There's something about 12:16 AM and October 17 when it comes to the Red Sox

As October 16 became October 17 and the Red Sox were coming back in Game Five of the ALCS, I couldn't help thinking that it happened to be the fifth anniversary of Aaron Boone's home run off Tim Wakefield in the 10th inning of Game Seven at Yankee Stadium.

Not only was it the same day but at midnight you were only 16 minutes away from the anniversary of the home run. So just for the heck of it, I casually remarked that at 12:16 AM the Red Sox would win this game.

Once they got to 7-4 on David Ortiz's home run, you had to know even if you're not a Red Sox fan. How can you not have had an inkling, you've seen this before, 3-0 down
2004, 3-1 down in 2007.

Not only is the 12:16 a strange thing in the world of baseball karma (if there is such a thing), but it's a history-altering minute.

What if 12:16 in 2003 doesn't happen? What if the game ends earlier with Pedro Martinez coming out and the relievers getting those final five outs?

Maybe the Red Sox win the World Series after that, ending the 85 years of bad karma and curses. Maybe Grady Little comes back in 2004, the franchise gets complacent and content with finally winning just one that certain moves might not get made?

Would they have gone hard after Curt Schilling? What about Keith Foulke? Would they have pursued a closer after successfully winning via closer by committee?

Would they have traded Nomar Garciaparra? Would they have gone after Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell?

One misguided pitch changed history five years ago today. Another one kept the course of history ushered in by that deep drive alive for another day.

Whether it's a karmic sign that the Red Sox are due to repeat and win for the third time in five years remains to be seen.

One thing is for certain never underestimate the heart of a team like the Red Sox, whose comebacks in the Terry Francona are the most impressive in baseball postseason history.

Baseball teams are only as good as the peformers. They're determined by the pitches, hitting abilities and managerial decisions.

Sometimes they're minor decisions but one decision by Grady Little brought the Red Sox to 12:16 AM on October 17, 2003 and ultimately brought them to J.D. Drew's hit at 12:16 AM on October 17, 2008.

If that's not a baseball coincidence, then I don't know what is.

Voros in front of net equals goals and rousing start for the Rangers

Roughly 90 minutes after the ice had been cleared the fans were gone, the vendor was wheeling his unsold t-shirts into the elevator and moving them into storage for the next night of hawking Rangers merchandise. The cart did not include any items containing the name Aaron Voros.

Chances are they might the next time. Especially if Voros continues to find his way in front of opposing goaltenders to deflect those big drives from the point.

Voros did just that Monday and the Rangers are 5-0-0 for the first time since 1983-84. If they win again Wednesday against Ryan Miller and the Sabres, that will be a franchise record.

So who is Aaron Voros? He's a guy who has the passion for standing in front of the net. He said so himself.



The initial comparision is Sean Avery, whose tactics prompted the league to name a rule after him. Tom Renney's better comparison is Thomas Holmstrom of Detroit, who has scored 176 times since 1996 by doing just that and so far Voros has caused this song to play three times by his actions.

His actions have along with those of Brandon Dubinsky - who is becoming a clutch player in the mode of Chris Drury - have prompted this song to be played five times in as many games so far.

Making matters even more impressive is that the top line of Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund and Chris Drury did not even register a point against the Devils.

Before the season started, the popular vote had the Rangers somewhere around sixth in the East because it was going to be a season of seeing how Jaromir Jagr could be replaced but the Rangers have done that by replacing his plodding style with a quick strike and speed game and that is what can win a lot of games these days.

That's not a knock at Jagr, it's just the reality of the league and the Rangers have embraced it to the tune of 10 points. It has not all been perfect, there have been stretches that would be nicely classified as "not so good", but it's a rousing start.

The latest win came after prospect Alexei Cherepanov passed away at the way too young age of 19 in Russia and while playing alongside Jagr. Jagr remained in contact with the Rangers and said he was good enough to play on a second line in the NHL.

The best way to honor something so tragic is to put forth these kind of efforts that lead to more wins than losses.


"Just stay humble. Work hard. Work harder than the other team every game, and work harder in practice. “Take nothing for granted, especially on a day like today. How could you? It’s a gift to be playing in this league. It’s a gift to walk the planet. So you know what, leave it on the ice every single night and let the results take care of themselves." - Tom Renney

The Knicks probably won't be very good but at least we'll have an idea of what's going on

In case you've been scoring at home, the Knicks over the last seven years have been terrible. They've appeared in four playoff games and won none of them and their combined regular-season record is a sterling 218-356. They've also been stuck in the stone age when it comes to information but since Donnie Walsh has come aboard, those media policies have become a thing of the past.



Proof of that besides the obvious comes from Jamal Crawford blogging for Newsday, which happens to be owned by Cablevision. Perhaps the best evidence is today's episode of Real Training Camp on NBA-TV. If you've ever seen the show, it's an open practice coming into your living room with commentary and today the Knicks were the featured team.

Today's episode saw them do a lot of running which is what the system of new coach Mike D'Antoni is about. In Phoenix he liked to get the shot off in seven seconds or less, whether he can do that here is another story.

One thing that viewers saw is Eddy Curry practice for the first time after being stricken with a 104-degree fever last week. Viewers also saw Stephon Marbury look in the best shape of his career as he prepares for a possible role as a reserve.

The Knicks will probably not very good, maybe somewhere in the 30s in the win department. D'Antoni is throwing it against the wall and see what sticks but the fact that the organization is allowing fans to watch a practice on TV is a step into the modern era even if it's a little late.

Relief pitching sort of NY Mets style

I have a number of friends that are Met fans, so obviously I feel bad for them. I also feel bad for the employees of the team (non-players), such as security guards, vendors and others who are able to help their income by seeing the Mets make deep runs into the playoffs.

Which brings us back to the point, every game counts. The reasons for the disappointing finish in Flushing are obvious, the bullpen, lack of clutch and situational hitting. That goes to show you that every game does count.

The Mets were charged with 29 blown saves - 16 after the All-Star break. If that number is 27 and they win those two, then they would be in the playoffs by now.

Of course it's not that simple, but it's a start when you want to dissect the team and since I like statistics, I will break things down.

Bullpen record
Weekly Mark Cumulative Team Record

Week 1 - 3/31/4/5 - 0-1, 4.10 ERA 0-1, 4.10 2-2
Week 2 - 4/6-4/12 - 1-1, 3.72 ERA 1-2, 3.89 5-5
Week 3 - 4/13-4/19 - 1-1, 2.10 2-3, 3.21 10-6
Week 4 - 4/20-4/26 - 0-1, 5.40 2-4, 3.78 12-11
Week 5 - 4/27-5/3 - 1-0, 3.22 3-4, 3.66 15-13
Week 6 - 5/4-5/10 - 1-0, 3.68 4-4, 3.66 18-16
Week 7 - 5/11-5/17 - 0-0, 3.55 4-4, 3.65 21-19
Week 8 - 5/18-5/24 - 0-1, 4.36 4-5, 3.76 23-24
Week 9 - 5/25-5/31 - 2-1, 2.70 6-6, 3.61 27-27
Week 10 - 6/1-6/7 - 0-2, 3.97 6-8, 3.65 30-31
Week 11 - 6/8-6/14 1-3, 9.00 7-11, 4.08 32-34
Week 12 - 6/15-6/21 1-0, 1.74 8-11, 3.87 36-37
Week 13 - 6/22-6/28 0-0, 4.36 8-11, 3.92 39-41
Week 14 - 6/29-7/5 1-2, 3.37 9-13, 3.88 43-44
Week 15 - 7/6-7/12 4-0, 2.76 13-13,3.78 50-44
Week 16 - 7/13-7/19 1-0, 6.09 14-13,3.86 52-46
Week 17 - 7/20-7/26 2-2, 6.38 16-15,4.00 56-47
Week 18 - 7/27-8/2 0-3, 8.47 16-18,4.10 58-52
Week 19 - 8/3-8/9 2-0, 4.39 18-18,4.11 62-54
Week 20 - 8/10-8/16 0-1, 5.49 18-19,4.18 68-56
Week 21 - 8/17-8/23 2-1, 3.46 20-20,4.16 72-58
Week 22 - 8/24-8/30 2-3, 4.34 22-23,4.17 75-61
Week 23 - 8/31-9/6 2-0, 0.00 24-23,4.00 79-60
Week 24 - 9/7-9/13 2-1, 3.72 26-24,3.99 83-62
Week 25 - 9/14-9/20 1-1, 6.75 27-25,4.08 86-68
Week 26 - 9/21-9/28 1-3 6.37 28-28,4.19 89-73

Mets terror level is at Red for possible collapse

If the department of homeland security issued warnings for baseball teams, then the current state of the Mets would be Red - severe risk of collapse. Had they won, the alert might have been orange - high risk of collapse. Of course had they stayed in first place (just two weeks ago, they were 3 1/2 games up), it might have been blue - for guarded - general risk of a collapse.

Make no mistake about it, the panic level is high and the panic button has been pushed, especially after Friday's 6-1 loss. As bad as the score was, the boxscore is even worse.



It took eight pitchers to play nine innings, according to the Mets post-game notes, that ties a team record. It was the fifth time that happened and second time in nine days. (not sure if I'd publicize that fact).

Other than the obvious reason (the bullpen), I have no idea why it happens. I couldn't tell you why teams play well and then falter. If I had to guess, it's the pressure, the demons and ghosts of the infamous seven-game lead with 17 to go.

It has to be, especially since this started with 17 games remaining.

But maybe, just maybe, there's some frustration starting to appear. When reporters were lingering in the clubhouse afterwards, it appeared that a phone had been ripped from the wall out of frustration.

It didn't look like a normal dismantling of an appliance. It looked like someone got frustrated with this happening again and vented by ripping a phone out.

Is that enough? Will Johan Santana be able to get it done or look anything like he did Tuesday on three days rest and after throwing 125 pitches? All year, we've heard having Johan Santana is the intangible difference, but that comment was intended for a fully rested pitcher.

"It's sometimes difficult to figure us out, you know. We do one thing one night, have a bad loss and get off the deck. ... In the position we're in, it's the kind of stuff we like. But my God, it's tough on me." - Jerry Manuel

"I don't know anything about pitching, but I like Johan." - David Wright

The pitchers haven't been able to say, I don't know anything about hitting but I like David, Ryan or Jose.

That's because other than Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado offense has been spotty or inconsistent, meaning that when they're going 0-for-3 or 1-for-4, the others haven't stepped it up.

Reyes is hitting .247 this month and the team is
Wright is hitting .243 with runners in scoring position with just four home runs
Church is hitting .228 this month

Also, a lot of people are criticizing Met fans for not showing up and while 49,000 were there, it is an expensive proposition to go to a game at most ballparks these days. The cheapest ticket for this series is 25.00. If you want to eat and drink at the game, figure on spending close to 20 and even more if you want a beer. If you want to drive, it's 15 to park while using up gas that costs nearly 4.00 a gallon.

Maybe the 49,000 that show up have the means to spend the money for some of these, but there's a large segment that don't.

Yankee Stadium - In My Life

The Stadium had an 85-year run, 50 in the first edition and 33 more in the remodeled one. That's the one that I know best. My lifetime in it is over the last 20 years and fittingly enough today is the 20th anniversary of the first time I stepped foot in the building. Might have also been the first time I went somewhere in the Bronx other than the Bronx Zoo.

The game between the Red Sox and the Yankees was my first in a 20-year run that saw me see 326 regular-season games. The Yankees won 41 of the 67 I went to this year and finished 197-129. Since I look like looking up stats and old boxscores, that's what this will be about my list of firsts in every imaginable thing I could think of.

First Batter - Wade Boggs 9/23/1988 BOS @ NYY
Last Batter - Brian Roberts 9/21/2008 BAL @ NYY

First Yankee hitter - Rickey Henderson
Last Yankee hitter - Derek Jeter

First flyout - Wade Boggs
Last flyout - Alex Rodriguez

First double - Marty Barrett
Last double - Kevin Millar

First Yankee double - Rickey Henderson
Last Yankee double - Bobby Abreu

First strikeout - Dwight Evans (Charles Hudson)
Last Strikeout - Aubrey Huff (Joba Chamberlain)

First Yankee struck out - Jack Clark (Bruce Hurst)
Last Yankee struck out - Derek Jeter

First single - Mike Greenwell
Last single - Jason Giambi

First RBI - Mike Greenwell
Last RBI - Robinson Cano

First run - Marty Barrett
Last run - Brett Gardner

First groundout - Rickey Henderson
Last groundout - Brian Roberts

First Yankee hit - Don Mattingly single off Roger Clemens
Last Yankee hit - Jason Giambi single off Jamie Walker

First walk - Gary Ward
Last walk - Johnny Damon

First lineout - Ed Romero
Last lineout - Jose Molina

First error - Dwight Evans
Last error - Brendan Fahey

First homer - Don Mattingly
Last homer - Jose Molina

First solo home run - Dwight Evans led off fourth vs. Hudson
Last solo home run - Paul Konerko led off ninth vs. Britton on 9/18/2008

First Yankee solo home run - Gary Ward led off sixth vs. Bruce Hurst
Last Yankee solo home run - Jose Molina 9/21/2008

First Yankee two-run home run - Mike Pagliarulo - one out in the sixth off Bruce Hurst
Last Yankee two-run home run - Bobby Abreu - one out in the first 9/18/2008 off Javier Vazquez

First Yankee three-run home run - Kevin Maas - 5/30/1993 off Jack McDowell
Last Yankee three-run home run - Johnny Damon 9/21/2008

First Yankee grand slam - Mike Stanley 8/9/1995 off Charles Nagy
Last Yankee grand slam - Alex Rodriguez off Edwin Jackson

First Yankee multi-home run game - Mike Stanley three home runs 8/9/1995 vs. Indians
Last Yankee multi-home run game - Bobby Abreu - 9/18/2008 vs. White Sox

First walk-off win in the ninth - 6/7/1991 vs. Texas - Don Mattingly RBI single off John Barfield
Last walk-off win in the ninth - 9/20/1991 vs. Baltimore - Robinson Cano RBI single off Jamie Walker

First visiting home run - Dwight Evans
Last visiting home run - Paul Konerko

First visiting two-run home run - John Valentin off Frank Tanana 9/18/1993 fifth inning vs. Boston
Last visiting two-run home run - Dewayne Wise off Alfredo Aceves 9/15/2008 fourth inning vs. Chicago



First visiting three-run home run - Tim Salmon second inning off Melido Perez 7/25/1993
Last visiting three-run home run - Fernando Perez off Carl Pavano 9/14/2008

First visiting grand slam - Brian Downing off Mike Witt vs. Texas 6/7/1991


First pitching change - Hipolito Pena replaced Charles Hudson with one out in the fifth
Last pitching change - Mariano Rivera replaced Joba Chamberlain for the ninth

First mid-inning pitching change - Neil Allen replaces Pena with the bases loaded
Last mid-inning pitching change - Rocky Cherry replaces Jamie Walker in the seventh

First double play - Dave Winfield (63) in the fifth
Last double play - Jason Giambi (63) in the fifth

First pinch hitter - Claudell Washington for Gary Ward with two outs in the sixth
Last pinch hitter - Oscar Salazar for Juan Castro with two outs in the sixth

First starting pitchers - Bruce Hurst vs. Charles Hudson
Last starting pitchers - Chris Waters vs. Andy Pettitte

First decisions - Dennis Lamp (W), Dale Mohorcic (L)
Last decisions - Pettitte (W), Waters (L)

First save - Lee Smith
Last save - Mariano Rivera

First Yankee save - Steve Farr 5/30/1993 vs. White Sox
Last Yankee save - Rivera - 9/20/2008 vs. Orioles

First visiting save - Smith 9/23/1988 Red Sox
Last visiting save - B.J. Ryan 8/30/2008 Toronto

First complete game - Jack McDowell 5/30/1993
Last complete game - Jon Lester 7/3/2008

First three-hour game - 9/23/1988 vs. Red Sox - 3 hours, 53 minutes
Last three-hour game - 9/21/1988 vs. Orioles - 3 hours, 5 minutes

First umpire crew - Greg Kosc - HP, Derryl Cousins 1B, Rocky Roe 2B, Larry Barrett 3B
Last umpire crew - Angel Hernandez - HP, Marty Foster 1B, Derryl Cousins 2B, Eric Cooper 3B

First one-run win - vs. Texas 5-4, 6/7/1991
Last one-run win - vs. Baltimore 1-0, 9/21/1991

First one-run loss vs. Cleveland, 10-9 8/9/1995
Last one-run loss - vs. Toronto 7-6, 8/30/2008

First home opener - 4/4/1994 vs. Texas, W 5-3
Last home opener - 4/1/2008 vs. Toronto W 3-2

First triple - 5/22/1994 Chris Sabo Baltimore
Last triple

First extra-inning win
First extra-inning loss - 5/22/1994 vs. BAL 6-5 (10)

First time saw Bernie Williams - 5/30/1993
Last time saw Bernie Williams - 10/1/2006

First time saw Andy Pettitte - 6/7/1995 vs. Oakland (seven IP, four hits, one run, first win)
Last time saw Andy Pettitte - 9/21/2008 vs. Baltimore

First time saw Derek Jeter - 6/7/1995 batted ninth and went 1-for-3
Last time saw Derek Jeter - 9/21/2008 batted second and was 0-for-5

First time saw Mariano Rivera - 8/9/1995 started allowed five runs, seven hits in 5 2/3 innings vs. Cleveland
Last time saw Mariano Rivera - 9/21/2008 - 1-2-3 ninth vs. Baltimore

First weekday afternoon game - 6/28/1995 vs. Detroit L 8-4
Last weekday afternoon game - 8/28/2008 vs. Boston W 3-2

Non Playoff Seasons Can Be Fun too

This season has not been the most fun for the Yankees even if they're enjoying their final homestand at Yankee Stadium. They will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1993 and that was a season in which they won 88 times and finished seven games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, who were the two-time World Champions.

That was New York's first real shot at a division title in five years since Billy Martin five morphed into Lou Piniella part two. What followed from 1989-1992 was seasons of 88, 95, 91 and 86 losses. The first three of those years were extremely painful to watch although every now and then there were moments that you could feel the potential of Yankee Stadium with a winning team.

The 1992 version under Buck Showalter showed some promise, a 6-0 start, some money spent on free agents. By the time spring training started in 1993, Paul O'Neill was added along with Wade Boggs and Jimmy Key. Those moves meant that the Yankees were on their way to winning seasons.

The Yankees won but it was not quite enough. It was still fun. There was the time when they came back from eight runs down and beat the Angels, 9-8. There were those 18 agonizing days spent tied for first place in the old AL East.

It set the framework for the Joe Torre Yankees, the team that brought us the likes of Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams and the other grinders that formed the chemistry of those years.

Now the playoffs are expected but regardless of how much you spend it doesn't guarantee anything. Sure filling the ballpark is a good thing, but I'm sure there's a segment that would take a crowd of 25,000 watching the Blue Collar Yankees start it up again.

Of course losing a pennant race is difficult and frustrating, but watching a team scrap and claw its way back and then going on to bigger things is satisfying and that is what the 1993 Yankees started.