
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	4th inning
3B	Arod	NYY	4	Final
OF	Granderson	NYY	3	Final
OF	Cuddyer	Min	0	8th inning
OF	Matsui	LAA	1	4th inning
DH	Davis	NYM	2	Final
			36
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	Scherzer	Ari	0	Wednesday
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0	DNP
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0	DNP
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0	3 - Final
C	McCann	Atl	2	FInal
1B	Cabrera	Det	9	Final
2B	Raburn	Det	8	Final
SS	Infante	Atl	1	Final
3B	Zimmerman	Was	5	Final
OF	Werth	Phi	16	Final
OF	Crisp	Oak	0	Did not start
OF	Morrison	Fla	2	Final
DH	Dunn	Was	7	Final
			50

TUESDAY NIGHT LIVE

This is likely to be a very long post.  FNFT World Series baseball and election returns on the same night.  A good night to stay home.  Here we go...

630pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	0	7pm
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	0	Not starting
1B	AGonzalez	SD	0	930pm
2B	Kinsler	Tex	0	9pm
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	9pm
3B	Arod	NYY	0	0/1
OF	Granderson	NYY	2	1/1 2b
OF	Cuddyer	Min	0	Not starting
OF	Matsui	LAA	0	0/1
DH	Peralta	Det	0	7pm
			2
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	4	1IP K
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0
C	McCann	Atl	0	0/1
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	9pm
2B	Raburn	Det	0	9pm
SS	Infante	Atl	0	0/1
3B	Zimmerman	Was	0	0/0
OF	Werth	Phi	0	0/0
OF	Markakis	Bal	1	1/1
OF	Morrison	Fla	0	0/0
DH	Dunn	Was	0	0/0
			5

I'll try to post a similar update every 15 minutes or so and interject BS whenever I feel it appropriate.

Reports say Posada has a routine night off and will return to the lineup tomorrow (unless, of course, he's needed for a pinch hit strikeout later tonight.)

Michael Cuddyer is not in the starting lineup for the Twins despite hitting .467 with 5 HR and 12 RBI against the White Sox starting pitcher, Danks.  Don't know what's up with that.

Cuddyer is in fact playing.  (Thank you Twitter.)  At first base - that's why I didn't see him on the list.  Male pattern blindness.

No way I can do an update every 15 minutes.  It takes almost that long to fill out the stupid thing.

655pm

ADAM DUNN!!!  Two-run jack!  That's what I'm talkin' 'bout baby.

700pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	0	7pm
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	0	Not starting
1B	AGonzalez	SD	0	930pm
2B	Kinsler	Tex	0	9pm
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	9pm
3B	Arod	NYY	0	0/1
OF	Granderson	NYY	2	1/1 2b
OF	Cuddyer	Min	0	7pm
OF	Matsui	LAA	0	0/1
DH	Peralta	Det	0	7pm
			2
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	8	2.2IP 2H 2K
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0
C	McCann	Atl	0	0/1
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	9pm
2B	Raburn	Det	0	9pm
SS	Infante	Atl	0	0/1
3B	Zimmerman	Was	2	1/1 R
OF	Werth	Phi	1	0/0 BB
OF	Markakis	Bal	1	1/1
OF	Morrison	Fla	0	0/1
DH	Dunn	Was	10	1/1 R 2RBI HR
			22

Travis Wood has given up 2 runs through 3 innings. Looks like I picked the right pitcher.

I had the wrong start time for Detroit - game starts at 7.

Hudson is having a shakey 4th inning - 2 on 1 out.

725pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	0	7pm
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	0	Not starting
1B	AGonzalez	SD	0	930pm
2B	Kinsler	Tex	0	0/0
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	0/0
3B	Arod	NYY	4	1/2 R RBI
OF	Granderson	NYY	5	2/2 R 2-2b
OF	Cuddyer	Min	0	0/1
OF	Matsui	LAA	0	0/2
DH	Peralta	Det	0	0/0
			9
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	11	4IP 3H BB 3K
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0
C	McCann	Atl	1	1/2
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	0/1
2B	Raburn	Det	1	0/0 BB
SS	Infante	Atl	0	0/1
3B	Zimmerman	Was	3	2/2 R
OF	Werth	Phi	1	0/0 BB
OF	Markakis	Bal	1	1/2
OF	Morrison	Fla	1	0/1 R
DH	Dunn	Was	11	2/2 R 2RBI HR
			30

John is starting to get a little somthing going but I'm holding at about a 20 point lead.

Sucks about Ryan Grant, hey?

Wainwright 2 Ks in the 1st inning.

NICKY MARKAKIS - YARD!!!

Hudson is lights out - 2 more Ks.

ARod goes deep.

745pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	7	1.2IP H BB 4K
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	0	Not starting
1B	AGonzalez	SD	0	930pm
2B	Kinsler	Tex	0	0/0
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	0/1
3B	Arod	NYY	13	2/3 2R 2RBI HR
OF	Granderson	NYY	5	2/3 R 2-2b
OF	Cuddyer	Min	0	0/1
OF	Matsui	LAA	2	1/3 2b
DH	Peralta	Det	0	0/0
			27
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	15	5IP 4H BB 5K
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0
C	McCann	Atl	1	1/2
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	0/1
2B	Raburn	Det	1	0/0 BB
SS	Infante	Atl	0	0/2
3B	Zimmerman	Was	3	2/3 R
OF	Werth	Phi	1	0/1 BB
OF	Markakis	Bal	9	2/3 R RBI HR
OF	Morrison	Fla	1	0/2 R
DH	Dunn	Was	12	2/2 R 2RBI HR BB
			43

My niece just called.  She's working on some sort of school project and needed the starting lineup from Game 7 of the 1955 World Series.  She said she looked on line for over a half hour and could find it.  Then she figured she'd call me.  (Wonder why.)  I had it on my screen before she finished telling me what she needed.

The Dodgers beat the Yankees in the game 2-0.  Johnny Podres threw a shutout and Gil Hodges drove in both runs for The Bums.

800pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	4	3IP 3H 3ER BB 5K
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	0	Not starting
1B	AGonzalez	SD	0	0/1
2B	Kinsler	Tex	1	0/0 BB
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	0/1
3B	Arod	NYY	13	2/3 2R 2RBI HR
OF	Granderson	NYY	5	2/3 R 2-2b
OF	Cuddyer	Min	0	0/1
OF	Matsui	LAA	2	1/3 2b
DH	Peralta	Det	0	0/0
			25
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	19	6IP 4H BB 6K
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0
C	McCann	Atl	2	2/3
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	0/1
2B	Raburn	Det	1	0/0 BB
SS	Infante	Atl	0	0/3
3B	Zimmerman	Was	3	2/3 R
OF	Werth	Phi	1	0/1 BB
OF	Markakis	Bal	9	2/3 R RBI HR
OF	Morrison	Fla	1	0/2 R
DH	Dunn	Was	12	2/2 R 2RBI HR BB
			48

Hudson 1-2-3 in the 7th with 2 more Ks.

With 0.2% of precincts reporting, Ron Johnson has 78% of the vote for the GOP Senate primary.  He will win in a slaughter.

Walker up 54-42.

Wainwright has given up 5 runs on 9 hits - still in the 4th inning.  The night is going well.

Another 1-2-3 for Hudson.

830pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	-1	4IP 9H 5ER BB 7K
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	0	Not starting
1B	AGonzalez	SD	1	0/1 BB
2B	Kinsler	Tex	1	0/0 BB
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	0/1
3B	Arod	NYY	13	2/3 2R 2RBI HR
OF	Granderson	NYY	6	2/3 R 2-2b BB
OF	Cuddyer	Min	2	1/2 2b
OF	Matsui	LAA	2	1/3 2b
DH	Peralta	Det	1	0/1 RBI
			25
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	27	8IP 4H BB 8K
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0
C	McCann	Atl	2	2/3
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	0/2
2B	Raburn	Det	2	0/0 R BB
SS	Infante	Atl	0	0/3
3B	Zimmerman	Was	3	2/4 R
OF	Werth	Phi	2	0/2 RBI BB
OF	Markakis	Bal	9	2/4 R RBI HR
OF	Morrison	Fla	1	0/2 R
DH	Dunn	Was	12	2/2 R 2RBI HR BB
			58

Jake just emailed and asked for another invite to the fantasy football league. Did that. I AM HOPPIN' TONIGHT.

Hudson is done.  Reds have 2 on in 9th.  AZ up 3-0 - need to hold on so Hudson gets the W.

Fuck the D-Bags bullpen.

OK - great catch by Upton to finish the game.  Hudson finishes with 32 points.

Wainwright settling in.

Walker-Neumann race is zig-zagging between even and Walker up 10.  It's closer than I thought it would be.

I just killed a centipede.

Wainwright still pitching into the 8th.

920pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	8	Final (assuming L)
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	0	Not starting
1B	AGonzalez	SD	1	0/2 BB
2B	Kinsler	Tex	3	0/0 R 2BB
SS	Andrus	Tex	0	0/3
3B	Arod	NYY	13	2/4 2R 2RBI HR
OF	Granderson	NYY	7	2/4 2R 2-2b BB
OF	Cuddyer	Min	2	1/3 2b
OF	Matsui	LAA	3	Final
DH	Peralta	Det	1	0/1 RBI
			38
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	32	Final
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0	dnp
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0
RP3	Gregg	Tor	0
C	McCann	Atl	2	Final
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	0/3
2B	Raburn	Det	2	0/0 R BB
SS	Infante	Atl	0	Final
3B	Zimmerman	Was	4	Final
OF	Werth	Phi	2	0/2 RBI BB
OF	Markakis	Bal	9	2/5 R RBI HR
OF	Morrison	Fla	3	1/3 R BB
DH	Dunn	Was	12	Final
			66

I don't see any way John wins this.

They just showed Jim Sundberg in the stands at the Rangers game. Holy fucking shit. The guy weighs about 300 pounds. He was stuffing his puss full of popcorn.

Walker up 52-45.

All these games are going slow.  It seems like Detroit and Texas have been playing for four hours.  Same for the Twins and Sox.

950pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	8	Final
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	0	Not starting
1B	AGonzalez	SD	1	0/3 BB
2B	Kinsler	Tex	7	1/2 R RBI 2BB
SS	Andrus	Tex	2	1/4 R
3B	Arod	NYY	13	2/5 2R 2RBI HR
OF	Granderson	NYY	7	2/5 2R 2-2b BB
OF	Cuddyer	Min	2	1/4 2b
OF	Matsui	LAA	3	Final
DH	Peralta	Det	1	0/3 RBI
			44
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	32	Final
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0	dnp
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0	(4 - Final)
C	McCann	Atl	2	Final
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	0/4
2B	Raburn	Det	2	0/2 R BB
SS	Infante	Atl	0	Final
3B	Zimmerman	Was	4	Final
OF	Werth	Phi	2	Final
OF	Markakis	Bal	9	Final
OF	Morrison	Fla	3	Final
DH	Dunn	Was	12	Final
			66

Yankees win.  Yankees wins. Th-uuuuuuuuuuuh, YANKEES WIN!  10-innings.  Carl Crawford is thrown out trying to tag up from 2B and go to 3B to end the game.  What a butt-head.

Walker wins. Walker wins. Sc-aaaaaaaht WALKER WINS!

Wow - totally missed this!  Jorge Posada did play.  And hit a pinch hit home run the motherfucker.  That tightens things up quite a bit.  I'll have another update as soon as the Twins-Sox game is over.  Or maybe when the Tigers game is over.

J.J. Hardy was the player of the game in the Twins game according to the broadcast team.

Tigers-Rangers game is in the 9th.  Peralta batting.

1020pm

JOHN - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?
SP	Wainwright	StL	8	Final
RP1	Wilson	SF	0
RP2	Capps	Min	0	dnp
RP3	Aardsma	Sea	0
C	Posada	NYY	8	Final
1B	AGonzalez	SD	1	0/3 BB
2B	Kinsler	Tex	8	Final
SS	Andrus	Tex	4	Final
3B	Arod	NYY	13	Final
OF	Granderson	NYY	7	Final
OF	Cuddyer	Min	2	Final
OF	Matsui	LAA	3	Final
DH	Peralta	Det	1	Final
			55
TIEF - CHIEF BENDERS
SP	DHudson	Ari	32	Final
RP1	Wagner	Atl	0	dnp
RP2	Lyon	Hou	0	(4 - Final)
C	McCann	Atl	2	Final
1B	Cabrera	Det	0	Final
2B	Raburn	Det	2	Final
SS	Infante	Atl	0	Final
3B	Zimmerman	Was	4	Final
OF	Werth	Phi	2	Final
OF	Markakis	Bal	9	Final
OF	Morrison	Fla	3	Final
DH	Dunn	Was	12	Final
			66

Adrian Gonzalez will be up to bat in a couple of minutes - his last AB.

He's being walked intentionally.

OK, I think I'll wrap it up.  Gonzalez gets another point so it's Tief 66, John 56.  We each get a RP - that's it (unless the Padres game goes extras and Gonzalez bats again).  I'm not going to wait up to see if Wilson or Aardsma go later tonight.  I get 4 from Lyon if Wagner doesn't pitch.  It ain't over, but I like where I'm sittin'.

Scott Walker wins.

Ron Johnson wins.

Tief probably wins.

It's a...

Good Night!

SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE

I know.  I'm supposed to be entering the football rosters instead of this.  I'll get to it.

855pm
So, Max Scherzer gets lit up in the 6th inning and finishes with a grand total of 2 points.  He could still get the win which would give him 5.  The score right now is Tief 45, John 37.  It will be 48-37 if Detroit hangs on for the win.  King Felix takes the mound in just a few minutes.

1030pm
Alright - I've got all of the football rosters entered.  I've also got Game 1 of the World Series in the bag (probably).  Detroit wound up losing their game so Scherzer finishes with only 2 points.  But - King Felix only gets 4 points and could drop to 2 if he gets the loss.  That puts the score at Tief 45, John 41 and maybe 45-39.  Unless Josh Hamilton comes off the bench to do some damage, I've got Game 1.

WEEKEND UPDATE

I just want to be sure that everyone understands the playoff schedule for this weekend.  There are two games - one spanning Friday and Saturday, and the other spanning Sunday and Monday.  All Major League teams are scheduled to play all four days.  You can have separate lineups for the two games and make a separate pickup for each of the two games.  I will post a notice on the website when you can start making lineup changes for the Sunday game - probably when I get home from work on Friday.

John leads his series with Avery 2 - 0.  He has his ace Adam Wainwright pitching Friday night against the Reds.  All of Avery's healthy pitchers pitched on either Tuesday or Wednesday.  He does not currently have a pitcher for Friday.  Is Chris Smith available?

Hicks and I are tied 1 - 1.  Hicks will get Roy Halliday on Saturday.  I will probably choose Daniel Hudson of Arizona, although I'm still studying the issue.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT LIVE

700pm - Just finished a bowl of homemade apple sauce.  Max Scherzer is bout to take the mound.  I'm in the playoffs.  I love fall.

705pm - Set up the important game first:
Hicks - 42.  Only two players to watch.  B Molina is starting.  Also get Papelbon or +5 from Lidge.
Tief - 27.  Max Scherzer is about to get going; got it on MLB-TV.  McCann (ATL) is starting and is 0-for-1.  Also get Wagner (ATL), Gregg (TOR), or +9 from Venters.
Won't know about any of the RPs until later.

710pm - Detroit is playing in Minnesota (where it is not snowing, by the way) so Tigers bat first.

730pm - Scherzer is ON.  2 IP, 3 K, the rest eggs.  19 pitches - 16 or them for strikes.  This is going well.

735pm - In the other game, Angel Pagan is not in the lineup for the Mets and Avery.  Injury report says he has a strained wrist and is day-to-day.  Avery need to make up a 62 point deficit.  Even if Jimenez throws a no-hitter, it may not be enough.

745pm - Brian McCann is sucking.  0-for-2 with a HBP. Molina is 0-for-1 so no damage there.  Another K for Scherzer.

750pm - First base runner off Scherzer is J.J. Hardy who reaches on an error by the RF; otherwise he strikes out the side.  3IP, 6K - 15 points.  Brings me to 42 and in a virtual tie with Hicks.

755pm - Still nothing from either catcher.  Tigers aren't getting Scherzer any runs.  Game is still 0-0.

800pm - The grass in Target Field almost looks like artificial turf.  Must be that snow pack that keeps it so nice.

810pm - 3up3down for Scherzer.  No-hitter through 4.

820pm - Atlanta is leading 4-0 in the 8th.  Wondering if Wagner will get in.  I hope not.  Baldy is underway in SFO.  Can't watch that - got to watch Max.

Double by Delmon Young breaks up Scherzer's no-hitter.  I knew that would happen.

Another hit.  First and third - no outs.

Awesome catch by Austin Jackson in CF.  Doubles runner off first, but a run scores.

Another great catch - inning over.  Scherzer 19 pts.  Tief 46, Hicks 42.

830pm - The game in SFO is Jimenez against Lincecum.  Wow - I didn't realize that.  Jimenez gave up nothing in the 1st.

835pm - Billy Wagner is in the game for the Braves in a save situation.  MLB.TV is in 4 games at once mode.  Wagner gets a ground out.

840pm - McCann picked up a walk and Wagner a save.  I get the 9 points from my reliever anyway.  [Check Scherzer...]  Scherzer with 19 but could get the loss.  6 IP - I'm sure he'll be back out for the 7th.  Let's see... that puts me at 56.  A 14 point lead.  I still need Scherzer to finish clean.

845pm - Jimenez 2 IP, 2 K.

850pm - Just realized that Jerry Hairston did not play for John.  His 87 will stand at that.

855pm - Scherzer 1 hit, 1 K in 7th.  Tief 59, Hicks 42.

Jimenez 3 IP, 4 K.

900pm - A guy on COL just hit a home run so Jimenez is covered for the win if he... you know... keeps going like he is.

905pm - Still waiting to see if Papelbon gets int he game for Hicks.  Boston is up by 4 in the 8th.

Just heard on the Royals broadcast that Jason Kendall will need surgery for a torn rotator cuff and will likely miss all of next season.

910pm - Jimenez 4 IP, 6 K.

Still watching the Texas game.  Molina will get one more AB for Hicks.

Ryan Franklin pitched for Avery and got only 1 point.  He needs Valverde to go.  Detroit is down 1 in the 8th with a guy on first and no outs.

915pm - Jimenez has given up a base hit.  The no-hitter is gone, as probably are Avery's chances to beat John.

925pm - Jimenez has given up a walk and another hit which scored a run.  It's over.  John will win Game 2 and take a 2-0 series lead.

Meanwhile...
Scherzer 8 3 1 1 1 9 = 27 pts.  Tief 64, Hicks 42

930pm - Papelbon is in for Hicks.  This is his only chance.  It is a save situation, but even if he strikes out the side, that's only 15.  It would leave Hicks 7 points back.  Things are looking good in Tiefville.

935pm - In the Boston game, the home plate ump got hit with a foul ball square in the nuts.  He's down.

He's walking off the field with help but had to stop a couple of times to catch his balance.

940pm - Wow.  Scherzer is out for the 9th.  Game tied 1-1.  First guy grounded out.  Second guy grounded out.  Thome in to PH.

945pm - Thome singles and Mauer flies out.  3 more points for Scherzer, plus 2 for the RQS.  Meanwhile, Papelbon got the save but only 1 K.  10 points by my count.  Tief 67, Hicks 52.  Benji Molina was out in the 8th for Texas.  He's all Hicks has left.  I suppose the game could go to extra innings and he'd bat again, but even if he did and hit a grand slam, I'd still have this one in the bag.

I'm shutting her down.  Good night.

PLAYOFF UPDATE

Another FNFT regular season is in the books.  The 2010 FNFT Playoffs will be:

John - ARE YOU TALKING TO ME?

vs.

Avery - MAYBE HE WAS TALKING TO ME

Tief - CHIEF BENDERS

vs.

Bill - MR. WARMTH STRIKES

Classic.

A couple of notes on the playoff schedule.  There is a doubleheader of sorts on Labor Day weekend.  It's not a true doubleheader but the games are back-to-back.  One game will span Friday and Saturday and the other will span Sunday and Monday.

When I drew up the original schedule, I had said that the World Series would start as soon as possible after the playoffs ended so as to avoid playing right up to the last weekend.  I've scraped that.  If you take a look at the schedule you'll understand why.  If both playoff series ended in either 3 or 4 games, the World Series would need to start the next day after playoffs ended.  I think that's just too quick of a turnaround, so I have the World Series to start on a set date - Friday 9/10.  Besides, the FNFT World Series should start on a Friday anyway.

I should add the disclaimer that I made the above schedule change without any knowledge of how it may affect the pitching rotations for my own team.  I'm not going to do that, because it's not true.  For two weeks already, I've had the pitching rotations of every team in the Major Leagues mapped out to the end of the season so that I know if/when I might need to pick up a starter and who the available choices might be. This change actually screws me a bit.

John and Tief return to the FNFT postseason for the first time since meeting in the 2004 World Series.  That year was Tief's lone FNFT championship.  John took the FNFT title the year before that (2003) defeating Dale for his only FNFT title.

Bill is back in the playoffs for the second time.  His lone FNFT championship came in 2006 when he defeated Jake for the title.

Then there's The King.  Eight FNFT championships in the first 15 years of the league - none since.  Of the four FNFT playoff teams this year, Avery is the one with the longest championship drought, currently at 8 years.

Same rules apply to the playoffs as do in the regular season.  One pickup per game.  Lineups due in at noon.  The lineup system will function as it normally does.  The rest of you can still go in there and look.  Just don't make any roster moves.

Finally, a few quick notes about the end of the regular season.

If Brett had played Lyle Overbay at 1B in Game 30 instead of Carlos Pena, he would be playing Avery on Tuesday in a 1-game playoff for the division title.

By finishing the season 6-0, Connor avoids the dubious distinction of finishing below the Smith Line.

No team finished with 100 wins.  The only other time that has happened was in 2008, but that's now twice in three years.

Seven teams finished within 10 games of the lead in their division.  That's the most ever.

Now, I'm off to study.  See you back on Friday...

SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE

First, some advice for playoff contending teams:  Check the injury reports.  You just want to give away two positions?  I know.  "Tief, get a life."  Off soapbox.

Ubaldo Jimenez is through three scoreless innings, giving up only one walk.  No strikeouts though.  Still, Avery is pulling away.  Nothing but DNPs so far from Brett and Joe.

8:30 - Ubaldo has 13 points through 5 innings.  Still nothing from any of Joe or Brett's players.

SATURDAY UPDATE

Joel got all of the hitting he needed to make a last ditch run at the wild card - 57 points.  But it was his pitching that did him in.  John Lester and Carlos Marmol combined for -27 points.  He's not going to make it to the dance.

John got a solid game out of Felix Hernandez.  He will win the Aaron Division and finish with the best record in the league.  Bill Hicks will win the wild card.  Tief will limp to victory in the Spahn Division.

The Mathews Division is in the hands of Ubaldo Jimenez.  Joe has 32 points plus Carlos Gonzalez, plus his RP.  Brett has 27 points plus Soto, Rios and his RP.  Avery has 31 points plus Olivo, Butler, his RP - and Ubaldo.  Obviously a solid game by the NL Cy Young candidate will ice the division for Avery.  A blow up and anything could happen.  Colorado plays at Arizona tonight at 9:00 p.m.  I'll try to have live updates but it won't be until later tonight.

THURSDAY UPDATE

Seven teams have a mathematical chance at making the playoffs heading into the final Friday.  Only one of those team has clinched a playoff spot.  This is why we have three divisions and a wild card.

John clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday and is the only team yet to clinch.  He leads Bill by 6 games in his division.  Tief also leads Joel by 6 games.  The probability that one particular team goes 6-0 and another particular team goes 0-6 is 1 in 156 (0.64%).  Those are the odds that Joel and Bill are facing to finish tied for first in their respective divisions.  Because only one team can go 6-0 (or 0-6), it would be impossible for BOTH Joel and Bill to make up the 6 game gap.

The major pennant race is in the Mathews Division where Avery now leads Joe by 1 game and Brett by 2 games.  None of these three teams has a chance at the wild card, so this race is winner take all.  There are literally hundreds of different ways this could play out, including many that involve a tie.  In the event of a tie, a one-game playoff would be played next Tuesday (8/24).  There is even a chance for a first ever 3-way tie, in which case all three teams would be involved in the playoff with the highest score winning.

In addition to having a slim chance at the division, Joel also has a better chance at the wild card where he trails Bill by 3 games.

Here is the dream scenario for Friday:  Joel goes 6-0, Tief goes 0-6, Bill goes 3-3, Brett goes 5-1, Joe goes 4-2, Avery goes 3-3.

If this happened, six teams would be playing in Tuesday's one game playoff.  There would be a menage-a-trois for the Mathews Division, Tief and Joel would be playing head-to-head for the Spahn Division, with the loser being head-to-head against Bill for the wild card.

WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE

Very interesting developments on Tuesday night.

In the Mathews Division, Joe is going to go 0-4.  Brett and Avery are battling for the 4-0 position with Brett currently holding a slight edge.  If Brett holds his lead, and Avery goes 3-1, as he most likely would, Avery will lead the division by 1 game over Joe and by 2 games over Brett heading into the final weekend.  If Avery manages to get to 4-0, which could happen with a strong game from Ryan Franklin, he will hold a 2 game lead over Joe and 4 game lead over Brett.  Avery is back in the playoffs drivers seat, but all three teams will still have a shot.

In the Spahn Division, Joel has a chance to pick up 4 games on Tief and keep a mathematical chance of winning the division going into Friday.  His SP is Liriano tonight.  He hold about a 10 point lead on the week over Jake who has Tim Hudson pitching tonight in Atlanta.

Joel should also gain ground in the wild card race as Hicks is looking at a 2-2 at best.  Hicks currently leads the wild card race by 4 games.

PLAYOFF RACE - GAME 28

DEAD

Connor, Max, Gerry - All have been mathematically eliminated from the playoff contention.

MAY BE SAFELY LEFT FOR DEAD

Tom - Trails Bill by 10 games in the standings.  Would need to finish 10-0, have Bill finish 0-10, have a whole bunch of other things happen as well, and them win a 1-game playoff with Bill for the wild card.  Ain't gonna happen.

Both Jakes - Eliminated from their division races and trail Bill by 8 games in the wild card race.  Very similar scenario to Tom.

STILL WITH A WEAK PULSE

Brett - Nine games behind Bill in the wild card race but only 5 back in the division - but trailing two teams.  Magic number to beat Joe for he division title is 16, so a 10-0 finish would mean that Joe could go 6-4 to win outright or 5-5 to tie.  Needs to go 4-0 Tuesday to have even a slim chance.

Joel - Only two wins away from elimination in the division, but only 4 back in the wild card race.  Magic number to beat Bill is 15.  If that happens, the rest would probably fall into place.

ALIVE BUT NOT QUITE KICKIN'

Avery - Trails Joe by 2 games in the division and beating him is best chance for playoffs.  Tuesday is head to head - it's critical that he beats Joe straight up.  If so would enter final game no worse than 1 game back.

SLOW DANCING

Joe - Magic number to beat Avery is 9.  Beating Avery straight up on Tuesday would almost make it a lock.  Still would have a remote chance at the wild card if division falls through, but really doesn't want to go there.

Bill - Wild card is his to lose.  Holds a 4-game lead over the field.  Still has a remote chance at division title.  Finishing 7-3 would ice it.

AT THE DISCO

Tief - Magic number to win division is 2.  Is in barring a complete collapse.  Even with an 0-10 finish, would still likely be in.

John - Magic number to win division is 3.  Has clinched a playoff spot as he can finish no worse than the wild card.

HEAT

Just warming up the blog for the pennant race, playoffs and World Series.  Stay tuned...

PLAYER STATS

A good way to calculate and publish FNFT player points on a timely basis continues to elude me, however here is a rundown of the top 35 - those who would be in the auction if the season ended today.

FNFT	POS	PLAYER	MLB	POINTS
Bill	SP1	Roy Halladay	Phi	214
Jake	SP1	Tim Lincecum	SF	164
Brett	SP1	C.C. Sabathia	NYY	152
Gerry	DH	Vladimir Guerrero	Tex	149
Bill	1B	Ryan Howard	Phi	144
Max	SP1	Chris Carpenter	StL	139
John	SP1	Adam Wainwright	StL	138
Tom	SP1	Roy Oswalt	Hou	134
Avery	SP1	Ubaldo Jimenez	Col	132
Jacob	SP1	Cliff Lee	Sea	125
Connor	SP1	Ryan Dempster	ChC	123
Tief	1B	Adam Dunn	Was	122
Max	1B	Justin Morneau	Min	118
Gerry	SP1	Zack Greinke	KC	118
Joel	3B	David Wright	NYM	117
John	OF	Josh Hamilton	Tex	117
John	1B	Adrian Gonzalez	SD	116
John	3B	Alex Rodriguez	NYY	116
Jake	OF	Matt Holliday	StL	113
Tief	SP1	Justin Verlander	Det	113
Brett	RP1	Rafael Soriano	TB	112
Joe	RP1	Heath Bell	SD	111
Joel	SP3	Johan Santana	NYM	108
Bill	OF	Vernon Wells	Tor	106
Gerry	RP1	Mariano Rivera	NYY	106
Gerry	1B	Derrek Lee	ChC	104
Jacob	2B	Brandon Phillips	Cin	103
John	DH	Hideki Matsui	LAA	103
Jacob	OF	Andre Ethier	LAD	103
Brett	OF	Matt Kemp	LAD	103
Jacob	3B	Evan Longoria	TB	102
Brett	1B	Miguel Cabrera	Det	101
Jacob	SP2	Jered Weaver	LAA	101
Joel	1B	Albert Pujols	StL	100
Jacob	1B	Kevin Youkilis	Bos	100

As you can see, the list is heavily dominated by starting pitchers.  If this were the auction list, there would be 13 SPs in the auction.  I don't think we've ever had that many.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE: I'M WORKING!!!

At long last, I've gotten the FNFT message system back up and working.  This is one of the pieces that worked last year that was broken by the new software upgrade.  Well, it's back and better than before.  Sorry it took so long.

GIve it a try.  Login and click "Messages" from the top menu.