Yankees Win (sigh)

It was a close game. The defense and pitching were really what made the difference--it could have been high scoring if they weren't sharp. But they made good plays and kept cool where it really mattered. Quality starts on both sides, good relief, too.

But the Yankees won. Sadly. But the Phillies fans believe that this is not adversity (note: I can count the Phillies fans I know here on one hand) and that they can come back tomorrow. Cole Hamels is pitching! The great one! Last year's hero!

Who has not done so great this year. Of course, of course, injuries, cover jinx, whatever you want to blame it on. But it's a wild card vs. a wild card, both have been proven in previous postseasons. Fun. Interest. Like the last two games. Pretty even pitching matchups.

In the absence of the Diamondbacks, I have taken up listening to sports talk radio even when it's unbearable bad because there might be some mention of that hopefully nonexistent Drew trade or whatever, and so I've ended up listening to hockey...and I'm hooked on the New Jersey Devils.

I gotta say, last night was exciting. It was scary, but it was good and I just pose one question to you hockey fans: Why do the Devils do badly at home? They are perfect (including last night) on the road, but have won one game only at the Prudential Center. Why is this so? No one player in particular seems to do badly, nor do they all stick out as being significantly worse than usual. It's not even that the goalies let so much more in than usual. They aren't letting in like 5 goals or anything.

But...sports work in mysterious ways.

But back to baseball. Phils, Yanks, and all.

  Including this guy.

That's right, Cole Hamels. I drew him, his face looks a bit scary (probably because of the lack of color?) but it matches okay with his profile pic on the main page.

And so Cole, even if you don't win tomorrow no one expects you to. No pressure. Just go out there, pretend it's last year, you're invincible, Lidge is invincible, Utley isn't making any errors.

These guys you're facing: yeah, they're in the AL. So were the Rays. You beat the Rays. Why not these guys? Sure, they cost more, but what's money? You've got some, your teammates do, too, and your teammates have more Cy Youngs than the Yanks. Of  course, if Cy Young was synonym for championship the Giants would just display Randy Johnson on a pillar for the world to see, throw in a couple of other guys and their awards, and win the thing without trying. But you have Cliff, Pedro, and Brad who should have won the Cy last year. And don't forget the silver sluggers, MVPs, gold gloves, ROYs...well, it could take me forever to find out and at the end of the day I'm just too lazy. I'd say that the teams are about evenly matched in that regard, though I could be wrong. And honestly, what do sportswriters know?

Nothing. Right. I feel as if that's my catechism. I'm like Napoleon Bonaparte and forcing all of France to memorize these answers to these irrelevant questions. But wait...are any of my readers in France? From France? Have French ancestry? Related to Napoleon Bonaparte, who was actually Italian?

   Well, tomorrow is Halloween. Will Derek Jeter do his little Mr. November act again? Will the Devils beat the Lightning? Will Cole Hamels pitch well? Will Jimmy Rollins say something stupid again?

Are any of you dressing up? Please tell me if you are, and what you're being...crazy outfits are just too fun. I miss being able to trick-or-treat. Ah, well. Have fun, everyone!