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Posted By: <b>Ed Ivey</b><p>Has a game ever been called for insect invasion? Something out of Hitchcock.

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Posted By: <b>brock</b><p>I'm watching the game and its bad that they evan made Chamberlain pitch. He was covered in bugs. The bugs made him so he cant throw a good strike and the yankees may lose because of this BS. Worest thing MLB and Umps did this year, game should have been delayed after the 7th. And to back up my chamberlain thing because of the bugs. He comes in and throws all but a couple balls in the 7th and in the 8th cant throw a strike. Total BS i think.

O/T Insects in Cleveland
 

Posted By: <b>OnlyBaloney</b><p>Is this a pre-war question?<br />That is: the War of the Worlds.

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Posted By: <b>Ed Ivey</b><p>If Larry Lajoie had to deal with it, then yes, we can mold it into a pre-war question.

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Posted By: <b>JB</b><p>TRULY

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Forget Hitchcock. More like something out of the bible.

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Posted By: <b>Eric Brehm</b><p>I did notice that the insects were attacking the Yankees fiercely but mostly leaving the Indians alone...

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Joba once played for the Bugeaters so that may explain it.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>David Smith</b><p>WHINE. WHINE. WHINE.<br /><br />The team with the highest payroll in baseball barely makes it into the Post Season, are down 1 game to none to Cleveland and are tied in the second game and their fans are complaining about bugs. <br /><br />If the Yankees DON'T make it to the second round, I can hear it now. It was the bugs fault the Yankees lost the series and NOT the bad pitching or lack of hitting.<br /><br />One question, are the bugs on the field when Cleveland is playing Defense?? If so, then the Yankees and their fans have NOTHING to complain about. BOTH teams are having to play under the same conditions and circumstances.<br /><br />If you want to complain and moan about something, try putting yourself in the shoes of "small market" teams. Teams that can't buy an All-Star line-up and who DON'T make it to the Post Season year after year. When and if you ever do that, then I might have some sympathy for you but until then, I don't and wont.<br /><br />David

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Posted By: <b>Bob Pomilla</b><p>Yes, funny how the insects "plagued" poor Chamberlain but backed off of Carmona.<br /><br />David, if you had been listening to windbag John Sterling, as I have, you'd believe Chamberlain was being beseiged by wasps the size of softballs. He did allow as to how Carmona didn't seem to be bothered by the critters.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>David, first of all it's 2-0. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Second, small market teams like the Twins (owner is a multi-billionaire) or the Dodgers (cheap ownership)?

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Posted By: <b>Mark T</b><p>Yankee fan excuse....deal with it, both teams have bugs.<br /><br /><br />SOX WILL WIN WORLD SERIES!!!!!!<br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Patrick McMenemy</b><p>There are certainly bugs on the Yankees now...I believe they are flies!<br /><br />Patrick

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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>The bug situation was ridiculous - and it effected the game. But those are the breaks. The Indians handled it better - and they played a better game of baseball.<br /><br />If you say the bugs didn't effect the game you are one of these three -<br />-blind<br />-biased<br />-blind and biased<br /><br /><br />It was actually tough to watch. Pretty disgusting with them flying in Jabas eyes and mouth and neck.<br /><br />

O/T Insects in Cleveland
 

Posted By: <b>Corey R. Shanus</b><p>I don't think the postseason should be decided on which team best handles an insect infestation. Let's say its the Indians. Great...but so what? Games are halted due to extreme weather conditions on the rationale that it is not appropriate to have to play through them; why should this be different?

O/T Insects in Cleveland
 

Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>This game certainly wasn't a good advertisement for OFF Bug Spray. Joba had it sprayed all over him and the bugs were swarming all over him like they couldn't get enough of it.

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Posted By: <b>Marc S.</b><p>how much worse the bugs looked in High Definition.<br /><br />That said -- I remember April as being particularly cold for quite a few teams....and definitely certain team's April performance impacted their ability to make it to the postseason (or not). As such -- outside conditions will always affect the game. Whether it is the postseason, the games leading up to the postseason, or something else... you can't cherry pick which issues are suddenly important and which ones aren't.<br /><br />I'm a die hard Phillies phan, and think it is ridiculous for any team to play a baseball game at Citizens Bank at 3 p.m., given the shadows. But that is how TV runs the postseason schedule -- and it just needs to be dealt with. Que sera sera.

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Posted By: <b>Fred C</b><p>Well with global warming here we can expect winters to last through summer and the fall classic to be played in muggy hot buggy weather...<br /><br />Just kidding...<br /><br />All things being equal - both teams had to deal with the bugs. <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>john/z28jd</b><p> Its in Yankees fans blood to whine. Anything that happens towards them whether it actually happened or John Sterling just made it up,they will cry about. Im surrounded by them where i live and it pains me to listen to them. You would think they would be happy that they make the playoffs all the time. They are some of the most annoying people when their team wins too, its like rooting for the Harlem Globetrotters then throwing it in someones face when they win.

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Posted By: <b>anthony</b><p>i actually saw a bunch of bugs conspiring to attack joba...i wouldnt say they were severe enough to stop the game, teams have played in heavy rain before and this is no different. had they carried off a bat or something, then i'd call for the rulebook.<br /><br /><br />go red sox!

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Posted By: <b>Bob Pomilla</b><p>Hey, John-- looks like I'll be breaking out that t-shirt again, soon. <img src="/images/wink.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Well, the Yankees stole an ALCS game in 97 against the Orioles, it's about time one is taken from them. All though Jeff Maier was A LOT more aggregious.<br /><br />James

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Posted By: <b>Clint</b><p>Thanks James. I was thinking the same thing. <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Yankee fans are tough to stomach, no doubt (Ted and Joe D excluded - cough, cough <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> )

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Rooting for the Yankees is like pulling for Wal-Mart in a game against the sisters of the poor. Although to their credit, the majority are far more knowledgable than the adherents of "Red Sox" ahem....."Bandwagon Nation"<br /><br />James

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Posted By: <b>CN</b><p> They migrated from Shea in the first inning when Tom Glavine killed my season Sunday. CN

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Posted By: <b>Rob Dewolf</b><p>Boo. Hoo. Hoo.

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Posted By: <b>howard</b><p>Since he has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread I would just like to say that the majority of Yankee fans I know (including myself) cannot stand John Sterling. Listening to Sterling and Suzyn Waldman doing a game is excruciating. They are neither knowledgeable or interesting but they do have extraordinarily annoying voices.<br /><br />Joba is like the aliens in "War of the Worlds". He is unbeatable against big league hitters but falls apart when confronted with insects.

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Posted By: <b>Cat (ret.)</b><p>Patrick wrote: "There are certainly bugs on the Yankees now...I believe they are flies!"<br /><br /><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14> Funniest line this week!!!

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Posted By: <b>Ryan Christoff</b><p>As a Yankee fan, I'd like to go on record as saying the only reason the Indians were able to steal the first two cames is that they have better pitching, better hitting, more heart, and less ego than the Yankees. That, plus no A-Rod. <br /><br />Also, they're a team, not some Frankensteinish amalgam of overpaid octogenarian arms with plenty of youthful legs, all attached to a heartless but muscular trunk with a number 13 on the back of its jersey. Joe Torre is the perfect face for this monster. His actual face, I mean. <br /><br />Other than that...yeah, it was definitely the bugs. <br /><br />-Ryan<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Bill Cornell</b><p>4 days in Cleveland this summer and I was not once overwhelmed by a hoard of non-biting bugs. Whew.<br /><br />Get some hits and the insects aren't quite so bothersome.<br /><br /><br /><br />Bill<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>ROBERT ADAMS JR</b><p>Which is more difficult , throwing a 95 MPH fast ball with bugs on ya or hitting one ?

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Posted By: <b>joe</b><p>Didn't get to see the game, hope the Yankees lost though.<br /><br />Joe<br><br>Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: <b>Greg Theberge</b><p>"Rooting for the Yankees is like pulling for Wal-Mart in a game against the sisters of the poor. Although to their credit, the majority are far more knowledgable than the adherents of "Red Sox" ahem....."Bandwagon Nation"<br /><br />James"<br /><br />I wrote something longer, read it, then deleted the whole thing. It's well past midnight and the game is still going on... <br /><br />I would guess that Jim isn't watching baseball right now. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />"Bandwagon Nation" .... how simply cute. If you tell me your hat size, Jim, I'll buy you one of those pink hats we Sox fans love to wear. I'll refrain from any further comment other than saying the above is yet another classic post on Network54.<br /><br />Do people really not give a damn about offending other people on here? I have to tell you, it's really hard to not type how one really wants to reply to crap like this.<br /><br /> <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>A 4-pitch walk and two wild pitches from a guy who mowed the Indians down in the prior inning would tell me it's tougher to pitch when you're covered with bugs.<br /><br />Yes, both teams had to deal with it. But the Yankees had a 1-0 lead that disintigrated, in my opinion, as a direct result of the bugs. If those bugs were rain, the umps would have delayed the game. That's what they should have done.<br /><br />Cleveland is a better team, and I expect them to win. And they flirted with danger for the first 7 innings and lucked out every time. But that was the Yankees' game.<br /><br />-Al

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Posted By: <b>Eric Brehm</b><p>Bugs and team loyalties aside, it was great to see a playoff game where the score remained close throughout. It is remarkable how much strategy comes into play when the home team has the winning run on base in the bottom of the ninth or later inning. Great stuff.

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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>If the Bronx fans can laud the kid who stole the homer run against the Orioles in 1996, I can turn a deaf ear to their complaints of bug cheating. <br /><br />I saw a player (Rob Deer?) get a strike when he moved his bat at a bee when the ball was thrown.

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Posted By: <b>Greg Theberge</b><p>To my friend, Jim<br /><br />It's 12:45 in the freakin morning and I just witnessed 35,000 + of your stupid ignorant Red Sox fans witness a Ramirez walk off home run over the Monsta. You can call us all the names in the world, pal, but you're missing out on a lot of life's enjoyment if all you have to do is whine about other people.<br /><br />Bring on the bugs baby!<br /><br />Nuf Ced <br /><br />Edited to include that NOBODY left that ballpark until the game was over

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Posted By: <b>joe</b><p>David, Rob Deer? <br />He was with the Tigers and he struck out a lot. No bugs.<br />Joe<br><br>Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>MANNY!!!!<br /><br />Yes, I'm another one of those ignorant, bandwagon Red Sox fans!!!!<br /><br />Glad I jumped on the bandwagon in '75.....

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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>Joe, Sparky Anderson's voiced theory was that when Deer was striking out, he wasn't hitting into double plays.

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Posted By: <b>Bill Cornell</b><p>The Yankees rarely go down easily and the Sox like to torture me, so I'm not going to get overly excited about the current status.<br /><br />BTW, first game I saw at Fenway was in July '74 - John Mayberry hit a grand slam and the Royals won 12-1. I'm still bitter. <br /><br /><br /><br />Bill

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Posted By: <b>Rob L</b><p>I still have to believe (although maybe not this year):<br /><br />Angels Rule, BoSox Drool!<br /><br />Rob L<br />

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Posted By: <b>ROBERT ADAMS JR</b><p>Gotta love Carmona being swarmed but still hammering A-Rod !

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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>The weirdest thing was how the Canadian soldiers (type of bugs) swarmed the players and umps but didn't seem to bother a single fan. <br />If the varmints played a part in the Injuns winning, then maybe it is finally time for the Lake Erieans to win a series again. Been a long time...

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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>Bob<br />thats so true.<br />the fans didn't even look like they were bothered.<br /><br />Al C<br />Very well said!<br /><br />Robert Adams Jr<br />As far as what is more difficult - pitching with the bugs, or hitting with the bugs... I would say the pitchers mound looked a lot worse than the batters box. And, the batters were able to wear helmets. So, pitching was definitely tougher.<br /><br />Greg T and Rob D -<br />'It aint over till its over'<br />Lets see how Cleveland does in the Bronx - I say this is going to a game 5 back in Cleveland.<br /><br /><br />Jeff L<br />Don't get me started on Met fans -- yourself and barry excluded of course - (cough).<br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Greg Theberge</b><p>Joe,<br /><br />I have to admit, Cleveland scares the hell out of me and I've been a Sox fan for too long to think the Sox have it in the bag either in this series, or, hopefully, the next.<br /><br />Aint October great? <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Greg

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Posted By: <b>Kevin Andrews</b><p>I was at the game last night and the bugs didn't bother any one in the crowd. As a matter of fact growing next to Lake Erie I know there were certain times of the year that the things would absolutely cover the sides of building and houses, usually on the North face. Kinda of ironic that the visiting team (Yankees) dug-out at Jacob's field faces North. The things are supposedly attracted to light and moisture and bug spray doesn't help and actually makes the moisture problem worse. (You didn't see the Indians player using any kind of spray at all.) October is certainly a very strange time of year for this to happen. My recollection is that it's usually mid-summer. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE - I'LL TAKE IT EVERY TIME. INDIANS IN 3!!!!!<br /><br />Yankees Payroll &gt; $200 Million<br /><br />Indians Payroll &lt; $50 Million<br /><br />A-Rod, Jeter, Matsui,<br />Posada = 1 for 32; a <br />few bugs; listening to<br />the Yankee nation whine - PRICELESS

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Posted By: <b>peter ullman</b><p>Gene Monahan should have 100% deet in his bag of tricks...so it's his fault...fire him!<br /><br />pete in mn

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Posted By: <b>Rob Dewolf</b><p>Joe D.,<br /><br />You're 100 percent correct: It's not over.<br /><br />I didn't intend for my comment to imply the series is finished. It was more a reaction to the theories/excuses/whining of some Yankees fans that the loss had more to do with conditions on the field than the play of their team.<br /><br />I should have stated it better. I think I was pre-occupied by trying to figure out how the bugs were able to distract Chamberlain so much but barely fazed Carmona. Come to think of it, I'm still trying to figure that out.<br /><br /><i>If those bugs were rain, the umps would have delayed the game.</i><br /><br />And if pop-ups and strikeouts were home runs, A-rod would be the front-runner for the series' MVP right now.<br /><br />Rob

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Posted By: <b>David Smith</b><p>Rob,<br /><br />Maybe the soap, shampoo, body wash, hair spray, cologne or after shave Chamberlain uses had something to do with it. <br /><br />Maybe it is just Chamberlain's natural body oils and smell that attracted them.<br /><br />Maybe Chamberlain just hung onto a pitch too long or tried to over throw it.<br /><br />Then again, maybe Chamberlain felt the pressure of the situation and just choaked. You know it wouldn't be the first time that has happened to a Yankees player in the Post Season the last few years.<br /><br />I am just guessing because I didn't watch the game. I mean, I didn't watch the Yankees or Red Sox the 70 or so times during the regular season when they were on either ESPN or FOX sports, so why start now??<br /><br />If (hopefully when) both teams are knocked out of the Play-Offs, I will just sit back and smile as I think of the guys at ESPN crying and tearing their hair out because NEITHER team will have won the World Series.<br /><br />David

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>David, I sense some bitterness. Do you live in Pittsburgh?<br /><br />Having watched most of Joba's appearances this year, I can assure you that the bugs were the reason that run scored. The guy threw like one wild pitch all year and then 2 in one inning yesterday. He has great command and has pitched in pressure situations before.<br /><br />That being said, the Yankees should have had more than 3 hits in 11 innings. In the end, they probably got what they deserved with that performance.

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Posted By: <b>Kevin Andrews</b><p>Jeff - Give the Indians some credit here. The reason that the Yankees had three hits yesterday and only eight in two games is because of the Indians pitching. Top to bottom they are much better than what the Yankees have. In the starting rotation once you're past Wang (and possibly Pettite) it's mostly old, maybe good sometimes and maybe bad sometime. Sabathia and Carmona have been nasty good all season an less Lackey tossing a shut-out last game of the year Carmona would have had the lowest ERA in the league. Perez, Betancourt and Borowski have been solid all year in the Indians bull pen and Jensen Lewis has been good since he's been up. In the Yankees pen past Chamberlain and Rivera is there anyone they'd use when you absolutely had to have an out?<br /><br />The Indians have played through adversity all year - snow, cold, home games at a nuetral site, playing as the home team in Seattle, losing all six games to the Yankees in the regular season, two of the their starters injured early in the season (Cliff Lee / Jake Westbrook), Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers back to the minors and they finished the year tied with Boston for the best record in the Majors. This is not the same team that the Yankees played in the regular season. They've hands down out pitched, out hit and out played the Yankees in the first two games. There's going to be absolutely no pressure on the Indians in New York. The media is going to be all over A-rod, Jeter, Matsui, Posada and Damon because their total lack of hitting and they won't even recognize the Indians pitching had any thing to do with it.<br /><br />If the Yankee nation doesn't realize it by now, the Indians have come to play, and they've come with a better TEAM.

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Posted By: <b>David Smith</b><p>No, Jeff, I live in Indiana.<br /><br />As far as bitterness, it REALLY upsets me that ESPN and now FOX, primarily show Yankees and Red Sox games during the regular season. I think I read somewhere that ESPN was going to show the Yankees and Red Sox at least 20 times EACh during the regular season.<br /><br />By primarily showcasing these two teams, it turns a LOT of fans off, especially those fans of "small market" teams. These fans know they are at a disadvantage every year because of the money the large market teams have and can throw around. THEN to have ESPN and FOX throw it their face every week just makes it worse.<br /><br />I used to watch baseball on ESPN religiously. I also used to watch Baseball Tonight every night. It was fair and balanced and I could see highlights of games (instead of just reading about them in the newspaper or on the web). I could also see great performances and strange plays and not have to be told about them by somebody else. Finally, I could see the players and know who they were. I could see who was having a great year and who wasn't. This way, when it was Play-Off time, I would have an informed opinion on who I thought should win and why and if they didn't then I could see where I made the wrong assumptions or judgements. I could also have an informed opinion on who should win the individual awards and why.<br /><br />Then ESPN and FOX started showing more and more of the large market teams and especially the Yankees and Red Sox. As they did that, I started watching LESS games. I thought it would get better after a year or two, especially after the Yankees and Red Sox were NOT winning the World Series and other teams (teams that ESPN almost totally forgot about showing - ala the Tigers last year) WERE winning it, but it only got worse.<br /><br />The kicker for me was earlier this year, on a Friday night, when I heard that ESPN had a clock on screen that showed how much time was left before the start of the first game of the year between the Yankees and Red Sox. Like the graphic on ABC that shows how much time is left before the New Year and Dick Clark describes the ball coming down the pole. Well, that, to me, showed ESPN's arrogance. The season had already started and was a week or two old but, to them, it wasn't REALLY a baseball season until the Yankees and Red Sox had played.<br /><br />That arrogance and East Coast bias is what turns the ratings into a self fulfilling prophesy for ESPN and FOX. They show ONLY the large market teams and highlight them at every juncture and that turns off the fans of small market teams. Then, when ESPN DOES get around to showing the small market teams, their fans don't watch because of previously being slighted. The executives of ESPN can then truthfully say that the small market teams just don't draw enough people so, they are going to show the large market teams more. A vicious cycle that is going to result in ESPN only showing five teams the WHOLE year.<br /><br />As I have said previously, if I had ANY say in the matter, I would make it a rule that ESPN could NOT show ANY Yankees or Red Sox game until after the All-Star break. That way, the small market teams and unknown players would get more national air time and more people would watch. Then, when one of THOSE teams make it to the World Series and WINS it, people would know who they were and why they won. It wouldn't come as much of a surprise. <br /><br />Last year, the Tigers ( I am not a fan of theirs, I am just using them as an example) played good baseball ALL season long but ESPN didn't show ANY of their games until almost the end of the season. Then ESPN and a LOT of people nationwide were SHOCKED when THEY made it to the World Series and neither the Yankees or Red Sox did. If ESPN had paid more attention to the actual teams and how they were doing during the regular season instead of just keeping their collective heads up the Northeast Coast teams behinds, they would have known the Tigers were good and wouldn't have been so shocked.<br /><br />David

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>David makes a pretty good point.<br /><br />ESPN is way too heavy on the Yankees and Red Sox. Fans from those cities can watch their own home teams on local television. Fans of those teams from outside the area can purchase League Pass on DirecTV. People who watch a baseball game on ESPN are doing so because they're a baseball fan, and want to watch some team that they don't get to see all the time.<br /><br />As a Yankee fan, I think it would have been cool to tune in a few Brewers games, or Mariners games, during the season. It would have been nice to watch Cleveland - they've got a dynamite young team. I would have enjoyed watching more of the young Tigers pitching staff, or seeing Ichiro leg out an infield single, or watching David Wells pitch for the Dodgers.<br /><br />Instead, I turn on ESPN and watch Derek Jeter, who I watch every day. <br /><br />My opinion is that these Yankees are very tough to dislike. Virtually every guy on the team is an enjoyable character. Even A-Rod has been tough to root against this year. But if I had the national sports media ramming the Yankees down my throat every day, I would hate - HATE - them.<br /><br />-Al

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Posted By: <b>Max Weder</b><p>No bothersome bugs on the wet west coast but the east coast would have to stay up too late to watch Ichiro. Count your blessings though. If they showed more Mariners games, you'd also have to watch Richie Sexson.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/184823554_a851fcd790.jpg"><br /><br />(image does not necessarily reflect feelings of the author of this post, who is actually feeling somewhat sorry for the Yankees right now)

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Posted By: <b>dennis</b><p>speaking as a midwesterer and baseball fan,those boston yankee games are great,no better rivalry in baseball exists today.i wish espn would televise them all.

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Greg,<br /><br />I'm going to revise a statement I made earlier....<br /><br />Although to their credit, the majority are far more knowledgable than MANY OF THE adherents of "Red Sox" ahem....."Bandwagon Nation"<br /><br />For a good read about the burgeoning "Sawx" bandwagon phenomenon, from a Boston paper nonetheless, I offer this....<br /><br />In all seriousness, I respect knowledgable and lifelong baseball fans, Yankees and Red Sox fans included, and that probably includes you Greg. However, with MLB's marketing efforts, and Seligula's lie that small market interest is higher than ever (it's not), there are many things I have come to resent. My wife's cousin from Northern Virginia asked me last week "so, are you a Yankees or Sox fan?" When I replied that "I hate both of them", she seemed puzzled. A neighbor from Rexburg, Idaho told me that he chose the Red Sox as his team because unlike the Orioles, they don't suck. To which I replied, "of course the Orioles suck, but fandom is the one abusive relationship you don't leave."<br /><br />I resent that the national media and marketing firms have such a hold on the masses that at a Target in Baltimore, Maryland ,ONLY Red Sox and Yankees fan packs and Topps team sets are sold. I resent the national assertion that Red Sox and Yankees fans are the best and only fans in baseball. I'm amused that before 2001, I never saw more than a smattering of so-called "Red Sox Nation" at Oriole Park (Yanks fans have always travelled well), now these "day long" fans come out of the woodwork? These fly by night fans are not worthy of those who devoted years of their attentions to their teams. The only solution for the overall good of the game is a salary cap accompanied by a respective salary floor.<br /><br />Back to the topic, I think Joba probably just smells and emits a foul odor that attracts such beasts. Just part of the game.<br /><br /><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />James

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>James, you just basically said the same thing you said earlier, but with more words. ESPN and Target are just good marketers. I'm not sure why anyone is arguing that ESPN should televise more small market games than they do Yanks/Red Sox games. They should lose money why?<br /><br />Besides is there a small market team that doesn't have a TV contract? I live in the Kansas City market and I get every single Royals game...how exciting for me.

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Dan,<br /><br />You're right, it's just that money ruins everything.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Guys, while you all may be frustrated by the seeming daily presence of the Sox and Yankees on TV there is one reason for it: money. Higher ratings = more money. It's not an east coast bias or arrogance; it's the simple fact that more people watch the Sox and the Yankees than the Tigers and Indians. Sad but true, but this is the way the world works.

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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>who is the person in the blue jumpsuit in Cleveland's dugout?<br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.internetville.com/stuff/released.jpg">

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Joe you are a budding Wonkaite.

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Posted By: <b>Jay</b><p>I'm a die hard Yankee fan and I think Jaba was affected by the bugs but that is not what lost the game. The Yankees have been shut down by the Indians pitching and if you can't score you can't win, period.

O/T Insects in Cleveland
 

Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>I am in the NYC area and I dislike the Yankees intensely.<br /><br />Al, I disagree. I think it is very easy to dislike the Yankees--two reasons:<br /><br />1)George Steinbrenner<br />2)They try to buy their way to a pennent every year as they spent considerably more than any other team.<br /><br />I root for the small market teams. I love Billy Beane and what he has been able to do.<br /><br />I also now dislike the Mets and was happy to see them collapse.

O/T Insects in Cleveland
 

Posted By: <b>Greg Theberge</b><p>Jim,<br /><br />I'm not too convinced that you give any credence to your arguement that Red Sox fans are less knowledgable than their Yankee fan counterparts based on your reply, especially when you make such a bold statement on a pre-war Baseball forum. Everything you have to say simply pontificates pent up frustrations with your enjoyment of the sport or local team and does nothing to prove your statement.<br /><br />Quite honestly, I have no idea what MLB marketing has to do with the fan who grew up with the team and his or her knowledge of the sport, or team, nor do I see any relevance to what your wife's cousin has to say about the Sox and Yankees. If I was trying to make an arguement to prove my point, I probaly wouldn't use my wife's cousin as a reference. I couldn't care less what your neighbor does, he doesn't represent the average fan. Every team has folks that will follow them for one reason or another.<br /><br />Sorry, I don't even know what a "Fan Pack" is. I'm sorry your feathers are all in a ruffle since these things are geared towards Sox and Yankees fans down there at your local Target. Take it up with the manager at Target, not Sox fans.<br /><br />Personally, I can't understand when people complain that their stadium is filled with Sox or Yankee fans instead of their own. Whose fault is this? I don't ever remember seeing where Sox or Yankee fans are given preference for getting tickets. Maybe if more Orioles fans gave a damn and supported their team this wouldn't be a problem. I'm quite certain all of the local retailers don't mind all of that extra income coming in either. You may not think these "fly by night" fans are worthy of gaining entrance to your park, but who the heck are you to pass judgement on them? They obviously care enough to go the extra mile to support their team.<br /><br />I had the pleasure to visit Orioles Park at Camden Yards for a weekend series two years ago. Had a great time. Sat next to a season ticket holder and had a great conversation during the game. It was a pleasure to talk to someone that enjoyed the game for the game. <br /><br />I suppose I wouldn't have reacted to your original statement so viscerally if you hadn't have made it on a vintage sports forum. So much for this, time to check on how the Cubbies are doing. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />